Studies in the Origins of Buddhism c13.81

c13.81

Indra.—As already indicated the Indians of the ṚS were on the whole an active, warrior people engaged in struggle with the aborigines and among themselves but were, in the main, prosperous and contented with life. The character of the people is reflected in the tone of their great gods and, for the earlier period, in no case better than in that of Indra who is the victorious warrior, the jovial and human god, a great drinker and a mighty eater.⁶⁹ He is the most individualized and anthropomorphic of the Ṛgvedic pantheon, with the largest amount of mythology to his share.⁷⁰ He is gene-