Tārakāsura - Revision history

118.170.134.54: basic enhanced references additionally and updated info

2025-03-18T05:07:35Z

basic enhanced references additionally and updated info

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:37, 18 March 2025
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	~~'''Tārakāsura''' (~~{{~~lang-sa~~\|~~तारकासुर:}}) or '''Tāraka''' ({{lang-sa~~\|~~तारक}}), '''Tharakasuran''' (~~[[~~Tamil language~~\|~~Tamil~~]]~~: தாரக்காசுரன்)~~, ~~'''Tarakasura''' ({{lang-te\|తారకసుర}}) was a powerful ''~~[[~~asura~~]]~~'' in~~ [[~~Hindu mythology\|Hindu Religion~~]]~~. He was son of a powerful Asura~~ [[~~Vajranaka~~]] ~~and his wife Vajrangini.~~<~~ref~~>{{Cite book\|last=Sivkishen\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kmVZBgAAQBAJ&q=Vajrangani&pg=PT67\|title=Kingdom of Shiva\|date=2015-01-23\|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd\|isbn=978-81-288-3028-0\|language=en}}<~~/ref~~> ~~Taraka had three sons Tarakaksha, Vidyunmāli and Kamalaksha, who were known as~~ [[~~Tripurasura~~]].<~~ref~~>~~{{Cite book~~\|~~last~~=~~Gokhale~~\|~~first~~=Namita\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1y8nAgAAQBAJ&q=Tarakaksha%2C+Vidyunmali+Kamalaksha&pg=PT42\|title=Book of Shiva\|date=2012-10-23\|publisher=Penguin UK\|isbn=978-81-8475-863-4\|language=en}}</ref>		{{Infobox deity
	~~{{Infobox mythological character~~		\| type = Hindu
	\| ~~series~~ =		\| affiliation = [[Asura]]
			\| texts = [[Skanda Purana]], [[Shiva Purana]], [[Kumarasambhava]]
			\| parents = [[Vajranga]] (father)<br>
			Vajrangi (mother)<br>[[Diti]] (grandmother)<br>[[Kashyapa]] (grandfather)
			\| spouse = Shambuki
			\| children = [[Tripurasura]]
			\| name = Tarakasura
	\| image =		\| image =
	~~\| alt =~~
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| ~~family = [[Vajranaka]] (father)<br>~~		}}{{Short description\|Asura in Hindu mythology}}
	~~Vajrangani (mother)<br>[[Diti]] (Grandmother)<br> [[Kashyapa]] (grandfather)<br> [[Aditi]] (grandmother)~~
	~~\| children = [[Tripurasura\|Tarakaksha, Vidyunmāli, Kamalaksha]]~~
	~~\| name = Tarakasura~~
	~~\| species = [[~~Asura]]
	~~\| spouse = [[Shambuki]]~~
	}}

	~~== Marriage with Shambuki ==~~		'''Tarakasura''' ({{langx\|sa\|तारकासुर}}) is a powerful [[asura]] in [[Hindu mythology]]. He is the son of the asura [[Vajranaka\|Vajranga]] and his wife Vajrangi.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Sivkishen \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kmVZBgAAQBAJ&q=Vajrangani&pg=PT67 \|title=Kingdom of Shiva \|date=2015-01-23 \|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd \|isbn=978-81-288-3028-0 \|language=en}}</ref> Taraka had three sons: Tarakaksha, Vidyunmali, and Kamalaksha, who were known as the [[Tripurasura]].<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Gokhale \|first=Namita \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1y8nAgAAQBAJ&q=Tarakaksha%2C+Vidyunmali+Kamalaksha&pg=PT42 \|title=Book of Shiva \|date=2012-10-23 \|publisher=Penguin UK \|isbn=978-81-8475-863-4 \|language=en}}</ref> He is slain by [[Kartikeya]].
	~~In that day, [[Tārakāsura~~\|~~Tarakasura]] wanted to marry~~ [[~~Shachi~~]] ~~but Shachi rejected it, Tarakasura kept wondering to see if he can find a beautiful woman like Shachi, after that a asurani rajkumari named Shambuki fell~~ in ~~love with Tārakāsura in her childhood and adulthood. She was very stubborn to marry him but her father said not to marry .After seeing this~~ [[~~Diti~~]] ~~called him in a loud voice " Dear Tarakasura, see what I have brought for you", Tarakasura said " No grandmother I don't want to marry this woman I want to marry Shachi and kill that fool~~ [[~~Indra~~]]~~" but Diti did not listen to him~~ and ~~did~~ his ~~marriage with Shambuki~~. ~~Tarakasura and Shambuki~~ had three ~~children named [[~~Kamalaksha]], [[~~Vidyunmāli~~]] ~~and~~ [[~~Tarakaksha~~]].

