r/RigvedicHinduism

Vedic Indra's Names & Epithets (Part 1) | Vedic Indra 101 (Part 2): In our previous episode, we outlined the etymology, origins and various 'births' of Indra - the central divine concept/deity of the Vedas. We dispelled many myths regarding Indra - who is often reduced to a storm/rain god in the popular consciousness. However, that analysis still doesn't reveal the full breadth of this Vedic deity. Indra's epithets and alternate names further reveal a multivariate, multidimensional divinity with diverse cosmic functions and a rich poetic vocabulary ascribed to him. In this video - Epithets of Indra Part 1, we seek to highlight the first set of epithets. Enter the cerebral yagna!

Chapters:
↯ 00:00 Introduction to Vedic Pantheon Visions artwork series by Achintya Venkatesh
↯ 01:25 Introduction to the Epithets of Indra and Indra 101 recap
↯ 02:10 Striker and Warrior Hero epithets: Indra as the kinetic force of agency
↯ 14:38 All-Seeing and All-Pervading epithets: Indra the all-knowing
↯ 16:55 Giver/Patron (The Magha epithet cluster): Indra as the generous deity
↯ 18:58 Soma Epithets: Indra's intimate relationship with Soma
↯ 22:14 Patron of Artists: Indra's artistic epithets

No, this is not one of those Vaishnava theories of "Indra is Post saaar". Rather, it is quite the contrary.

I am quite new to this space and would to learn more about Vedic beleifs in a more non-secretarian and histroic manner. So kindly take my speculation with a pinch of salt.

Now the reason I ask this question is because we have different descriptions of Indra's lineage. I feel like I am missing out on some metaphysical elements in the Samhita(which certainly exist). Then again, historians suggest that we have lost so much of the veda, which would create a bunch of missing links.

Here it says he was born of Purusha's mouth

>च॒न्द्रमा॒ मन॑सो जा॒तश्चक्षो॒: सूर्यो॑ अजायत । मुखा॒दिन्द्र॑श्चा॒ग्निश्च॑ प्रा॒णाद्वा॒युर॑जायत ॥ चन्द्रमा मनसो जातश्चक्षोः सूर्यो अजायत । मुखादिन्द्रश्चाग्निश्च प्राणाद्वायुरजायत ॥(RigVeda 10.90.13)

“The moon was born from his mind; the sun was born from his eye; Indra and Agni were born from his mouth*, Vāyu from his breath.”*

Here it says that Dyaus is his father and earth is his mother.

>द्यौर्मे॑ पि॒ता ज॑नि॒ता नाभि॒रत्र॒ बन्धु॑र्मे मा॒ता पृ॑थि॒वी म॒हीयम् । उ॒त्ता॒नयो॑श्च॒म्वो॒३॒॑र्योनि॑र॒न्तरत्रा॑ पि॒ता दु॑हि॒तुर्गर्भ॒माधा॑त् ॥ द्यौर्मे पिता जनिता नाभिरत्र बन्धुर्मे माता पृथिवी महीयम् । उत्तानयोश्चम्वोर्योनिरन्तरत्रा पिता दुहितुर्गर्भमाधात् ॥((RigVeda 1.164.33))

"Dyaus is my Father, my begetter: kinship is here. This great earth is my kin and Mother. Between the wide-spread world-halves is the birth-place: the Father laid the Daughter's germ within it."

If he was directly born from the mouth of purusha, why would Dyaus and Prthivi be his parents? It seems like there are multiple forms of Indra. This is even attested in the following hymn :

>रूपं-रूपं परतिरूपो बभूव तदस्य रूपं परतिचक्षणाय |इन्द्रो मायाभिः पुरुरूप ईयते युक्ता हयस्य हरयःशता दश || (RigVeda 6.47.18)

"In every figure he hath been the mode: this is his only form for us to look on. Indra assumes many form by his Maya, for his Bay Steeds are yoked, ten times a hundred." (Griffiths)

“Indra, the prototype, has assumed various forms, and such is his form as that which (he adopts) for his manifestation; Indra, multiform by his illusion, proceeds (to his many worshippers), for the horses, yoked to his car are a thousand." (H.H Wilson)

I've attached two different translations for this one as the first is more abstract than the second and can possibly be interpreted differently.

Now I would like to know, who exactly is Indra in the Rigveda? from what I understand, he seems like the central Indo-European style hero figure who is the warrior manifestation of the ultimate. I say this because IMO Rigveda seems to be kathenotheistic and the Steppe nomads(and most bronz age IE cultures in general), who had to go into battle quite often, invoked him the most, in turn making him the most important god.