indra

Thân thiện

Indra rides his white elephant Airavata across the stormy sky.

Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Chief Hindu god of the Rig-Veda: Indra is the principal deity in the ancient Vedic scriptures, particularly the Rigveda, where he is celebrated as a warrior king of the gods.
   • God of rain and thunder: He is specifically associated with controlling the weather, bringing life-giving rain and wielding the thunderbolt as his weapon.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • In the Rig-Veda, many hymns are dedicated to Indra, praising his strength and victories.
  • Farmers in ancient times prayed to Indra for rain to nourish their crops.
  • The myth describes Indra using his thunderbolt, the Vajra, to defeat the serpent Vritra and release the waters.

Advanced Usage

• "Indra's Net": A metaphor from Mahayana Buddhist and Hindu philosophy, symbolizing the interconnectedness and mutual reflection of all phenomena in the universe.

  • The concept of Indra's Net illustrates how every part of the cosmos reflects every other part.

• "King Indra": A common epithet emphasizing his sovereignty over the celestial realm of Svarga.

  • As King Indra, he presides over the heavenly abode and the other devas.

Variants and Related Words

• Indraloka (n): The heavenly realm or abode of Indra.
• Indrajit (n): A name meaning "conqueror of Indra," most famously borne by a powerful warrior son of the demon king Ravana in the Ramayana.

Synonyms

• Deva: A god or deity (Indra is considered the chief among many devas in the Vedic period).
• Śakra: A common epithet for Indra, meaning "the powerful one."
• Vajrapāṇi: "Bearer of the thunderbolt," another name highlighting his primary weapon.

Related Phrases and Epithets

• "Vṛtrahan": Slayer of Vritra; a title commemorating his most famous mythical feat of killing the drought-causing demon Vritra.

  • Indra is celebrated as Vṛtrahan for releasing the waters imprisoned by the demon.

• "Lord of Storms": A descriptive phrase emphasizing his domain over atmospheric forces.

  • As the Lord of Storms, Indra commands the clouds and the rains.

Học thuật

Noun

1. chief Hindu god of the Rig-Veda; god of rain and thunder

Từ đồng nghĩa

• indra