10
votes
How did Vishnu help Indra in killing Vritra?
The full story is described in Srimad Bhagvata MahaPurana, Skandha 6, Adhyaya 9 to 12.
SB 6.9: Appearance of the Demon Vṛtrāsura
SB 6.10: The Battle Between the Demigods and Vṛtrāsura
SB 6.11: The ...
- 26k
10
votes
Accepted
What does the word 'Asura' mean in the Vedas?
The word Asura has 2 meanings in the text Rig Veda
In positive sense and negative sense.
The word asa means breath and the word Asura would mean who has his strength in the breath or who is the ...
- 5,146
10
votes
Accepted
Is it true that Durga had problems with a demon that only created clones? What is this story?
Devi Mahatmyam, which is a part of Markandeya Purana doesn't tell that Devi had any problem killing the Ratkabija. You can read the full story in this chapter. Actually the Gods (devas) were greatly ...
- 48.1k
9
votes
Accepted
What scriptures describe the previous birth of Asura Mahabali?
The story of Mahabali's previous birth is told in this excerpt from the Kedara Kanda of the Skanda Purana. It describes a gambler who has been a really big sinner all his life. One day he is ...
- 97.2k
9
votes
Accepted
Why did Indra marry Shachi, the daughter of an Asura?
Interesting question and a valid one. Why should Indra, the ruler of Devas marry an Asura princess? There is no clear cut answer but the Rigved contains one particular hymn that is spoken by Shachi ...
- 19.2k
9
votes
Accepted
What is the story of Kalanemi who was reborn as Kamsa?
The story of Kalanemi after getting killed by Vishnu is mentioned in Garga Samhita. Kalanemi regained life with the help of Shukracarya and then performed severe austerities. He got a boon from Brahma ...
- 31.4k
9
votes
Accepted
Who is the 'messenger' of Asuras and what is his story?
According to Vayu Purana, Chapter 29, Saharaksha is the son of Pavaka and serve as the Agni for the Asuras.
पवमानात्मजश्चैव कव्यवाहन उच्यते।
पावकात्सहरक्षस्तु हव्यवाहः शुचेः सुतः॥४॥
The son ...
- 23.7k
9
votes
Accepted
Are there any asura that asked for a boon/wish and they didn't became evil?
Karkati is one such example. She takes boon from Brahma and realizes later to become good and becomes Jivan muktha.
Her story is mentioned in Part 3 - The Story of Karkaṭī in Utpatti-prakaraṇa of Yoga-...
- 31.4k
8
votes
When was Ravana hit by the Sudarshana Chakra?
Ravana was hit with Sudarshana Chakra in his war with Gods.
विष्णु चक्र निपातैः च शतशो देव संयुगे |
अन्यैः शस्त्रैः प्रहारैः च महायुद्धेषु ताडितम् || ३-३२-१०
His body bears hundreds of welts ...
- 109
8
votes
What is the story of Mahabali's sister's attempt to destroy the world?
I found the answer on page 337 of this book:
In fact, most [North Indian] manuscripts replace the name of Manthara with Dirghajihva, "Long-tounged"[.]... Dirghajihva is a rakshasa woman known to ...
- 97.2k
8
votes
Why did Asuras live on Earth & Devas did not?
Interesting question but let me clear one point first - NOT all Asuras live on earth, in fact the residence of most Asuras is the underworld. The Shatapatha Brahmana 1.2.4 tells us the reason why they ...
- 19.2k
8
votes
What happened to the asuras?
Well they are still existing! The Devi Bhagwat Puran Book 8 Chapter 19 gives the following account of the lower lokas that are the residences of various Asura species. Talking about the region of ...
- 19.2k
8
votes
Accepted
How did Vishnu help Indra in killing Vritra?
There is a slightly different version of the story of Vritra as mentioned in the Mahabharata. There Indra is defeated by Vritra, gets advice from Vishnu, befriends Vritra based on that advice, and ...
- 1,686
8
votes
Accepted
Who is Kalakanja?
Kalakanja is not a single Danava but they are group of Danavas and are are known as Kalakanjas. They were the sons of Sage Kashyapa and Kalaka as described in Vishnu Purana, Book 1, Chapter 21.
...
- 23.7k
8
votes
Accepted
Is caste system only for humans?
