Bhogi Ponggal - The Worship of Lord Indra

 Though the worship of Lord Indra is on the decline today, we should not discard his significance during the festival of Bhogi.

 The ancient Tamizhs venerated Lord Indra eminently, evidence by their Indra Vizha during Ponggal. Even today, you will find villagers in Tamizh Nadu worshiping Indra in the form of of Pottu Samy during Bhogi.

Image: Pottu Sami being worshiped in Tamizh village.

 Why Indra?

 Bhogi comes from Bhoga, which means to experience something through the senses. Lord Indra is a very prominent deity in the Vedas. In a symbolical manner, He represents the power of mastery over the senses. This is very beautifully explained in the Taittiriya Aranyakam of the Yajur Veda.

मयि मेधाम् मयि प्रजाम् मयीन्द्र इन्द्रियम् दधातु

mayi medhām mayi prajām mayīndra indriyam dadhātu

Breakdown:

mayi= my

medhaam = power of retention / intelligence

prajaam = progeny ( in reference to DNA which will be passed in the form of progeny )

Indra = deity Indra

indriyam = of the senses ( indriya - sense organs )

dadhaatu = to provide and protect that which has been provided

In Bahasa Malaysia, the word for sensory functions is Indra.

Indra represents the aspect of the mind which perceives the world through the five senses. He is the prime towards enlightenment which is possible only if one goes beyond the clutches of the sensory pleasures.

Tiruvalluvar beautifully quotes in his Tirukkuṟaḷ:

ஐந்தவித்தான் ஆற்றல் அகல்விசும்பு ளார்கோமான்
இந்திரனே சாலுங் கரி

Translation: The king of gods Indra the great, is the prime example for the power that one can acquire by conquering his senses.

This Bhogi, let us all strive to realise that we are beyond the body and mind. May Medha devi, in the form of Indra, help us gain mastery over our senses, which allows us to live as a king, like Lord Indra.

Also Read:

(1) The Tamizh King who forgot to worship Indra

(2) Rudra and Indra are seen as One in the Vedas