Hindus should restart worshipping Indra

[ThunderRD]

I really can't understand why Hindus have stopped worshipping Indra. I am not saying that his worship has entirely stopped. But he has been reduced to a minor deity.

During Rigvedic times Indra was the most important God and was also the most worshipped. In fact according to Rigved he is the Supreme God. It is the Puranas which describe him as lustful, materialistic, insecure, one who acts instinctively without thinking etc. His today's image is based upon some wrong things told in the Puranas.

But Puranas cannot be taken to be true as they were written much later. So it is time that we consider him as the Supreme God and restart worshipping him.

 

[Me Myself]

Sell him to me.

Tell me stories I will like

 

[Vinayaka]

Hinduism is about changing yourself, not the religion. Personally, I'm totally happy with the way it is right now. For me, it's about the way it is today, not how it was back then. We are a shifting, moving, adapting faith, not stagnant at all.

But if someone wants to try, go for it.

 

[Kalidas]

Who said you can't worship Indra? I won't stop you

 

[HankHill]

From what I know (I was raised Hindu) when Krishna lifted the Govardhana Hill, there was a shift in Hindu religiosity from worship centered more around the Vedic devatas like Indra, Agni, and Varuna towards the devatas we are more familiar with now like Vishnu, Shiva, Ganapathi, etc. Also, the writings and popularity of the Puranas and the myths contained within them contributed to the shift.

 

[Jainarayan]

Good point. It was Krishna Himself who explicitly told the villagers not to worship Indra.

 

[Viraja]

Even in the other site, there was a discussion on worshiping Indra. While Indra is known to have been worshiped by the great Bharadwaja muni for longevity, and Indra along with Vishnu battled Vritra and destroyed him, there have been instances in puranas where Indra molested a married lady in disguise (Ahalya), and Indra to have arrogantly thrown the garland of mother Lakshmi handed to him resulting in depletion of wealth in the heavens leading to the churning of milky ocean. However when Indra is stated to be the supreme Brahman in Rigveda, I am confused... are there really 2 Indras in reality?

 

[vistascan]

Even in the other site, there was a discussion on worshiping Indra. While Indra is known to have been worshiped by the great Bharadwaja muni for longevity, and Indra along with Vishnu battled Vritra and destroyed him, there have been instances in puranas where Indra molested a married lady in disguise (Ahalya), and Indra to have arrogantly thrown the garland of mother Lakshmi handed to him resulting in depletion of wealth in the heavens leading to the churning of milky ocean. However when Indra is stated to be the supreme Brahman in Rigveda, I am confused... are there really 2 Indras in reality?

A thing about Hinduism is that one sect can use one God to denigrate another God. This is what has happened with Indra, and since he didn't have many defenders, he got relegated to a minor position.

 

[Viraja]

A thing about Hinduism is that one sect can use one God to denigrate another God. This is what has happened with Indra, and since he didn't have many defenders, he got relegated to a minor position.

Oh yeah! When the great Trivikramavatara of Sri Vishnu took place to stop Mahabali (with all his penances) from becoming Indra, we can imagine how important that post is and how worthwhile someone should be to become one! For isn't Indra the lord of all Devas (meritorious souls)?!

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

This type of shift happens in other religions as well. Some gods, or in the case of Christianity - one version of God, falls out of favor and is replaced by a version that is more relevant to the people living in a given era. This is why there's an old testament and a new one. God's old covenant and his new covenant.

I confess I don't know much about Indra, but if one feels devotion to him, there's nothing wrong with that as long as that devotion inspires one to live a good life. I don't think Hindus as a group have to shift their appreciation back to Indra in order for an individual to feel like their Indra Bhakti is validated.

Everything moves in cycles too. Who knows who will be in favor 1,000 years from now?

Shanti :camp:

 

[Breathe]

Oṃ Laṃ Indrāya Namaḥ.

I won't stop you worshiping Lord Indra. By all means, do so.

Here's his Gāyatrī chant:

Aum Sahasra Netraye Vidmahe
Vajra Hastraye Dhimahi
Tanno Indrah Prachodayat

But, I must ask: are you Western born? We Westerners, due to Abrahamic cultural influence, often take an interest in Lord Indra and Lord Brahmā.

 

[Kalidas]

This type of shift happens in other religions as well. Some gods, or in the case of Christianity - one version of God, falls out of favor and is replaced by a version that is more relevant to the people living in a given era. This is why there's an old testament and a new one. God's old covenant and his new covenant.

I confess I don't know much about Indra, but if one feels devotion to him, there's nothing wrong with that as long as that devotion inspires one to live a good life. I don't think Hindus as a group have to shift their appreciation back to Indra in order for an individual to feel like their Indra Bhakti is validated.

Everything moves in cycles too. Who knows who will be in favor 1,000 years from now?

Shanti :camp:

Well put. Religions need to adapt or die. I think Hinduism has done this well, but this does not mean you have to change with it. If you prefer "the old gods" what matters of other are on your side?

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

Funny how people have answers right under their noses, or in their signatures..

वदन्ति एकम् सत्, विप्राः बहुधा वदन्ति

Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti

they say All is one, theologians call it by many names.
Rig Veda 1.164:46

the complete mantra should be cited to see who is Indra in the Veda.

They call it Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, is the Divine good winged bird (the sun with beautiful rays). The sages describe the one and the same in various ways and call it Agni, Yama, Matarisvan.
Rigveda 1.164.46

So this answers the question of who to worship.

 

[Ashoka]

A lot of Hindus worship Sri Indra, maybe not as much as Sri Vishnu or Shiva Bhagavan, but he is still worshiped.

 

[Kalidas]

Funny how people have answers right under their noses, or in their signatures..



the complete mantra should be cited to see who is Indra in the Veda.

They call it Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, is the Divine good winged bird (the sun with beautiful rays). The sages describe the one and the same in various ways and call it Agni, Yama, Matarisvan.
Rigveda 1.164.46

So this answers the question of who to worship.

Yeah but I didn't want to be like "HEY LOOK IN MY SIGNATURE YO!"

 

[Vinayaka]

A lot of Hindus worship Sri Indra, maybe not as much as Sri Vishnu or Shiva Bhagavan, but he is still worshiped.

In well over 100 Hindu temples I've been in, I have yet to see a shrine to Indra. All of them have had either Siva or Vishnu in some form.

 

[Ashoka]

In well over 100 Hindu temples I've been in, I have yet to see a shrine to Indra. All of them have had either Siva or Vishnu in some form.

Very true, his murtis are rare. Though I have met Hindus who have Him as their Ishta-Devata.

 

[Vinayaka]

Very true, his murtis are rare. Though I have met Hindus who have Him as their Ishta-Devata.

Yes, I know one too.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

Yeah but I didn't want to be like "HEY LOOK IN MY SIGNATURE YO!"

Yeh i know, it was just there in my face, and i could not help myself, sorry to use you as a pawn in my game of "stating the obvious"..... no hard feeling mate

OHM TATH SATH

 

[Kalidas]

Yeh i know, it was just there in my face, and i could not help myself, sorry to use you as a pawn in my game of "stating the obvious"..... no hard feeling mate

OHM TATH SATH

None at all friend. That's why its there lol