Narakasura

Narakasura
Krishna and Satyabhama fighting Naraka's armies - Painting from the Metropolitan Museum
Information
Gender	Male
Spouse(s)	Maya (Princess of Vidarbha)
Children	Bhagadatta (Son)
Relatives	Bhudevi (mother) Varaha or Hiranyaksha (father)
Dynasty	Bhauma

Naraka, also known as Narakasura, was a mythical asura king, the legendary progenitor of all three dynasties of Pragjyotisha-Kamarupa, and the founding ruler of the legendary Bhauma dynasty of Pragjyotisha. Though the myths about Naraka are first mentioned in the Mahabharata, later texts embellish them. According to later post-Vedic texts such as the Brahma Purana and Vishnu Purana, he was the son of Bhudevi, fathered either by the Varaha incarnation of Vishnu or Hiranyaksha. He is claimed as one who established Pragjyotisha. He was killed by Krishna and Satyabhama. His son Bhagadatta—of Mahabharata fame—succeeded him.

The Kalika Purana states that he come from Rarh and said to have established the kingdom of Pragjyotisha after overthrowing the last of the Danava king Ghatakasura of Danava dynasty. It was foretold that he would be destroyed by a later incarnation of Vishnu. His mother, the earth, sought the boon from Vishnu that her son should have a long life, and that he should be all-powerful. Vishnu granted these boons.

The legends of Naraka is important in the history of Assam, particularly Kamarupa; since Naraka is cited as the progenitor of all three dynasties that ruled Kamarupa in historical times. A hill, to the south of Guwahati is named after him. He is also associated with the Hindu belief of the shakti goddess and place of worship Kamakhya.

History of the legend

Naraka and his kingdom, Pragjyotisha, find mention in both the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, in the sections which were written not before the first century, where he is not depicted as the son of Bhudevi (earth) and Varaha incarnation of Vishnu. His son, Bhagadatta, is said to have fought for the Kauravas in the Mahabharata battle. Though the boar Prajapati finds mention as early as the Satapatha Brahmana and the Taittriya Aranyaka from the mid-first millennium BC, the avatars were associated with Vishnu later, and became popular in the Gupta period (320-550 AD) and that the contact with Bhumi engendered a son is first mentioned in the Book II of the Harivamsa which is assigned to the fifth century. This theme, that of the son Naraka, is further expanded in the later Vishnu Purana (5th-9th century). In the 7th-century copper place inscriptions, Naraka is claimed as the originator of the Varman dynasty and that he lived three thousand years earlier. The Bhagavata Purana (8th-10th century), which was composed even later, expands the story even further. The Naraka myth gets the most extensive elaboration in the Upapurana called Kalika Purana (10th century), which was composed in Kamarupa itself. Here the myth of Janaka of Videha, the father of Sita, is embellished and added to the myth of Naraka.

Legends

The birth of Naraka is narrated in various texts. According to earlier versions of the legend, he was born after the horns of Hiranyaksha touched Bhumi. In Kalika Purana and other texts, Varaha is mentioned as Naraka's father.The pious Naraka became evil, in association with Asura named Banasura and 'asura' (demon) was added to his name.Once Naraka, motivated by his desire, wanted to marry Devi Kamakhya. When proposed, the Goddess playfully put a condition before him that if he would be able to build a staircase from the bottom of the Nilachal Hill to the temple within one night before the cock crows to indicate Dawn, then she would surely marry him. Naraka took it as a challenge and tried all with his might to do this huge task. He was almost about to accomplish the job before it was dawn. When Kamakhya Devi got this news, panic-stricken she strangled a cock and made it crow untimely to give the impression of Dawn to Naraka. Duped by the trick even Naraka thought that it was a futile job and left it halfway through. Later he chased the cock and killed it. Now the place is known as Kukurakata situated in the district of Darrang. The incomplete staircase is known as Mekhelauja Path.

Death

Krishna decapitates Naraka

Drunk with power, as he knew himself to be unrivalled in prowess, he brought all the kingdoms on earth under his control. Next, he turned his eyes towards Swargaloka. Even the mighty Indra could not withstand the assault of this son of Vishnu and had to flee the heavens. Narakasura had become the overlord of both the heavens and earth. Addicted to power, he stole the earrings of Aditi, the heavenly mother goddess, and usurped some of her territories, while also kidnapping 16000 women.All the Devas, led by Indra, went to Vishnu to ask him to deliver them from Narakasura. Vishnu promised them that he would attend to this matter, when he would be incarnated as Krishna.

As promised to Mother Earth, Naraka was allowed to enjoy a long reign. At last, Vishnu was born as Krishna. Aditi, who was a relative of Krishna's wife Satyabhama (believed to be an Avatar of Bhudevi - Narakasura' mother), approached Satyabhama for help. When Satyabhama heard of the Narakasura's ill-treatment of women and his behaviour with Aditi, she was enraged. Satyabhama approached Lord Krishna for permission to wage a war against Narakasura. As promised to the Devas and Aditi, Krishna attacked the great fortress of Narakasura, riding his mount Garuda with wife Satyabhama. Krishna used the Narayanastra and the Agneyastra against the army of Narakasura. The battle was furiously fought. Narakasura possessed 11 Akshauhinis that he unleashed on Krishna. However, the slew them all with little effort. Krishna also killed Mura, Narakasura's general. Thus Krishna is called 'Murāri' (the killer of Mura).

Narakasura used several divine weapons against Krishna, but Krishna easily neutralized all those weapons. Narakasura used the Brahmastra against Krishna, but Krishna neutralized it with his own Brahmastra. Narakasura used the Agneyastra against Krishna, but Krishna neutralized it with the Varunastra. Narakasura used the Nagapasha against Krishna, but Krishna neutralized it with the Garudastra. In desperation, Narakasura launched the Vaishnavastra on Krishna, but Krishna neutralized it with another Vaishnavastra. At last, when Narakasura tried to kill Krishna with a trident, Krishna beheaded him with his Sudarshana Chakra (discus).

In culture

It is believed that before Narakasura's death, he requested a boon from Satyabhama (incarnation of Bhudevi), that everyone should celebrate his death with colourful light. Thus this day is celebrated as 'Naraka Chaturdashi' - the day before Diwali. Krishna's and Satyabhama's victory on Narakasura translated into freedom for all his prisoners and honouring of Aditi.

See also

• Kamarupa
• Kamrup