Indra

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/indra

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the iconographic identifiers?Wields the Vajra (thunderbolt) and rides the divine white elephant Airavata
2. What is the celestial residence?Amaravati, the capital city of Svarga, often associated with Mount Meru
3. What is Indra and what does he control?Indra is a Hindu god who rules over lightning, rain, thunder, and storms. He is the king of the sky gods and keeps the weather in order.
4. Why is Indra called a hero-god?He fights bad gods and saves the world. He defeated Vritra, a serpent that stopped rain, and brought water back to rivers.

Rta: The ancient Vedic concept of cosmic order, truth, and righteousness, which Indra upholds.
Vedic Period: The historical era in ancient India (c. 1500-500 BCE) during which the Vedas were composed and Vedic religion flourished.
Syncretism: The blending of different religious beliefs and practices, as seen in Indra's adaptations across traditions.