Indra the story behind the name
Here is the story behind the name Indra — where it comes from, what it means and why families still choose it.
Indra is the king of the devas and lord of the heavens — wielder of the thunderbolt Vajra, bringer of rain and storms. In the oldest hymns of the Rigveda he is the mightiest, slaying the serpent Vritra to release the waters of the world.
"When his thunderbolt struck the great drought-serpent, the rivers ran free and the earth drank at last."
He rides the white elephant Airavata and rules from the city of Amaravati. Indra represents power, sovereignty and the life-giving rains. A child named Indra carries leadership and a commanding, generous spirit.
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