Śambara

Śambara was an asura. He was a master of māyā, the power of illusion, deceit and misdirection. He carried off Rati, the wife of Manmatha, and later carried off the infant Pradyumna. The grown Pradyumna killed him.

Who he was

Śambara’s chief skill was māyā. He is linked with a hundred or a thousand illusory arts, called Śambaravitā or Māyāvitā. He was dangerous because of his deceit, not his strength.

This is from the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 21.

The taking of Rati

Śiva burned Manmatha to ash with his third eye on Kailāsa. His wife Rati was left alone, a widow in deep grief. Śambara saw his chance, came and carried her off. He kept her in his kitchen under the false name Māyāvatī and made her work as a kitchen servant.

Rati knew who she really was. She bore her sorrow, held up by the promise of Śiva that her husband would be born again and would one day claim her back.

This is from the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 21.

Pradyumna and the death of Śambara

Manmatha was born again as Pradyumna, the son of Kṛshṇa and Rukmiṇī. Śambara learned of the birth through his hidden knowledge and saw the danger. He carried off the infant Pradyumna and threw him into the sea to drown.

A great fish swallowed the child. Fishermen caught the fish and brought it to Śambara’s kitchen. When the fish was cut open, they found the infant Pradyumna alive inside.

Rati, called Māyāvatī, knew the child as her husband born again. She raised him in secret in Śambara’s house. When Pradyumna came of age, Nārada, or a divine messenger, told him who he truly was. Pradyumna had grown into a young man of great power. He faced Śambara, killed him and took Rati back as his wife.

Sources

• Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 21