	== Legend ==		== Legend ==
	~~Tarakasura repeatedly defeated~~ the ~~gods until heaven was on~~ the ~~verge~~ of ~~collapse~~. ~~Yet~~ he had a ~~clever~~ boon that ~~he could~~ be ~~defeated~~ only ~~by the~~ son of [[~~Shiva~~]], who ~~was~~ a ~~complete~~ [[~~yogi~~]], ~~given~~ to ~~severe austerities~~, ~~far from any thoughts~~ of ~~marriage~~. ~~However~~, [[~~Parvati~~]] ~~who was re~~-~~incarnation of~~ [[~~Sati~~ (~~goddess~~)\|~~Sati~~]], ~~Shiva~~'s ~~wife~~ and ~~also incarnation of~~ [[~~Aadi Shakti~~]] who ~~was once~~ a ~~part~~ of ~~Shiva,~~ in ~~their~~ [[~~Ardhanarishvara~~]] ~~form~~. ~~Eventually their son~~ [[~~Kartikeya~~]] ~~was born~~. ~~Kartikeya killed Tarakasura~~ and his ~~brothers Simhamukhan~~ and [[~~Surapadman~~]] ~~who eventually became~~ the ~~mounts~~ of [[~~Parvati~~]] and Kartikeya.
			=== Birth ===
			[[Diti]], ever jealous of her sister [[Aditi]], asked for her consort [[Kashyapa]] to provide her a son who would be capable of defeating the [[Deva (Hinduism)\|devas]], who were the sons of Aditi. Consenting, Kashyapa granted his son
			Vajranga, possessing vajra(a very hard substance or compound in hindu history) limbs, who performed her bidding by capturing [[Indra]] and the devas and punishing them. When Aditi protested, [[Brahma]] urged Vajranga to release his captives, who acquiesced, stating that he had only done what his mother had instructed. Pleased, Brahma created a wife for him known as Vajrangi, who was both alluring and loving. When he offered her a boon, she asked him to grant her a son who would capture the three worlds, and cause misery to Vishnu. Dumbstruck, he performed a penance to Brahma to grant him a good son, who was born as Tarakasura.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Vanamali \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BmAoDwAAQBAJ&dq=tarakasura+wife&pg=PT72 \|title=Shiva: Stories and Teachings from the Shiva Mahapurana \|date=2013-10-04 \|publisher=Simon and Schuster \|isbn=978-1-62055-249-0 \|pages=Chapter 10 \|language=en}}</ref>

			=== Boon ===
			Taraka performed penance to Brahma and, when the creator appeared, asked for two boons: One, that none shall be his equal in all of the three worlds, and two, that only a son of Shiva could slay him. This second desire was considered to be crafty on his part, since Shiva was a yogi and was unlikely to bear children. His wish granted, Tarakasura promptly overran Svarga, expelling the devas just like his father had, but now declaring himself to be the new Indra. Indra approached Brahma and demanded that he assist him, since it was the latter's fault for granting whatever boons his devotees sought. Brahma explained to him that he could not do much, considering that Shiva was engaged in a deep [[Tapas (Indian religions)\|tapas]] and would hardly notice [[Parvati]], the daughter of [[Himavat\|Himavan]] who sought him as her husband. Indra devised a scheme with [[Kamadeva]] and [[Rati]], who attempted to disrupt Shiva and beguile him with thoughts of love, accompanied by dancing [[Apsara\|apsaras]] and music. When Kamadeva shot his floral arrow at Shiva, he felt a powerful surge of attraction towards Parvati, but then observed the scheming Kamadeva and burnt him to ash. Parvati performed severe tapas in order to finally win the affection of Shiva and married him with great pomp, giving birth to [[Kartikeya]], the son of Shiva destined to slay Taraka.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Vanamali \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BmAoDwAAQBAJ&dq=tarakasura+wife&pg=PT72 \|title=Shiva: Stories and Teachings from the Shiva Mahapurana \|date=2013-10-04 \|publisher=Simon and Schuster \|isbn=978-1-62055-249-0 \|language=en}}</ref>

