Vidala and Utpala

Vidala and Utpala were two asuras. They appear in the last chapter of the Yuddha Khaṇḍa of the Śiva Purāṇa. That chapter is also the last episode of the whole Rudra Saṃhitā.

The boon

The two asuras received a vara (a boon) from Brahmā. By it, no man (puruṣa) could kill them.

Nārada’s words

Nārada spoke to the two asuras and made them desire Pārvatī. He did this at Śiva’s own direction.

At Kailāsa

Vidala and Utpala went down to Kailāsa. They took the form of Śiva’s gaṇas (attendants). Pārvatī was playing with a ball at the time.

Śiva knew them by the lust in their eyes. He told Pārvatī what he had seen by a silent look, a nayanasaṃjñā (a sign made with the eyes).

Pārvatī killed both asuras at the same moment with the ball. Pārvatī is the Devī in the form of Durgā, the supreme śakti (power) and the destroyer of all asuras. She needed no weapon except the plaything already in her hand.

The Kandukeśvara liṅga

The ball became the Kandukeśvara liṅga in Kāśī.

Place in the Śiva Purāṇa

This account is the last asura episode of the Rudra Saṃhitā. It stands as the final chapter of the Yuddha Khaṇḍa and of the whole Rudra Saṃhitā.

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Yuddha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 59