Indra
Indra, wielder of the vajra thunderbolt, leads the Devas, slays the drought serpent Vritra, and releases life-giving waters. A heroic yet flawed king, he embodies both protection and restless desire.
Story beats
- 1) Born to slay Vritra, Indra drinks soma and storms to battle.
- 2) With the vajra forged by Tvastr, he shatters the serpent dam, freeing rivers and rain.
- 3) As king of gods, he wins and loses status through deeds and misdeeds—jealousies, disguises, and penances.
- 4) Later epics temper his primacy with younger gods, but he remains gatekeeper of storms and Svarga’s halls.
Context & symbolism
Indra personifies monsoon power and the socio-political role of a warrior leader. His victories secure fertility; his moral lapses warn of hubris. The Vritra myth encodes release of waters and order over chaos.
His vajra links lightning with adamantine resolve; soma-fueled exploits connect ecstasy to might.
Motifs
- Thunderbolt (vajra) and lightning chariot
- Serpent-slaying to release rivers
- Peacocks, Airavata elephant mount
- Cycles of pride, disguise, and atonement
Use it in play
- Appeal to Indra to end a drought—earn his favor by restoring his lost vajra.
- Battle a damming serpent while storms rage; keep rivers from flooding villages.
- Navigate celestial court politics where Indra’s jealousy is as dangerous as his aid.
- Harness soma-like elixir for power; manage the side effects of overindulgence.