			=== Battle against Skanda ===
			According to the [[Skanda Purana]], Kartikeya (Skanda) was appointed as the commander of the gods, charged with his destiny of vanquishing the asura. The divinities offered a number of gifts to empower him. Taraka, the king of the [[Daitya\|daityas]], summoned billions of asuras to defend his realm, his forces commanded by [[Kalanemi]]. The asuras gained the upper hand, the armies of the devas falling like trees to a forest fire. Indra was struck down. Hearing Kalanemi's contempt, Kartikeya and Krishna arrived to duel him, the latter wielding his great bow and raining arrows on the asura from atop [[Garuda]]. Kalanemi responded by swallowing Krishna and Garuda whole, after which the deity sliced the asura's belly open with the [[Sudarshana Chakra]], the celestial weapon cutting down masses of daitya warriors. Observing Taraka, Krishna spoke to Kartikeya:

			{{Blockquote\|text=O Kumara, see the Lord of Daityas, who is like Kala (God of Death) at the close of a Yuga. This is that same (demon) by whom Śiva had been propitiated by means of terrible penance. It is he by whom Śakra and others had been transformed into monkeys for one hundred million years. It is he who could not be defeated by us despite our pile of all (superior) weapons in the course of the battle. This great Asura should not be viewed with contemptuous disregard. He is Taraka. This is your seventh day. Now it is mid-day. Slay him before sunset. Otherwise he cannot be killed.\|title=[[Skanda Purana]]\|source=Kaumarika Kanda, Chapter 30, Verses 58 - 61}}

			Kartikeya ignored Taraka's words of condescension and battled him, hurling his terrible shakti on the asuras. When the miraculous missile was thrown by Skanda of unmeasured splendour, excessively terrible clusters of meteors fell on the earth. A million missiles of shakti fell out from it, a thousand million vehicles being struck down. When Krishna urged him to hurl his shakti against Taraka, Skanda hesitated, observing that his foe was a devotee of [[Shiva\|Rudra]]. Krishna then manipulated Taraka into attacking Shiva.

			{{Blockquote\|text=Thereupon various Devas rushed (against the Daitya) in the following manner: Janardana lifted up his discus and rushed speedily. Indra lifted up his thunderbolt. Yama raised his staff roaring loudly. The infuriated Dhaneśvara roared raising his iron club. Varuṇa roared with his noose held aloft. Vayu raised his terrible great goad. The Fire-god (Vahni) lifted up his Śakti of great refulgence. Nirṛti raised his sharp sword. The infuriated Rudras lifted up their tridents. Sadhya-devas raised their bows. Vasus lifted up iron bolts. Viśvedevas raised pestles and thrashing rods. The Moon and the Sun their refulgence, the Aśvinīdevas the medicinal herbs, the serpents the blazing poison and Himadri and other important ones lifted up the mountains.\|title=[[Skanda Purana]]\|source=Kamumarika Kanda, Chapter 30, Verses 111 - 115}}

			Nevertheless, Taraka proved to be equal to all of their prowess combined, roaring triumphantly. Krishna laughed scornfully, loudly, musing that had he known that Skanda would not slay a devotee of Rudra, the devas and he would not have seen such destruction. Assuming his form of [[Vishnu]], he wrung his arms and swore to kill all the asuras, charging against them and killing a billion of them even as he ran. The earth shook and the devas grew terrified. The gandharva Siddha urged Vishnu to think about his actions that threatened the entire universe. Reverting to his form as Krishna, Skanda and he charged towards Taraka, upon which they witnessed a woman emerging out of the latter's head. The woman announced that she was Shakti, who had resided in the asura ever since his great penance, but would now forsake him because his adharma had out-balanced his dharma. Kartikeya seized the Shakti and pierced it against Taraka's heart, finally fulfilling his destiny even as the deities hailed his name.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=www.wisdomlib.org \|date=2019-12-27 \|title=Tāraka is Slain [Chapter 32] \|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc366018.html \|access-date=2022-07-11 \|website=www.wisdomlib.org \|language=en}}</ref>

