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While some puranas describe Indra as a devotee of Lord Vishnu or other gods, the Vedas, in contrast depict Lord Indra as the most important gods. This is visible across the length and breadth of the Vedic literature.

However, in the puranas we find stories that Indra was defeated by Lord Krishna and others, Lord Indra was helpless and hence went and prayed to Lord Vishnu etc.

Why is that the importance of Vedic gods, especially Indra, Agni, etc. reduced after the advent of puranic worship?

Indra: About a quarter of the Rig Veda is addressed to Indra. There is hardly any hymn where Indra has not been celebrated. Even in the Soma Mandala, Indra has been called out as the Greatest Somapa (Drinker of Soma). He is the Satakratu (Performer of hundred yajnas), the Maghavan (Bestower of plenty), the Purandr (Destroyer of enemies’ forts). He is the Hero of the Heroes.

Vishnu: Vishnu is a minor God (less mainframe), linked to his 3 strides. Only 6 hymns of the Holy Rg Veda extol Lord Visnu. Vishnu has been variously called Urukrama (wide strides) Urugaya (Wide moving). In Rig Veda Vishnu has been several times associated with Indra. Vishnu accompanied the Great Indra in several battles against Dasas and A-suras, most significant being the annihilation of Vrtr.

Subsequent Vaishnav cult and Puranic literature reversed the roles, identifying Lord Vishnu with the sustainor and relegating Indra to a minor rain-God, who was vanquished by an Avatar - Lord Krshna.

What is then the reason that mainstream Vedic gods were replaced by others?

Who is responsible for this shift from Vedic to puranic worship?

Rakesh Joshi
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  • What is opinion of Sri Aurobindo on this? – The Destroyer Nov 28 '17 at 04:40
  • Are you sure that Vishnu mentioned in Rigveda is the one from Trinity? Can't he be one of the sons of Aditi? Anyhow u hv already asked another similar question, why don't u combine both the questions? – YDS Nov 28 '17 at 08:15
  • The name Vishnu only is used. So what gives you ground for ur speculations that it is not Vishnu but someone else? @YDS – Rickross Nov 28 '17 at 08:35
  • May be Aditi named his one son after Lord Vishnu because Puranas shows Vishnu as Aditya. Or it is referring Vamana incarnation. In the Chandogya Upanishad, Âditya is also a name of Viṣṇu, in his avatar as Vāmana. His mother is Aditi. – YDS Nov 28 '17 at 08:37
  • So you are just speculating based on what the later day scriptures say. This is not enough to convince people who will say " if it's mentioned as Vishnu in the Vedas then it has to be Vishnu only". Otherwise we are doubting The Veda itself which is not a good thing for a Hindu to do. In other words, from Vedas themselves you can not prove that the Vishnu in Vedas is not Vishnu himself but someone else. @YDS – Rickross Nov 28 '17 at 08:50
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    In Rigveda, different different sages are performing yajna to Devas and calling Devas to accept their offering. Indra as a kings of gods and Agni as a mediator b/w gods & sages got more preference. – YDS Nov 28 '17 at 08:50
  • @Rickross okay you prove me that why this Vishnu of Vedas can't be Vamana. He is an incarnation of Vishnu so Vishnu name can be given. He is younger brother of Indra too so might hv got less space in Rig-Veda. – YDS Nov 28 '17 at 08:53
  • @Rickross I don't doubt vedas. But I keep in mind that "Ved kabhu jhooth khe na bhaai, Jhoote hain jo samjhat naahi" – YDS Nov 28 '17 at 08:55
  • What is the need for me to prove that? I will say Vedas tell us the truth. So, if they say it is Vishnu so be it. If it was Vamana then they could have said Vamana, What's the big deal in it? Why should i unnecessarily doubt the Vedas? I don't have any reasons to do so. Right? @YDS – Rickross Nov 28 '17 at 08:55
  • @Rickross Yes, Vedas tell us truth but in Sanskrit. Atleast u hv to translate them correctly. It's ur belief, no further comments on it. But atleast we hv to make sure that we are not trying to defame a famous Lord from Trinity without a proper base. – YDS Nov 28 '17 at 08:59
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    @YDS what will be your opinion if trinity is not mentioned in vedas ? Its actually other way around . some vedic gods are defamed in puranic literature. – Rakesh Joshi Nov 28 '17 at 09:57
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    @RakeshJoshi I m not that much knowledgeable person to give my opinion on Vedas. As per my little knowledge that I gained from Rigveda, I found that different different sages are performing yajna to 33 Koti (type) Devas and calling Devas to accept their offering. Indra as a kings of Devas and Agni as a mediator b/w Devas & sages got more preference. In Reigveda, Shiva is also not included but Rudra, who is included in 33 Koti (type) Devas that means only Adityas, Rudras, Vasus, Aswinis etc. got more preference in Rigveda and not Trinity. (1/2) – YDS Nov 28 '17 at 10:15
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    My intuition says that Vishnu in Rigveda is Aditya (i.e. either Vamana or some other son of Aditi) and not the Lord Vishnu from Trinity. In the same way Rudra from Rudras is there in Rigveda but not Lord Shiva from Trinity. Please note that these are my personnel view that I gave when asked. Sorry in advance. (2/2) – YDS Nov 28 '17 at 10:15
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    Isn't it the case that most of the Vedas are lost? If the loss has been uniform across all chapters, we will see a uniform set of gods. Else we would be missing many deities. For example, if random portions of the Ramayana were lost, we could miss the initial swayamvara, Vali, Jatayu, Hanuman's meeting with Sita etc. It's not that they are major characters but important events. We will never lose Rama. – user1952500 Nov 28 '17 at 19:15
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    And if you want to merely consider percentages of hymns, consider the MBH. The core story of Pandavas is already a minor part. And the story of Krishna is even smaller. That does not mean that one is above the other, or that the MBH is not about the Pandavas and the war. – user1952500 Nov 28 '17 at 19:16
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    The final point I want to make is: we need to consider what each work is for. Do we need to know about Indra etc in the ManuSmriti? Not really because it's not intended to talk about Indra. What is the purpose of the Vedic works? Is it to extol Gods? It has been chiefly an instrument for yagnas and hymns for material benefits. Yes, you will not find a hymn to cause rain which is addressed to Vishnu / Shiva. Does that mean anything more than the fact that the easiest way to get rain is to pray to Varuna / Indra / Mitra? – user1952500 Nov 28 '17 at 19:19
  • @user1952500 its not true – Rakesh Joshi Nov 28 '17 at 22:04
  • @user1952500 i have some strong points to share in reply to you. But it will be better to carry the discussion in a chat room – Rakesh Joshi Nov 28 '17 at 22:06
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    The shift from Vedic to Puranic religion is the transfer of power from SaptaSindhu to Madhyadesa. The RigVedic events took place in Pakistan/Western Punjab - the battle between Indra and Krishna (govardhana giri) marks Vedic/Hindu culture moving to Uttar Pradesh and nearby areas. – S K Nov 28 '17 at 00:24

