INDRA, or the king of all celestial beings, has the most flamboyant personality. Ruler of the sky, he rides a white elephant called Airawata. He is the lord of storms and lightning and carries the vajra or thunderbolt as his weapon. The seven-coloured rainbow is his bow and cascades of rain are his arrows. Inspite of such a powerful arsenal of weapons, Indra, lord of the sky, is a peaceful, heavenly ruler who offers refuge to everyone. He is generous and helpful to all those who follow dharma. In the epic story of the Mahabharata, Indra is the father of Arjun, the powerful Pandava prince.