Parjanya is a Vedic deity of rain, thunder, lightning, and the one who fertilizes the earth. It is another epithet of Indra, the Vedic deity of the sky and heaven.
Parjanya is considered to be one of the Aditya (son of Aditi and sage Kashyapa).
It is assumed Parjanya is the udder and lightning is the teats of the rain-cow, accordingly, rain represents her milk. Also, he is sometimes considered as a rain bull controlled by the superior Indra. The thunder is his roar. He is the father of the arrow or reed which grows rapidly in the rainy season. He is also considered a protector of poets and an enemy of flesh-eating fire.
Buddhism:
Parjanya also features in Buddhist literature. In the Pali Canon of the Theravāda, he is known as Pajjuna.
He is king of the vassavalāhaka devas who have limited control over the clouds and weather. He has a daughter named Kokanadā.
