Indra is the thunder-and-rain king of the gods of the Vedas, India's oldest songs — and he rides a white elephant with four tusks.
In the Rigveda — India's oldest book of hymns, more than 3,000 years old — Indra is the most-praised god of all. He rides a great white elephant named Airavata, swings a thunderbolt called the vajra, and his thousand eyes are said to be the stars in the sky.
Once, a giant serpent named Vritra swallowed all the rivers and sat coiled on top of them, leaving the earth cracked and thirsty. Indra hurled his thunderbolt, split the serpent open, and the rivers leapt out and rushed home — which is why Indra is the god of rain and storms.
Indra's seat as king is not forever. The stories say that whenever he grows proud, he loses his throne until he remembers to be humble — a reminder written into the Vedas thousands of years ago: even kings must stay kind.
Vritra, a mighty serpent, held back the waters. The rivers could not flow freely. Indra faced Vritra with his thunderbolt. He defeated Vritra and freed the waters. The rivers rushed forward again.
⭐ Lesson: Be brave when others need help.
The gods won a battle and felt very proud. Indra went to meet a mysterious visitor. The visitor vanished, and wise Uma appeared. She explained that their victory came from a greater power. Indra learned that the gods had not won alone.
⭐ Lesson: Remember the help behind every success.
What it means: We bow with respect to Indra, the heavenly king linked with rain and thunder.
The vajra was forged from the bones of the sage Dadhichi, who gave them willingly — a story about the greatest gift of all: sacrifice.