Tāraka Vadha and Krauñca

Chapter 32 of the Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa tells of the first great battle of Kārttikeya, also called Skanda. He slays the asura Tāraka with his śakti (spear). The chapter then tells how Mahishāsura, who had taken refuge inside the Krauñca mountain, was killed there.

Tāraka is slain by Skanda’s śakti

The asura Tāraka was so hard to defeat that the devas had arranged for Kārttikeya to be born. After his abhisheka (consecration) at Pṛthūdaka and Bhagavān Vishṇu’s svastivācana (blessing), Skanda took up his śakti and led the army of the devas against Tāraka.

The battle was fierce, but Tāraka could not stand before the son of Bhagavān Śiva. Skanda slew him with the śakti. The purpose of his remarkable birth was fulfilled. The three worlds were freed from Tāraka’s rule, and the devas rejoiced.

Mahishāsura goes to Krauñca

Mahishāsura had fought Kātyāyanī earlier, in Chapters 20 and 21. Now he had taken refuge inside the Krauñca mountain, a great peak of the Himālaya.

Kārttikeya will not kill his cousin

When Kārttikeya learned that Mahishāsura was inside Krauñca, he was asked to destroy him. Kārttikeya refused to kill him himself. He said that Mahishāsura was his mātuleya-bhrātā, a relative on his mother’s side, the son of a maternal uncle’s line. Mahishāsura was the son of Rambha, a dānava.

Kārttikeya held to the dharma of family ties even in the middle of a war between cosmic forces. Dharma, he said, must not be set aside even in battle.

The contest with Indra

Indra did not share this concern and pressed for the death of Mahishāsura. A contest arose between Kārttikeya and Indra. Whoever went round the Krauñca mountain first would decide what happened to Mahishāsura. Kārttikeya and Indra set out to go round the mountain.

Krauñca deceives Indra

The Krauñca mountain held Mahishāsura within itself. During the race it deceived Indra. It falsely showed that Indra had finished the circuit first. This deceit, done for the asura inside, was adharma on the part of the mountain.

Kārttikeya pierces Krauñca

Kārttikeya learned of the mountain’s deceit and of Indra’s false claim to have won. He was filled with just anger. Mahishāsura now shared in the mountain’s deceit, so Kārttikeya set aside his earlier concern. He hurled his śakti at Krauñca with great force.

The śakti pierced the mountain through and through. It also passed through Mahishāsura, who was hiding inside. Mahishāsura died within the mountain. The mountain itself was pierced and weakened by the weapon, and the asura’s last refuge was gone.

Sūcakrāksha receives a cakra

Chapter 32 also records a short event. An asura named Sūcakrāksha received a cakra (discus) from Bhagavān Śiva so that he could cut off the arms of Bāṇāsura. Bāṇāsura was the thousand-armed devotee of Bhagavān Śiva who later came into conflict with Bhagavān Kṛshṇa over Aniruddha.

Sources

• Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 32
• Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 20 and 21 (the earlier battle of Kātyāyanī and Mahishāsura)