In Hinduism, Indra (Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is god of weather and war, and Lord of Heaven or Swargaloka. He was also an important figure in non-Hindu traditions. Indra - Iranian Indra. Indra was known in early Indo-Iranian religion. Whether Indra is cognate with other Indo-European thunder-gods such as Thor, Tarhun and Taranis is highly speculative; it is generally considered that the Indo-European root for the name cannot be reconstructed. However, in the Vedic religion Indra has prominence over the ...

Including:

• Indra - Iranian Indra
• Indra - Indra in Hinduism
• Indra - Status and function
• Indra - Characteristics
• Indra - Relations with other gods
• Indra - Stories about Indra
• Indra - Indra in Buddhism and Jainism
• Indra - Uses outside Hinduism

Read more here: » Indra: Encyclopedia - Indra

See also:

Indra, Indra - Iranian Indra, Indra - Indra in Hinduism, Indra - Status and function, Indra - Characteristics, Indra - Relations with other gods, Indra - Stories about Indra, Indra - Indra in Buddhism and Jainism, Indra - Uses outside Hinduism

Read more here: » Indra: Encyclopedia II - Indra - Indra in Hinduism

Indra (Mahendra)

The king of the demigods, ruler of Svargaloka. In each manvantara there is a different Indra. The name of the current Indra is Purandara.

(See also: Indra, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

The celestial Sabha of Sakra (Indra) is full of lustre and it was obtained by him as the fruit of his actions. It was made by Indra himself as effulgent as the Sun. Its breadth is one hundred Yojanas; its length is one hundred and fifty Yojanas; it is five Yojanas in height. It can go anywhere at will.

This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Lokas Or Planes: Indra Loka

There is an ancient lore associated with the festival of Raksha Bandhan that is celebrated during the bright fortnight in the Hindu month of Shravan. The Bhavishya Purana refers to a battle between the deities and demons.

The king of the deities, Indra, was feeling depressed. Indra's wife Sachi then took a thread, charged it with sacred verses for protection and tied it on Indra's hand. Through the strength of this thread Indra conquered his enemies.

(See also: Raksha Bandhan, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Soma (Sanskrit), or Haoma (Avestan) (from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Sauma) was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the later Vedic and Iranian cultures. It is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, which contains many hymns praising its energizing or intoxicating qualities. It is described as prepared by pressing juice from the stalks of a certain mountain plant, which has been variously hypothesized to be a psychedelic mushroom, cannabis, or ephedra. In both Indian and Iranian tradition, the drink is ...

Including:

• Soma - Etymology
• Soma - Soma in Indian tradition
• Soma - Vedas
• Soma - Other Hindu texts
• Soma - Hinduism
• Soma - Persian Haoma
• Soma - Candidates for the Soma plant
• Soma - Hallucinogenic
• Soma - Ephedra
• Soma - Archaeological evidence

Read more here: » Soma: Encyclopedia - Soma

In Hinduism (specifically, early Vedic accounts), Sachi (also known as "Indrani" (queen of Indra), Aindri, Mahendri and Paulomi) is the goddess of wrath and jealousy, and a daughter of Puloman, a demon who was killed by Indrani's future husband, Indra. She is beautiful and has one-thousand eyes. She is associated with lions and elephants. With Indra, she is the mother of Jayanta,

Read more here: » Sachi Devi: Encyclopedia - Sachi Devi

In Hinduism, Vritra (Sanskrit वृत्र Vṛtra, "the enveloper") was a serpent or dragon, the personification of drought and enemy of Indra. He has three heads. According to the Rig Veda, Vritra stole all the water in the world until killed by Indra, who de ...

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In Hinduism, Parjanya is a Vedic god identified with rain and thunder. Portrayed in the Rig Veda as a bull. Sometimes regarded as an aspect of the god Indra, his name may be cognate with Varuna. Other related archivesHinduism, Indra, Rig Veda, Varuna, Vedic, god, rain, thunder

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In Hinduism, Airavata (also known as Abhranu or Abhramatanga ) is a white elephant who carries Lord Indra. His name means "the one who knits or binds the clouds". He appeared from the churning of the milk ocean and has four tusks and seven trunks. He also stands at the entrance to Svarga, Indra's palace. The connection of elephants with water and rain is emphasized in the mythology of Indra, who rides the elephant Airavata when he defeats Vritra. This mighty elephant reaches down his trunk into the watery underwor ...