4 Answers4

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Is Indra the chief god of the Vedas?

Yes. This is already discussed in Which Vedic verses describe Indra as Brahman?

But, please note that Agni, Surya, Prajapati, Brahma, Shakti, Shiva and Vishnu also can be proved Supreme. This is already discussed in below questions:

How were the Trimurthi born?

Which Vedic verses describe Indra as Brahman?

Do any verses in the Vedas declare Agni to be supreme?

Why is Lord Surya also called Suryanarayana?

Which scriptures or Vedic hymns declare the Sun as the Supreme God (Brahman)?

Do any Vedic verses depict Lord Vishnu to be supreme?

Are the Vedic Gods Prajapati and Brahma the same?

Why Lord Vishnu is refereed as Upendra (Junior to Indra) in Vedas?

Just because of his incarnation as Vamana (as younger brother of Indra). And due to this very reason Lord Vishnu is called as Aditya. Vishnu in Adityas is not the Lord Vishnu from Trinity but his incarnation as a son of Aditi. Even being a Upendra he saved Indra's throne from Bali by measuring the entire Universe in his three steps.

Why is Lord Vishnu referred to as Upendra in the Vedas?

Lord Vishnu is not only Upendra but also Mahendra. Valmiki Ramayana ६-११७-१७:

इन्द्रकर्मा महेन्द्रस्त्वं पद्मनाभो रणान्तकृत् || शरण्यं शरणम् च त्वामहुर्दिव्या महर्षयः |

And last point, Puranas didn't make Indra as rain god, he is depicted as rain god in Rigveda too.

Is Indra of the Vedas the rain god Indra?