	==Literary references==		==Literary references==
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	==See also==		==See also==
	*[[~~Lord of Light~~]]		*[[Kartikeya]]

	==References==		==References==
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	[[Category:Daityas]]		[[Category:Daityas]]
			[[Category:Asura]]
			[[Category:Kartikeya]]

UpdateBot at 06:30, 2 July 2022

2022-07-02T06:30:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:00, 2 July 2022
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	'''Tārakāsura''' ({{lang-sa\|तारकासुर:}}) or '''Tāraka''' ({{lang-sa\|तारक}}) '''Tharakasuran''' ([[Tamil language\|Tamil]]: ~~தாரக்காசுறன்~~) '''Tarakasura''' ({{lang-te\|తారకసుర}}) was a powerful ''[[asura]]'' in [[Hindu mythology]]. He was son of a powerful Asura [[Vajranaka]] and his wife Vajrangini.<ref>{{Cite book\|last=Sivkishen\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kmVZBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT67~~&dq=tarakasura+son#q=Vajrangani~~\|title=Kingdom of Shiva\|date=2015-01-23\|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd\|isbn=978-81-288-3028-0\|language=en}}</ref> Taraka had three sons Tarakaksha, Vidyunmāli and Kamalaksha, who were known as [[Tripurasura]].<ref>{{Cite book\|last=Gokhale\|first=Namita\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1y8nAgAAQBAJ&~~pg=PT42&dq~~=Tarakaksha,+Vidyunmali+Kamalaksha#q=~~Tarakaksha,%20Vidyunmali%20Kamalaksha~~\|title=Book of Shiva\|date=2012-10-23\|publisher=Penguin UK\|isbn=978-81-8475-863-4\|language=en}}</ref>		'''Tārakāsura''' ({{lang-sa\|तारकासुर:}}) or '''Tāraka''' ({{lang-sa\|तारक}}), '''Tharakasuran''' ([[Tamil language\|Tamil]]: தாரக்காசுரன்), '''Tarakasura''' ({{lang-te\|తారకసుర}}) was a powerful ''[[asura]]'' in [[Hindu mythology\|Hindu Religion]]. He was son of a powerful Asura [[Vajranaka]] and his wife Vajrangini.<ref>{{Cite book\|last=Sivkishen\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kmVZBgAAQBAJ&q=Vajrangani&pg=PT67\|title=Kingdom of Shiva\|date=2015-01-23\|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd\|isbn=978-81-288-3028-0\|language=en}}</ref> Taraka had three sons Tarakaksha, Vidyunmāli and Kamalaksha, who were known as [[Tripurasura]].<ref>{{Cite book\|last=Gokhale\|first=Namita\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1y8nAgAAQBAJ&q=Tarakaksha%2C+Vidyunmali+Kamalaksha&pg=PT42\|title=Book of Shiva\|date=2012-10-23\|publisher=Penguin UK\|isbn=978-81-8475-863-4\|language=en}}</ref>
	{{Infobox mythological character		{{Infobox mythological character
	\| series =		\| series =
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	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| family = [[Vajranaka]] (father)<br>		\| family = [[Vajranaka]] (father)<br>
	Vajrangani (mother)		Vajrangani (mother)<br>[[Diti]] (Grandmother)<br> [[Kashyapa]] (grandfather)<br> [[Aditi]] (grandmother)
	\| children = [[Tripurasura\|Tarakaksha, Vidyunmāli, Kamalaksha]]		\| children = [[Tripurasura\|Tarakaksha, Vidyunmāli, Kamalaksha]]
	\| name = Tarakasura		\| name = Tarakasura
	\| species = [[Asura]]		\| species = [[Asura]]
			\| spouse = [[Shambuki]]
	}}		}}

			== Marriage with Shambuki ==
			In that day, [[Tārakāsura\|Tarakasura]] wanted to marry [[Shachi]] but Shachi rejected it, Tarakasura kept wondering to see if he can find a beautiful woman like Shachi, after that a asurani rajkumari named Shambuki fell in love with Tārakāsura in her childhood and adulthood. She was very stubborn to marry him but her father said not to marry .After seeing this [[Diti]] called him in a loud voice " Dear Tarakasura, see what I have brought for you", Tarakasura said " No grandmother I don't want to marry this woman I want to marry Shachi and kill that fool [[Indra]]" but Diti did not listen to him and did his marriage with Shambuki. Tarakasura and Shambuki had three children named [[Kamalaksha]], [[Vidyunmāli]] and [[Tarakaksha]].

	== Legend ==		== Legend ==
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	==Literary references==		==Literary references==
	This story is the basis for the epic [[Kumarasambhava]] (lit., birth of Kartikeya) by [[Kalidasa]]<ref>http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/~amit/books/kalidasa-1929-kalidaser-granthabali-v2-v2.html</ref> (c. 4th century CE). The theme of the vaporised love spirit roaming free in the universe was adopted by the [[Vaishnava]]s (c. 16th century) who believe it was reincarnated in [[Vasudeva]].<ref>{{cite book		This story is the basis for the epic [[Kumarasambhava]] (lit., birth of Kartikeya) by [[Kalidasa]]<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/~amit/books/kalidasa-1929-kalidaser-granthabali-v2-v2.html\|title=Book Excerptise: Kalidaser granthAbalI, v.2 by Kalidasa and Rajendranath Vidyabhushan (Ed.)}}</ref> (c. 4th century CE). The theme of the vaporised love spirit roaming free in the universe was adopted by the [[Vaishnava]]s (c. 16th century) who believe it was reincarnated in [[Vasudeva]].<ref>{{cite book
	\| author = [[Prabhupada]], A.C.B.S.		\| author = [[Prabhupada]], A.C.B.S.
	\| year = 1972		\| year = 1972

2409:4072:191:F7B2:FC3E:1FE6:D953:A4D5 at 06:52, 8 August 2021

2021-08-08T06:52:46Z

New page

'''Tārakāsura''' ({{lang-sa|तारकासुर:}}) or '''Tāraka''' ({{lang-sa|तारक}}) '''Tharakasuran''' ([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: தாரக்காசுறன்) '''Tarakasura''' ({{lang-te|తారకసుర}}) was a powerful ''[[asura]]'' in [[Hindu mythology]]. He was son of a powerful Asura [[Vajranaka]] and his wife Vajrangini.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sivkishen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kmVZBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT67&dq=tarakasura+son#q=Vajrangani|title=Kingdom of Shiva|date=2015-01-23|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-81-288-3028-0|language=en}}</ref> Taraka had three sons Tarakaksha, Vidyunmāli and Kamalaksha, who were known as [[Tripurasura]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gokhale|first=Namita|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1y8nAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT42&dq=Tarakaksha,+Vidyunmali+Kamalaksha#q=Tarakaksha,%20Vidyunmali%20Kamalaksha|title=Book of Shiva|date=2012-10-23|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-863-4|language=en}}</ref>
{{Infobox mythological character
| series =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| family = [[Vajranaka]] (father)<br>
Vajrangani (mother)
| children = [[Tripurasura|Tarakaksha, Vidyunmāli, Kamalaksha]]
| name = Tarakasura
| species = [[Asura]]
}}

== Legend ==
Tarakasura repeatedly defeated the gods until heaven was on the verge of collapse. Yet he had a clever boon that he could be defeated only by the son of [[Shiva]], who was a complete [[yogi]], given to severe austerities, far from any thoughts of marriage. However, [[Parvati]] who was re-incarnation of [[Sati (goddess)|Sati]], Shiva's wife and also incarnation of [[Aadi Shakti]] who was once a part of Shiva, in their [[Ardhanarishvara]] form. Eventually their son [[Kartikeya]] was born. Kartikeya killed Tarakasura and his brothers Simhamukhan and [[Surapadman]] who eventually became the mounts of [[Parvati]] and Kartikeya.

==Literary references==
This story is the basis for the epic [[Kumarasambhava]] (lit., birth of Kartikeya) by [[Kalidasa]]<ref>http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/~amit/books/kalidasa-1929-kalidaser-granthabali-v2-v2.html</ref> (c. 4th century CE). The theme of the vaporised love spirit roaming free in the universe was adopted by the [[Vaishnava]]s (c. 16th century) who believe it was reincarnated in [[Vasudeva]].<ref>{{cite book
| author = [[Prabhupada]], A.C.B.S.
| year = 1972
| title = [[Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead]]
}}</ref> This is also the theme of the poem ''madanbhasmer par'' (মদনভস্মের পর) by [[Rabindranath Tagore]].

==See also==
*[[Lord of Light]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Daityas]]