Read more here: » Airavata: Encyclopedia - Airavata

In Hinduism, Diti is an earth goddess and mother of the Maruts with Rudra. She wanted to have a son who would be more powerful than Indra (who had killed her previous children) and so she practiced magic and kept herself pregnant for one-hundred years. Indra used a thunderbolt to splinter the fetus into many pieces, the Maruts. She is also Aditi's sister. Other related archivesHinduism, Indra, Maruts, Rudra, magic, thunderbolt

Read more here: » Diti: Encyclopedia - Diti

A white elephant (also albino elephant) is a rare kind of elephant. In Burma two have been found and caught, the second one in 2002 after an elephant finding team had searched for one month. In Thailand, white elephants are sacred and a symbol of royal power; all those discovered are presented to the king (usually this is ceremonial — they are not taken into captivity) and the more white elephants the king has, the greater his standing. The current king Bhumibol Adulyadej owns ten — considere ...

Including:

• White elephant pachyderm - Reference

Read more here: » White elephant pachyderm: Encyclopedia - White elephant pachyderm

Marut - In Hinduism. In Hinduism, the Maruts, also known as the Marutgana and the Rudras, are minor storm deities, sons of Rudra and Diti, and attendants of Indra. The number of Maruts varies from two to sixty. They are very violent and aggressive. According to the Ramayana, the Maruts' mother, Diti, hoped to give birth to a son who would be more powerful than Indra. She remained pregnant for one hundred years in hopes of doing so; Indra prevented it by throwing a thunderbolt at her, splintering the ...

Including:

• Marut - In Hinduism
• Marut - In Islam

Read more here: » Marut: Encyclopedia - Marut

Ahalya was the wife of the sage Gautama in the Hindu epic Ramayana. The story of Ahalya is mentioned in Valmiki Ramayan 23rd Sarga. The name Ahalya is composed of two words – Aa is a negation term and Halya means deformity. Therefore Ahalya means one without any deformity. Ahalya was very beautiful. Indra once saw Ahalya and was captured by her beauty and longed for her. Once when rishi Gautama was away from his ashram, Indra disguised himself as Gautama and came to the ash ...

Read more here: » Ahalya: Encyclopedia - Ahalya

The Churning of the Ocean of Milk ia a Hindu story about a conflict between the Adityas and their enemies the Asuras. The most popular version is found in the Eighth Canto of the Bhagavata Purana [1]. The story begins with Indra riding his elephant. He came upon a sage named Durvasa. The sage decided to honor Indra by giving him a scented garland. Indra took the garland, but placed it on the forehead of his elephant. The elephant was irritated by the scent and threw the garland off, trampling on it. The angry sage gave Indra a ...

Including:

• Churning of the ocean of milk - Appeal to Brahma
• Churning of the ocean of milk - Churning the mountain
• Churning of the ocean of milk - Halahala
• Churning of the ocean of milk - The nectar of immortality

Read more here: » Churning of the ocean of milk: Encyclopedia - Churning of the ocean of milk

Urvasi was an Apsara in Hindu mythology. She was a celestial maiden in Indra's court and was considered the most beautiful of all the Apsara's. Urvasi and Arjuna In the "Forest Book" of the Mahabharata where the Pandavas spent 12 years in exile, Arjuna lived in the court of his father Indra for a period of time. During this time, he rejected the amorous advances of Urvasi. Angered, Urvasi curs ...

Read more here: » Urvasi: Encyclopedia - Urvasi

Brāhmanahatya is Sanskrit for "the act of killing a Brahmin". Hindus consider this act to be a major sin, even more then ordinary murder. In a story involving Indra and Vritra, Brāhmanahatya is personified as a hideous goddess. ...

Read more here: » Brāhmanahatya: Encyclopedia - Brāhmanahatya

In Norse mythology, Mjolnir (also commonly spelled Mjollnir; literally, "that which crushes") is the Hammer of Thor, the god of lightning and thunder. It is the most fearsome weapon in the arsenal of the Norse pantheon, used to slay any challengers to Æsir supremacy. Legend surrounding the war hammer’s origins vary: some relate that 'The Black Elves', or dwarves, Sindri and Brokk made it at the behest of the calculating Loki; other tales contend that it descended to earth as a meteorite. Consequently, many Norse pagans believed tha ...

Including:

• Mjolnir - Norse myth
• Mjolnir - Culture
• Mjolnir - Other spellings

Read more here: » Mjolnir: Encyclopedia - Mjolnir

Kalpavriksha or Kalpataru is a wish-fulfilling divine tree. It originated during the churning of milk ocean, and King of gods, Indra took it to heavens. Kalpavriksha - Reference. Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0500510881) by Anna Dhallapiccola ...

Including:

• Kalpavriksha - Reference

Read more here: » Kalpavriksha: Encyclopedia - Kalpavriksha

Mandodari was the daughter of the King of Danavas, Mayasura and celestial dancer, Hema. Mandodari was a very pious woman who was afraid of nothing except for untruth and unrighteousness. She was considered very beautiful and therefore, because of her appeal, she was married to Ravana. She was the first wife of the Lord of Lanka and was the favorite one as well. She was the mother of Indrajit, who was very powerful and strong and conquered Indra, king of the Gods.

Read more here: » Mandodari: Encyclopedia - Mandodari