YDS
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  • Many deities are.told as brahman but cheif means prominent – Rakesh Joshi Dec 07 '17 at 09:48
  • @RakeshJoshi Yes, Indra is prominent too..if we talk about Devas then how come their king is not prominent..And when we say Indra, Prajapati, Vedvyas, Manu etc we actually talk about a Post and not about an individual.. ofcourse Indra (king of Devas) is definitely a prominent post.... – YDS Dec 07 '17 at 10:00
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normally indra was at vedic times the god who defeated vritra , rain causing god, helper of cows and also the friend of men who helped men against dasyus and dasas and protector of rivers, lord indra freed rivers and usas[ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Vedic) ]
but at that time this was only indra who defeated vritra and vala so till that time he was the prominent god also agni was the prpminent god and both were twin brothers well in that case also all gods were great and were praised in their hymns. ' https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indra

well the reason of prominence of indra and agni that time i will explain with examples Maruta ganas were sons of lord rudra in vedas but they have more hymns dedicated to them than lord rudra in rigveda. The reason behind this is they were compainions of indra and helped him finding the cows which were hidden.

So after in post-vedic age when asuras appeared which can not be killed by indra and were killed by the great gods like lord shiva, lord vishnu and godness durga etc. the got more prominence like in vedic days lord vishnu was famous for his three strides which of two are seen by mortals and the third by immortals.

As rigveda means "the book of praises"

This answer is upto you to consider this is just my opinion. ;)

Fierce lord
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  • It is not about being ultimate god or not. Its about prime deity. This is not to. Mean that other deities are lesser. – Rakesh Joshi Nov 28 '17 at 22:07
  • answer updated thanks for your opinion. ;) – Fierce lord Nov 29 '17 at 08:18
  • puranas say that indra.cannot defeat asuras.in.order to introduce the concept of avataras – Rakesh Joshi Feb 07 '18 at 23:47
  • @Rakesh joshi i thought the question is about vedas prime diety??? And btw if you not remember till epic period till he got some importance like he revived the vanara sena of rama and in mahabharata great warriors like arjun and karna were compared with sakra(indra) but in purans he got a lot down and not very powerfull. – Fierce lord Feb 08 '18 at 07:59
  • so its up to you if you go by vedas or mahabharata. And puranas – Rakesh Joshi Feb 08 '18 at 11:04
  • @Rakesh joshi Yes vedas discribe all gods as equal but declare migthty deeds of indra but lord rudra, lord vishnu and lord hiranyagarbha or prajapati are unborn in vedas if you have noticed that vishnu is an aditya in aranyaka or brahmanas but nt in samhitas same for lord rudra and hiranyagarbha is edentified with supreme being in book 10 so all are great. – Fierce lord Feb 08 '18 at 11:26
  • Go though this https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/19035/7853 @fierce – Rakesh Joshi Feb 08 '18 at 11:31
  • @Rakesh joshi i do not deny that indra is great but others are too great now you go throgh this here is my answer here:— https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/24043/is-lord-ganesha-considered-same-as-the-ultimate-truth-and-reality-brahman/24045#24045

    Here you will understand that all are equal please reply what you get from it.

    And yes indra is great in vedic, average in epics and in purans he is a diety king you can go by which you want shruti or smriti :)

     – Fierce lord Feb 08 '18 at 12:20
  • not great he is brHman – Rakesh Joshi Feb 08 '18 at 18:16
  • Any god can be considred brahmana haven't you gone through the link i gave and yes you respect him a lot i too indra gives us rain so yes he is brahman. :) @Rakesh joshi – Fierce lord Feb 08 '18 at 18:31
  • Rudra narayana prajapati Indra all equal. That is the point plus indra is chief vedic deity. Thats what i was saying. – Rakesh Joshi Feb 08 '18 at 18:33
  • he is cheif diety but not of tridevas @rakesh joshi – Fierce lord Feb 08 '18 at 18:39
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Yes, Who old that Designation will be the GOD of that.

Indra is not a one person, it's position hold one after one. As per Adi parva of Shiva Purana. When Discussing about Draupadi Janma rahasya. Shiva will test the Indira and ask him to make two pieces of the cave with his Vajrayuda. Once he break, he will she another 4 persons like him and will ask shiva with surprising. Who are there, Then Shiva replies, Before you Take over, these people hold that position and weapon.

So, as per this Indra is not a God, it's a designation

ntshetty
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You're talking about rig Veda, even in all four Vedas, narayana suktam talks about supreme brahman and purusha suktam, both for Lord Vishnu. westerners want to divide India using rig Veda. The biggest of hymns are only for Lord Vishnu.

Also having more hymns doesn't mean he is supreme. He is born to aditi. He has a soul and will die.

Anubhav Jha
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  • Its totally wrong. I can show you many more verses showing greatness and supremacy of lord Indra who is the chief vedic god – Rakesh Joshi Feb 07 '18 at 23:45