Madhu Kaiṭabha Vadha (Vāyu Purāṇa)
The Vāyu Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 25, tells how the asuras Madhu and Kaiṭabha were born and how they were killed. In this account Brahmā is born from the lotus that grows from the navel of Bhagavān Vishṇu and meditates for a thousand years. The two asuras rise from the ear of Bhagavān Vishṇu while he sleeps on the cosmic ocean. They attack Brahmā. Bhagavān Vishṇu, here called Jishṇu (the Victorious), fights them for five thousand years and kills them. After this the eleven Rudras are born, and creation begins with Brahmā and the Saptarshis.
Brahmā’s meditation
Brahmā was born from the lotus in the navel of Bhagavān Vishṇu, on the first ocean. He did not at once know his own nature or his work. A divine voice told him: “Perform tapas (austerity).” He obeyed and meditated for one thousand divine years.
During this meditation Brahmā did japa (quiet repetition) of mantras. From the power gathered by this japa, a Mohinī-māyā (a deluding power) rose.
The birth of Madhu and Kaiṭabha
Bhagavān Vishṇu was asleep in yoga-nidrā (the sleep of yoga) on the serpent Ādiśesha, on the cosmic ocean.
- Two drops fell from the ear-wax (mala, also called khaṭamala) of the sleeping Bhagavān Vishṇu into the waters.
- From these two drops rose Madhu and Kaiṭabha. They were huge in form and had measureless strength.
The attack on Brahmā
As soon as Madhu and Kaiṭabha became aware, they saw Brahmā sitting on his lotus. They attacked him. They seized the stalk of the lotus and threatened to kill the creator.
Brahmā could do nothing against their strength. He called out to Bhagavān Vishṇu. His stuti (praise) woke Bhagavān Vishṇu from yoga-nidrā.
The fight: Vishṇu-Jishṇu
The Vāyu Purāṇa uses the name Vishṇu-Jishṇu for Bhagavān Vishṇu as he fights. Jishṇu means “the Victorious One”.
The fight lasted five thousand divine years. Madhu and Kaiṭabha were a match for Bhagavān Vishṇu in battle.
The fight turned on a vara (a boon). Madhu and Kaiṭabha were pleased that Bhagavān Vishṇu honoured their strength, and they offered him a vara. He turned it back on them and said: “Grant me a vara: die by my hand.” They kept their word and agreed. Bhagavān Vishṇu cut off their heads on his own thighs. The waters covered everything, so there was no dry place, and they had asked to be killed only where there was no water. The thighs of Bhagavān Vishṇu were the only dry land.
After the fight: the eleven Rudras
From the killing of Madhu and Kaiṭabha, eleven Rudras are born. This is told only in the Vāyu Purāṇa’s account.
- The marrow of Madhu and Kaiṭabha became the earth (Medinī).
- Brahmā saw their destruction and shed tears of relief and feeling.
- From Brahmā’s tears the nāgas (serpents) were born.
- From the tejas set free by the destruction, the eleven Rudras came forth.
The beginning of creation
After Madhu and Kaiṭabha were destroyed:
- The Saptarshis (the seven great ṛshis) came forth and joined Brahmā.
- Brahmā and the Saptarshis together began the work of creation.
- The world began to take shape out of the formless first ocean.
Sources
- Vāyu Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 25