Climatic environment, too, conditioned theological evolution, if not spiritual advance.

The cult of the mid-sphere god, Indra, was partly the result of the changing atmospheric surroundings of the Hindus as they advanced into India.

The storms and the sun were not those of old.

The tempests were more terrific, the display of divine power was more concentrated in the rage of the elements; while appreciation of the goodness of the sun became tinged with apprehension of evil, and he became a deadly power as well as one beneficent.

Then the relief of rain after drought gave to Indra the character of a benign god as well as of a fearful one.