Vritra

[ vrit-ruh ]

noun

, Hinduism.

1. a serpent-demon, the personification of evil and leader of the Danavas: conquered by Indra.

Example Sentences

The deadly beast always was, and has always remained, the object of the horror and loathing which is expressed for Ahi, the choking and throttling snake, the Vritra whom Indra smites with his unerring lance, the dreadful Azidahaka of the Avesta, the Zohak or Biter of modern Persian mythology, the serpents whom Heraktes strangles in his cradle, the Python, or Fafnir, or Grendel, or Sphinx whom Phoibos, or Sigurd, or Beowulf, or Oidipous smite and slay.

From Project Gutenberg

In both places Vritra and Ahi are the opponents of the god of light; in both fire was worshipped; in both the power of the sacrificial liquor was elevated into a mighty life-giving god.

From Project Gutenberg

In the Veda it was Indra who had to contend against Vritra and Ahi, i. e. the serpents, and the black spirits, which desired to drink up the water of the sky and veil its light.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence in the Avesta we again meet with the contest of the good spirits against Vritra, and in Iran also these spirits are opposed to the demons of blight.

From Project Gutenberg

We saw what importance the Veda ascribed to the conquest over Vritra, the cloud serpent, the black demon.

From Project Gutenberg