Indra
This drawing for storm, was inspired by a frieze of Indra, from Angor Wat.
Indra, one of my favourites, was the top God of the Vedic times, the Lord of the Devas, lording over from Mount Meru. Much like Zeus from mount Olympus. Amongst his celebrated accomplishments in the Vedas, notable were his role in the battle of Ten kings, and his vanquishing of Vrtra, the serpent/dragon, to liberate the waters. Even in Valmiki Ramayan, he is the most prayed for God. Of course, with the puranas, he becomes bit of a joke. Interesting to speculate why he might have fallen out favour to the Tri-Murthi. Perhaps a series of droughts? Or was it a changing sense of morality in the society, and it was no longer considered politically correct to pray to him?
Interestingly he was also taken up in the Buddhist pantheon, well represented in the Buddhist art much before than Hindu art. He spread via Hinduism and Buddhism to the South East Asian countries. This must have happened over a period of time through migration, Trade and conquests (Cholas). Angor wat, in Cambodia, is one of the largest Hindu temple complexes in the whole world.
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