Indra in the Rig-Veda

Indra in the Rig-Veda by Edward Delavan Perry, published in 1891, represents a significant contribution to late 19th-century Indological studies. Emerging from the scholarly environment of Columbia University, the work was intended to provide a systematic analysis of the Vedic deity Indra through a rigorous philological examination of the Rig-Veda hymns. At the time, Western interest in Sanskrit literature was undergoing a period of intense academic refinement, and Perry sought to synthesize existing Vedic scholarship into a focused monographic study that clarified the character and attributes of this central figure in Hindu mythology.

The text is noted for its disciplined approach to translation and interpretation, reflecting the transition toward modern historical-critical methods in the study of ancient Indian texts. Perry’s design for the volume prioritizes clarity and academic precision, favoring exhaustive citations of the source material to support his characterization of Indra as a complex atmospheric and warrior deity. Upon its release, the work was received by the academic community as a reliable reference, serving as a foundational text for students of comparative philology and ancient Vedic religion.