A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

85 International Society for Krishna Consciousness
with AMØTA, nectar providing immortality.
By a ruse the gods appropriated it
and gained immortality thereby. The
Upani•ads also teach a way to immortality,
based on the insight into the
immortal nature of consciousness
(ätman). They hold indefinite existence
in a body to be an impossibility: everything
that is born must die. Puräæic
Hinduism promises bodily immortality
to the devotees of Vi•æu, who after
reaching VAIKUŒfiHA are endowed with
incorruptible bodies. Some systems of
YOGA also aim at making the practitioner
physically immortal. (See also
AFTERLIFE.)
impurity
Ritual impurity is usually caused by
contact with what are considered
impure substances: generally contact
with corpses, with blood (especially
menstrual blood) or other bodily fluids,
or with ‘untouchables’ (persons belonging
to the Atiÿüdras, often dealing with
carcasses, faeces etc.). This impurity is
removed through religious practices
such as bathing, repeating mantras and
fasting according to a well-established
canon.
incarnation
See AVATÄRA.
Indra
The first among the Vedic gods, to
whom most of the hymns of the Øgveda
are devoted. He is described as warrior,
as fond of SOMA (2), as destroyer of
forts and as enemy of the DASYUS. His
most important aspect is vøtraha, slayer
of VØTRA. Several hymns are devoted to
this event, through which the waters
were released, the sky cleared and
Indra’s supremacy established. Indra
has many features of the Supreme Being
and his activity is both creative and
salvific. Worship of Indra was superseded
by worship of Vi•æu–Kø•æa and
Ÿiva–Devï. In the Puräæas Indra is often
depicted as rival of Kø•æa. Feasts in
honour of Indra are still celebrated in
Nepal.
Indrajit (‘conqueror of Indra’)
Epithet of Meghanäda, a son of
RÄVAŒA, who captured Indra and
brought him to Laökä. He refused to
surrender to the assembled gods until
they had made him immortal.
Indraloka
Indra’s heaven. Also known as Svarloka
or Svarga, it is situated north of Mount
MERU, and is the epitome of sensual
delight, inhabited by apsaras (nymphs)
and gandharvas (heavenly musicians). It
is the home of KÄMADHENU, the ‘cow of
plenty’, and of the PÄRIJÄTA tree, which
grants all wishes. The capital city is
Amarävatï, which contains Indra’s
palace, Vaijayanta. Indra’s heaven is
associated with the highest pleasure and
enjoyment of all kinds.
Indräæï
INDRA’s wife, also called Ÿacï and Aindrï,
mother of Jayanta and Jayantï
Indraprastha
The capital city of the PÄŒ¥AVAS, located
in what is today Delhi.
initiation
See DÏKÆÄ, UPANAYANA.
International Society for
Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
A branch of the GAU¥ÏYA VAIÆŒAVA
tradition, with an international membership,
founded by A. C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami (Abhay Charan De) in
1966 in New York. It is also known as
the ‘Hare Krishna Movement’ from its