Indra

About Indra

Indra's signature deed is killing Vritra, the serpent who coiled around the mountains and held back the world's rivers — a victory the Rig Veda celebrates in more hymns than for any other god. His thunderbolt, the Vajra, was forged from the spine of sage Dadhichi, who gave up his body so the gods would have a weapon. He rides Airavata, the four-tusked white elephant churned up from the cosmic ocean, and rules Amaravati with his queen Shachi. Later stories humble him: Gautama curses him for seducing Ahalya, and young Krishna lifts Govardhana Hill to shrug off his rain.