Indra
King of the Devas
King of the devas and ruler of Svargam. Controls rain and storms. Powerful but often humbled by Vishnu and Shiva in the Puranas.
- Sanskrit/Telugu name: ఇంద్రుడు
- Also known as: Devendra, Purandara, Svargadhipati
- Vehicle (vahana): Airavata (తెల్ల ఏనుగు)
- Weapons: Vajrayudam (thunderbolt)
- Symbols: Vajram, White elephant, Crown, Rainbow
Story
Indra Deva is the most prominent god in the Rig Vedam - the original king of all devas. He slew the dragon Vritra to release the waters and bring rain. But over time, he became more of a secondary character - powerful but flawed, often jealous of losing his simhasanam. In the Puranas, he is frequently humbled. Krishna once lifted Govardhana Giri to protect the villagers from Indra's vengeful storms, teaching him that true bhakti matters more than yaga and ritual sacrifice. In Telugu tradition, he appears in many stories as the ruler of Svargam who is always worried about someone surpassing him.
Fun fact
Indra basically peaked in the Vedic period and has been getting humbled ever since. Every other Puranam has a story where he gets scared someone will take his throne and causes trouble.