Veera is a Sanskrit word, meaning a hero. In Hinduism, Vira implies valor, gallantry and courage, activity and adventure. A hero is one who rejoices in self-sacrifice. He revels in risks for a noble cause. He believes in voluntarism, bravery, and dynamism. The heroic spirit frees the hero from the fear of death. Inner freedom from the lower self precedes outer freedom. When a man transcends the fear of death, he is the master of his free will. He then discharges nishkama karma (action without attachment to the fruits).
The supreme deity of the Vedic period is Indra. He is a born warrior (Rig Veda III, 51, 2; V, 30, 5), heroic (sura), triumphant and strong (tavas). Heroic society is also depicted in Atharva veda (X, I, 30) and Satapatha Brahmana (IX, I, I, I-6). Sudas is a fine example of the heroic type of the Vedic age.
Next we come across heroic society in the epic ages of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Rama is the real life hero of the Valmiki’s epic (the Ramayana). The ideal of the hero of the Mahabharata (IX, 5, 29) is called sthitaprajna, who is neither elated by victory nor depressed by defeat. Such a man is always out for heroic action and goads other to discharge altruistic selfless actions (dharmayuddha (III, 24, 85-8). The Mahabharata is full of wars and heroic actions. Four types of heroes are recognized in Hindu literature – yuddhavira (the hero in war), dayavira ( in compassion), danavira (in charity) and dharmavira (in righteousness).