indra m. (for etym. as given by native authorities See Nir. x, 8; Sāy. on RV. i, 3, 4; Uṇ. ii, 28; according to BRD. fr. in = √ inv with suff. ra preceded by inserted d, meaning ‘to subdue, conquer’ ; according to Muir, S. T. v, 119, for sindra fr. √ syand, ‘to drop’; more probably from √ ind, ‘to drop’ q.v., and connected with indu above), the god of the atmosphere and sky

the Indian Jupiter Pluvius or lord of rain (who in Vedic mythology reigns over the deities of the intermediate region or atmosphere; he fights against and conquers with his thunder-bolt [vajra] the demons of darkness, and is in general a symbol of generous heroism; indra was not originally lord of the gods of the sky, but his deeds were most useful to mankind, and he was therefore addressed in prayers and hymns more than any other deity, and ultimately superseded the more lofty and spiritual Varuṇa; in the later mythology indra is subordinated to the triad Brahman, Viṣṇu, and Śiva, but remained the chief of all other deities in the popular mind), RV.; AV.; ŚBr.; Mn.; MBh.; R. &c. &c.