Thread by @poonamdut

As per Rig Veda, is Vishnu Indra's younger brother &follows his command?

Viṣhṇu isn't really referred to as Indra's younger brother, although seen as companion “yoked” to Indra (indrasya yujyaḥ sakhā), assisting him in creating space once Vr̥tra is killed.
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Regarding Part II of question, Indra gives an instruction to Viṣhṇu, repeated twice in Rigveda: “Sakhe viṣṇo vitaraṁ vi kramasva” - “O companion Viṣṇu, just stride farther!”, after which Viṣhṇu makes his 3 iconic strides & measures the space.
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Impact of this act of Viṣhṇu led to Vishnu taking strides in the Viṣhṇukrama yajña. This is a ritual specially done after Varunapraghasa done at Āṣāḍha month end. By Viṣṇukrama, sacrificer takes 3 strides (4 steps thus) of Viṣhṇu around vedi;
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and this is supposed to indicate triumph & completion of victory. Taittiriya YV Brahmanam indicates the merit of this, but also says that since Viṣhṇu’s steps are in heaven, one who makes them goes to heaven & returns to this world as a conqueror.
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In later era, after this practice came to be limited to high-end Brahman circles, popular religion still celebrated Indra’s victory & Viṣhṇu making strides in turn of Śrāvaṇa (to sync with solar calendar, during Bhādrapada) for harvest & rain.
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Thus you have various Indra festivals in the past and also today (Indra Jatra), as also celebration of Śrāvaṇa festival (Onam). Strangely, Bali who is the Puranic anti-hero returns as a conqueror despite bearing the brunt of Puranic Viṣhṇu’s steps.
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