Narakāsura
Narakāsura was the asura king of Prāgjyotiṣapura. He was the son of Bhūmīdevī, the devī of the earth. His father is understood to be Bhagavān Viṣṇu in His Varāha avatāra (the form of the Boar). Narakāsura grew into one of the strongest and most feared asuras of his age. He conquered across the three worlds, imprisoned thousands of women, and stole the divine kuṇḍalas (earrings) of Aditi, the mother of the devas.
Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa slew him, with Satyabhāmā beside Him on Garuḍa. Dharma was restored in his land. Bhūmīdevī herself then appeared and gave back Aditi’s earrings.
Birth and origin
Narakāsura was the son of Bhūmīdevī. His father is Bhagavān Viṣṇu in the form of Varāha, who raised Bhūmī from the waters of creation in an earlier age. After Narakāsura’s death Bhūmīdevī appeared at once and spoke to Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa: “O Govinda! Through you alone this son was born; you alone have taken him.” This points to his divine parentage. Even so, Narakāsura’s way was adharma (against dharma). His life was one of conquest, oppression and theft. The Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Viṣṇu Parva, Chapter 65, tells this.
Domain and power
Narakāsura ruled from Prāgjyotiṣapura, a great fortified city in the east. Strong enchantments guarded it. The asura Mura had ringed it with six thousand pāśas (binding ropes of great power) as well as its walls. Narakāsura led a large host with strong generals: Mura, Niśunda and the horse-headed Hayagrīva. Thousands of rākṣasas were posted at Lohitagaṅgā. His wealth was great and his treasury was full. The Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Viṣṇu Parva, Chapters 65–66, tells this.
Conquest and crimes
Narakāsura’s campaigns spread terror through the three worlds. One of his worst offences was the theft of the divine kuṇḍalas of Aditi, mother of the devas. This struck at the honour of the deva clan itself, and Devendra Indra had to ask Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa to come in person.
Narakāsura also seized thousands of women, daughters of gandharvas, asuras and others, and shut them in a cave in Maṇiparvata near his city. They had been taken from their families and homes and were held there by his power. The Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Viṣṇu Parva, Chapters 65–66, tells this.
The campaign of Kṛṣṇa and Satyabhāmā
Indra came to Dvārakā and told Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa of Narakāsura’s crimes. Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa mounted Garuḍa, with Satyabhāmā beside Him, and flew to Prāgjyotiṣapura. The campaign went in stages.
- Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa first destroyed Mura and broke through the six thousand pāśas.
- He then slew Niśunda, Hayagrīva and eight thousand rākṣasas at Lohitagaṅgā, and so took apart the outer defences.
- Narakāsura then came out on his own great divine chariot and fought Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa face to face.
- Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa destroyed the chariot step by step, killed the horses, and broke each weapon the asura used with His own arrows.
- Left bare and helpless before Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa, Narakāsura was cut down by His sudarśana cakra.
The Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Viṣṇu Parva, Chapter 65, tells this.
Death and the appearance of Bhūmīdevī
As soon as Narakāsura fell, Bhūmīdevī appeared before Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa. She held Aditi’s stolen kuṇḍalas in her hands and spoke to Him: “O Govinda! Through you alone this son was born; you alone have taken him.” She gave the kuṇḍalas to Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa, who would return them to Aditi in svarga (heaven). The Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Viṣṇu Parva, Chapter 65, tells this.
Aftermath, the freeing of the captives
After Narakāsura’s death, Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa opened the cave in Maṇiparvata and freed all the women held there. The ṛṣi Nārada had told these captive women earlier that Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa would one day come as their refuge and rescuer. They welcomed Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa with devotion and thanks when they were freed. The Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Viṣṇu Parva, Chapter 66, tells this.
Sources
- Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Viṣṇu Parva, Chapters 65–66
- Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, dākṣiṇātya prati (southern recension), Chapter 38
- Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 142