Ushas does have a relationship with Vrtra and the battle with Indra.  In fact, Ushas is a by-product of the battle and approaching victory of Indra over Vrtra.  (For more information see the article “Vrtra: the Spiritual Adversary” by the author.)   

While Vrtra represents the spiritual night, the darkness of ignorance; Ushas represents Indra’s approaching victory over Vrtra and the beginning of the spiritual dawn.  Just as with any war, it consists of many battles, the sum total of battles determines the victor of the war.  Vrtra’s victories bring suffering, attachment, ego, aversion, ignorance, and clinging to physical life.  Indra’s victories bring about peace, contentment, love for spiritual study, seeking the company of Holy beings.  These indicate the spiritual dawn. 

Initially, they appear as dualistic forces locked in eternal combat with little hope or salvation for the victim.  But in reality this is not an eternal dualistic battle.  It is merely the by-product of illusion or ignorance.  Vrtra is ignorance, tamas, and suffering is its maiden.  Ushas is the aspiration for liberation and the personal awakening to the essence and exploration of the soul.  Often described as the seen perceiving the seer.  This is the goal of yoga. 

In the highest forms of yoga, the battle between Indra and Vrtra is only an illusion.  But a real illusion as long as one is held within its grasp.  This is the purpose of Ushas, the divine aspiration serves as a vehicle for liberation, which is merely realization of the illusion. 

Vrtra, Indra, and Ushas of the Vedic yoga cannot be separated from the yoga sutras later compiled by Patanjali.  They are in essence talking about the same spiritual process that has existed since the dawn of humanity.  These terms were clear and defined in the last world age, and are the same as the terms of this day.  What has changed is our understanding or depth of understanding of these terms. 

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