Indra. Indra is represented at various times and in various texts as having sprung from the mouth of Purusha, or as being a child of heaven and earth, whom he thrust asunder, as Tutenganahau thrust asunder Rangi and Papa in the New Zealand myth. In a passage of the Black Yajur Veda, once already quoted, Indra, sheep, and the Kshattriya caste were said to have sprung from the breast and arms of Prajapati.[1] In yet another hymn in the Rig-Veda he is said to have conquered heaven by magical austerity.
Leaving the Brahmanas aside, Mr. Perry[2] distinguishes four sorts of Vedic texts on the origin of Indra:—
- 1. Purely physical.
- 2. Anthropomorphic.
- 3. Vague references to Indra's parents.
- 4. Philosophical speculations.
Of the first class,[3] it does not appear to us that the purely physical element is so very pure after all. Heaven, earth, Indra, "the cow," are all thought of as personal entities, however gigantic and vague. In the second or anthropomorphic myths we have[4] the dialogue already referred to, in which Indra, like Set in Egypt and Malsumis or Chokanipok in America, insists on breaking his way through his mother's side.[5] In verse 5 his mother exposes Indra, as Maui and the youngest son of Aditi were exposed. Indra soon after,
- ↑ Muir, i. 16.
- ↑ Op. cit., p. 124.
- ↑ Rig-Veda, iv. 17, 4, 2, 12; iv. 22, 4; i. 63, i; viii. 59, 4; viii. 6, 28–30.
- ↑ Rig-Veda, iv. 18, i.
- ↑ Cf. "Egyptian Divine Myths."
