Indra’s Coronation in the Viṣṇudharmottara Purāṇa

A paṭṭābhiṣeka is a royal coronation, in which a new ruler is bathed with sacred waters and crowned. Chapter 250 of the Viṣṇudharmottara Purāṇa tells of the formal coronation of Indra as ruler of the three worlds on the golden peak of Mount Meru. Brahmā himself led the ceremony, with the whole gathering of devas, ṛṣis, gandharvas (celestial musicians), apsarās (celestial dancers) and all the sacred rivers.

Bhagavān Viṣṇu held the white umbrella over Indra. Sūrya and Candra (the sun and moon) waved white fans, and Varuṇa held the golden water-vessel (bhṛṅgāra). All three worlds celebrated. Even those in naraka were set free from their suffering for seven days. The text says that reciting this story is auspicious and brings merit, destroys illness, and should be recited at journeys, house-warmings, weddings and puṇyāha rites.

The Setting: Meru and the Great Gathering

The great coronation took place on Sumeru, the highest of mountains, shining with the light of many jewels. Brahmā came down from the divine realm to consecrate Indra as Devādhipati (ruler of the devas). With him came the whole group of kings he had earlier appointed.

Viśvakarmā, the divine craftsman, made a splendid jewelled throne for the occasion. It was kāmarūpadhara: able to take any form at will.

The Abhiṣeka Ceremony

The gathering for the abhiṣeka (sacred bathing) included:

  • The Trimūrti: Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva
  • The Sādhyas, Maruts, Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas, Marudgaṇas and Viśvedevas
  • The Bhṛgus and Āṅgirasas
  • The Aśvins, the divine healers
  • The tri-kāla-darśī ṛṣis, who see past, present and future
  • The sacred rivers and all the tīrthas (holy bathing places)
  • The gandharvas and apsarās

Each had a part to play in the ceremony:

  • Viṣṇu held the white umbrella (śveta-chattra), shaped like the moon, over Indra
  • Sūrya and Candra waved white tāla-vṛntas (palm-leaf fans)
  • Varuṇa held the bhṛṅgāra (golden vessel) filled with pure water
  • Menakā and Rambhā waved tāla-vṛntas (leaf fans)
  • Bṛhaspati, guru of the devas, lit the sacred fire and performed the homa (fire offering)
  • Pulaha himself gave the four-tusked elephant Airāvata as Indra’s vāhana (carrier)
  • Pulaha’s son gave the divine white horse Uccaiḥśravas and a thousand swift horses
  • Śrī Mahālakṣmī lovingly gave the finest chariot
  • Agni yoked the divine chariot with a golden chariot
  • Śaṃkara (Śiva) decorated the chariot’s flagpole (dhvaja) with the divine serpent
  • Brahmā himself placed the crown (kirīṭa) on Indra’s head
  • Virūpākṣa gave divine sandals (pādukā)
  • Śukra gave a bright sword
  • Himādri (the Himālaya) himself gave sandalwood and other fragrant things
  • Samudra (the ocean) gave many wonderful jewels
  • The Ṛtus (the seasons) gave flowers and fruits

Seven Days of Joy for All

At the moment Indra was crowned:

  • The deva-gandharvas sang and the apsarās danced
  • All creation, moving and unmoving, was filled with joy
  • Vāyu (the wind) blew fragrant breezes in every direction
  • All living beings were given seven days of mānasī-siddhi, the fulfilment of every wish of the mind
  • For seven days, the three worlds knew no illness, death, old age or grief
  • Even those in naraka were freed from their suffering for those seven days

Indra, wearing the royal crown and anointed with sandalwood, wore matchless jewelled kuṇḍalas (earrings), silk clothes and white flowers. Shining like the moon over the Śveta mountain, he climbed onto the lion throne, and all the devas bowed before him.

When to Recite This Story

Mārkaṇḍeya ends the chapter by saying that the story of Indra’s abhiṣeka should be recited at:

  • Yātrā: journeys and pilgrimages
  • Gṛha-praveśa: entering a new house (house-warming)
  • Vivāha: marriage
  • Puṇyāha: rites for making a day auspicious

The text calls this story pavitra (pure), māṅgalya (auspicious), dhanya (blessed), śravaṇa-priya (pleasant to hear), pāpa-nāśaka (destroyer of pāpa) and duḥsvapna-doṣa-hara (remover of the troubles of bad dreams). It also grants dharma, artha (prosperity) and kāma (fulfilment of desires), three of the four puruṣārthas, the four aims of human life.

Sources

  • Viṣṇudharmottara Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 250