Indra - Indra (English spelling)

An ancient Indian god of bravery and heroism. Known in ancient Iran, Asia Minor, and Mesopotamia, he was originally a thunder god, but was gradually personified. The Aryan people who invaded India from the Iranian plateau made him the ideal Aryan warrior, and about a quarter of all hymns in the Rig-Veda are in praise of him, making him the most important god in Vedic mythology. His entire body, including his hair and beard, is brown, and his great physique dominates the universe, racing through the air accompanied by the storm god Marut. He drinks the sacred liquor Soma to nourish his energy, and holds a weapon called a bajra (a diamond pestle, lightning strike), which he throws to defeat the snake-like demon Bhritra, bringing long-awaited water and light to the human world, a feat that is particularly famous among many myths. The myths surrounding this god were passed down after the Brahmanas (ritual books), and in Hindu mythology, he is portrayed as more human and individualistic. His wife was Shachi, and his son was Jashita. He reigned over the sacred city of Amaravati, and his charioteer Matari drove his beloved car Bheemana. The elephant he rode was called Airavata. In his garden, Nandana, there was the wish-granting tree Parijata, where the heavenly maidens Apsaras dance to the music of the heavenly beings Gandharvas. It was believed that he would welcome here brave warriors who died honorably in battle. However, his position as the head of the divine world gradually became nominal, and he was often defeated by the enemy Asuras, barely escaping difficult situations by using clever tactics and strategies. His boldness led him to commit grave crimes such as murdering a Brahmin and seducing the wife of a hermit, but his humorous nature makes him the protagonist of legends and stories that are not tragic. He became one of the eight guardian deities and was appointed as the protector of the east, and when he converted to Buddhism he was called Shaktikan'in or Taishakuten, and became the guardian deity of Buddhism.

[Hara Minoru]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代インドの武勇神、英雄神。古くはイラン、小アジア、メソポタミアにも知られ、もとは雷霆(らいてい)神であったものがしだいに擬人化された。イラン高原からインドへ侵入したアーリア人は、この神をアーリア戦士の理想像とし、また『リグ・ベーダ』における全賛歌の約4分の1はこの神をたたえたもので、ベーダ神話のなかでももっとも重要な神である。頭髪や髭(ひげ)をはじめ全身が茶褐色で、その偉大な体躯(たいく)は宇宙を威圧し、暴風神マルト神群を従えて空中を馳(は)せ巡る。神酒ソーマを飲んで鋭気を養い、手には武器バジェラ（金剛杵(こんごうしょ)、雷撃）を持つが、これを投擲(とうてき)して蛇形の悪魔ブリトラを退治し、人間界に待望の水と光明をもたらした偉業は、数ある神話のなかでもとくに有名である。またこの神にまつわる神話は『ブラーフマナ』（祭儀書）以降伝えられ、ヒンドゥー教神話において、より人間的、個性的に描かれる。妻はシャチー、息子はジャシタで、神都アマラーバテティー（アマラバティ）に君臨し御者マータリが愛車ビーマナを駆る。彼の乗るゾウはアイラーバタといわれる。その庭園ナンダナには如意樹(にょいじゅ)パーリジャータがあり、天人ガンダルバの音楽にあわせて天女アプサラスが踊っているが、彼は戦場で名誉の戦死を遂げた勇士をここに迎えると信じられていた。しかし、しだいに神界の長としての地位は名目的となりしばしば敵軍アスラに敗北しては奇計や策略を用いてかろうじて苦境を脱した。その豪放性からバラモン殺害や仙人の妻の誘惑などの大罪も犯すが、一方諧謔(かいぎゃく)性のために、悲壮感を伴わない伝説や物語の主人公となっている。護天八神の一つとなって東方の守護に任じた彼は、仏教に入ると釈提桓因(しゃくだいかんいん)、あるいは帝釈天(たいしゃくてん)とよばれて仏法の守護神となった。

［原　實］

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