Indra

The supreme deity of Hindus during the early vedic period, Indra is associated with the weather and war; he is the greatest warrior of all the gods. His weapon (which he used to kill the giant serpent Vritra with the help of the other gods), is the thunderbolt (Vajra), though he also uses a bow, net and a hook. He rode a large, albino elephant called Airavata, whose four tusks resemble mountains. Indra is the leader of the Devas. Originally, he was probably a solar deity, riding a gold chariot across the sky. He brought water to Earth, and as such is sometimes worshipped as a god of fertility who can resurrect soldiers who die in battle. He is married to Indrani (whose father, Puloman, Indra killed), and is the father of Arjuna, Jayanta, Midhusa, Nilambara, Rbhus, Rsabha and Sitragupta. Indra is also the father of Balin and Surya. He is attended to by the Maruts, children of Diti and Rudra. Indra had murdered Diti's previous children, so she hoped her son would be more powerful than him and kept herself pregnant for a century, practicing magic to aid her fetal son. When Indra discovered this, he threw a thunderbold at her and shattered the fetus into the Maruts, a group of less powerful storm gods.

He lives in Svarga in the clouds around Mt. Meru. Deceased warriors went to his hall after death, where they lived without sadness, pain or fear. They watched the Apsaras and the Gandharvas dance, and played games.

He pulled his father, Dyaus Pita, from the sky by the foot. He fell to his death. Afterwards, he married his mother (who supported the murder), Prthivi.

Vritra, an asura, stole all the water in the world and Indra drank much Soma to prepare himself for the battle with the huge dragon. He passed through Vritra's ninety-nine fortresses and then slayed the monster. He brought water back to Earth.

Later, Vritra was created by Tvashtri to get revenge for Indra's murder of his son, Trisiras. Vritra won the battle and swallowed Indra, but the other gods forced him to vomit Indra out. The battle continued and Indra fled. Vishnu and the rishis brokered a truce, and Indra swore he would not attack Vritra with anything made of metal, wood or stone, nor anything that was dry or wet, or during the day or the night. Indra used the foam from the waves of the ocean to kill him.

In later, Brahamanic times, Indra's position was stolen by Vishnu and Shiva. He needs their help to kill Vritra. According to the Mahabharata, a horrible goddess named Brahminicide came from the dead corpse of Vritra (herein a Brahman) and pursued Indra, who his inside a lotus flower. Indra went to Brahma and begged forgiveness for having killed a Brahman.

In art, Indria is depicted as a muscular, red man, sometimes with four very long arms.