Brahman initially projected Varna/cast in deities, Varna of deities as described in Brihadaranyaka:
Brahmin- Agni
Kshatriya- Indra, Varuna, the moon, Rudra, Parjanya, Yama, Death, and Isana
Vaishya-...
- 26k
8
votes
Who killed Banasura - Lord Krishna or Devi?
As per Chapter 55, Rudra Samhita (Yuddha Khanda) of Shiva Purana and Chapter 63, Book 10 of Srimad Bhagvatam, Sri Krishna only cut hands of Banasura. But Chapter 12, Part 1 of Agni Purana doesn't ...
- 31.1k
7
votes
Who spoke the Lakshmi ashtakam & did Lakshmi really kill Kolhasura?
I'm answering the first part of your question regarding the composer and the source of the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam.
The composer is Indra ,the king of Gods, and the Ashtaka is found in the Padma Purana.
- 111k
6
votes
Accepted
Were both the MAYAs mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata one and the same (or) different?
They are different architects of Asuras with the same name. Two commentaries on the Valmiki Ramayana, the Amritakataka of Kataka Madhav Yogindra and the Ramayanatilaka of Nagesha Bhatta both say that ...
- 97.2k
6
votes
Why doesn't Lord Shiva hate Asuras?
If someone does penance,whoever he might be, whether a Deva ,asura,pisaca or a manava, he deservedly earned his rights to boons.So, the God is bound to give him boons within the permissible limits,and ...
- 111k
6
votes
Accepted
How could Asuras get boons from God?
Irrespective of one's motive, if one does sufficient austerities or tapas then he/she is bound to get the rewards.
Whatever his intention was will not prevent him from getting the rewards.
Here are ...
- 111k
6
votes
Which scriptures describe Vritra as an Asura?
Which Scriptures say Vritra was an Asura.
Markandeya Purana – Chapter 5 – Indra’s transformations.
Background – In this chapter we find the story of birth of Vritrasura , here he is called as asura. ...
- 31.9k
6
votes
Why deities are called asuras in rig-veda why it became a symbol of demons in post-rigvedic period?
The word Asura can have many meanings. Primary being this - A-Sura or not Sura".
In this sense, the word is used in the Yajur Veda (here KYV denotes the Krishna Yajur Veda) too. Where the word is ...
- 111k
6
votes
Who was Parâvasu the former Hotri for Asuras?
According to Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: SECTION CXXXV, Paravasu and Arvavasu were the son of Raivya (or Raibhya).
"Lomasa said, 'Bharadwaja and Raivya were two friends. ...
- 23.7k
6
votes
Did devas, asuras and normal humans exist in the same world together during any time?
Devas and humans used to reside together on Earth at some point in time.
See:
In ancient times gods and men used to live together in this world.
Then the gods went to heaven by performing rites, ...
- 111k
6
votes
Is it true that Durga had problems with a demon that only created clones? What is this story?
Well the story you are talking about is the story of a demon named Raktabīja, he came to known by this name after he was blessed with a unique boon by Lord Brahma. As per this boon, if a drop of blood ...
- 8,860
5
votes
Accepted
How did Indra use deception to defeat Prahlada's son Virochana?
I found the answer to my question in this chapter of the Kedara Kanda of the Skanda Purana. Virochana, like his future son Mahabali, is extremely generous, so Indra approaches him in the form of an ...
- 97.2k
5
votes
Does evil get stronger at specific times?
Yes evil does get stronger at certain hours of the day and certain days of the month. According to various scriptures, the demons were created by Brahma from his Tamsik body after he created night-...
- 19.2k
5
votes
Which scriptures describe Vritra as an Asura?
Yes, Vritra is described as an Asura in Mahabharata many times. I am giving below some of the verses.
32 अनायुषः पुनः पुत्राश चत्वारॊ ऽसुर पुङ्गवाः
विक्षरॊ बलवीरौ च वृत्रश चैव महासुरः
And ...
- 23.7k
5
votes
Is caste system only for humans?
Caste system is there at least for the Planetary-Devatas or the Navagrahas,
Castes of Grahas. Guru and Śukr are Brahmins. Sūrya and Mangal are royal Grahas, while Candr and Budh belong to ...
- 111k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible