Indra (Rig Veda 1.7) - Madhuchanda Vaisvamitra:

इन्द्र इद्धर्योः सचा सम्मिश्ल आ वचोयुजा ।
इन्द्रो वज्री हिरण्ययः ॥१.७.२॥
Indra Iddharyoh Sacaa Sammishla Aa Vacoyujaa |
Indro Vajrii Hirannyayah ||1.7.2||

• इन्द्रो वज्री हिरण्ययः (Indro Vajrii Hirannyayah): Indra, the bearer of Vajra (Thunderbolt) is of golden hue.

Comments:

- In this mantra, Indra is described as bearing the Vajra (Thunderbolt).

- Vajra is the symbol of great strength. In the natural world it is the Lightning (which is the Vajra) which Indra wields to break open the clouds and bring Rain and Sunlight.

- The cloud which covers the sky is the covering of Vrtra. This is not the cloud of natural Cosmic Order for bringing rains. Vrtra is the cloud which shuts the human consciousness from the vastness of Rita (Cosmic Order) internally. Since the Cosmic Order is both external and internal, in the external world also there should be an equivalent of this covering.

- Vrtra is very powerful. With the covering of Vrtra human beings will shut themselves off from the world of Cosmic Order and build their own small worlds in their minds. Being cut off from the Cosmic Order, this process in the long run will make life unsustainable. Vrtra is not the normal impediments associated with the manifestation of divine powers like Mitra-Varuna and Sarasvati mentioned earlier. Vrtra is more powerful and like a hardened shell. So the mighty power of Indra with Vajra is required to break the shell.

- Once the hardened shell of Vrtra is broken by repeated invocation of Indra (who has the largest number of mantras in Rig Veda Samhita), human beings will become open to the Cosmic Order. To fully embrace the Cosmic Order, however, other impediments associated with the respective deities need to be removed (which are termed as foes).

इन्द्रो दीर्घाय चक्षस आ सूर्यं रोहयद् दिवि ।
वि गोभिरद्रिमैरयत् ॥१.७.३॥
Indro Diirghaaya Cakssasa Aa Suuryam Rohayad Divi |
Vi Gobhir-Adrim-Airayat ||1.7.3||

• इन्द्रो दीर्घाय चक्षस (Indro Diirghaaya Cakssasa): Indra, to render long-range visibility ...
• आ सूर्यं रोहयद् दिवि (Aa Suuryam Rohayad Divi): Placed the Sun in the Sky, ...
• वि गोभिः अद्रिम् ऐरयत् (Vi Gobhih Adrim Airayat): And dispelled the darkness completely with its rays.

Comments:

- In this mantra, Indra is described as placing the Sun in the sky to render long-range visibility and dispelling the darkness.

- Indra does this by slaying Vrtra with his thunderbolt. When the shell of Vrtra is removed, the inner darkness gets dispelled and we become open to the Cosmic Order internally. This is the placing of the Sun in the sky, which is the revelation of the light of Rita. Our narrow visibility within the shell-world is broken, and we now get the long-range visibility of the Cosmic Order. This is the beginning of the dawn of wisdom. This will also get reflected in the external Nature, which will appear as breathing freely within the vastness of freedom.

स नो वृषन्नमुं चरुं सत्रादावन्नपा वृधि ।
अस्मभ्यमप्रतिष्कुतः ॥१.७.४॥
Sa No Vrssann-Amum Carum Satraadaavann-Apaa Vrdhi |
Asmabhyam-Apratisskutah ||1.7.4||

• वृषन् (Vrssan): Showerer (of Rain).
• अमुं चरुं अप वृधि (Amum Carum Apa Vrdhi): Remove these clouds.

Comments:

- In this mantra, Indra is invoked to remove the clouds and shower the rains.

- These clouds are the coverings of Vrtra and not the natural rain-bearing clouds. Vedas indicate that there is another type of cloud (or covering) which withhold rains. By removing Vrtra, Indra does two things: Bring the light of the Sun, and bring the Rains. In the previous mantra the bringing of the light of the Sun was mentioned. In this mantra the bringing of the Rains is mentioned.

- In the Puranas we find that when the Devas do not get their share of Yagna, it can result in rainless periods and droughts. When human beings are not connected with Nature, the Devas do not get the share of their Yagna. Performing Yagna (even if only mentally) involves acknowledging the divine powers in Nature and revering them.

- When our consciousness gets cut off from the Cosmic Order, the processes of Cosmic Order also gets cut off. This connection between our internal mental disposition and external Nature is a unique concept of the Vedas.

- Therefore, if we want to align the external dimensions of Education, Environment and Economy, the first step according to the Vedic Vision of Nature is Education. It is such Education which will open our consciousness to the Cosmic Order. Then, our activities will be Yagna, and the result of this Yagna will get reflected in the Environment. The Economy needs to be designed to support and encourage this Yagna.