Aghasura

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Aghasura, 18th-century Rajasthani painting

Agasura (अघासुर), is a demon (rakshasa) in the Bhagavata Purana. He was one of Mathura's King Kamsa's generals,[1][2] elder brother of the demoness Putana and Bakasura. A study of the Bhagavata Purana; or, Esoteric Hinduism by Purnendu Narayana Sinha, p. 247, mentions Agha as one of the tribes in alliance with Kamsa.[3] The Bhagavata Purana states that Aghasura assumed the form of an enormous serpent.[4] Krishna's companions, the cowherd boys, entered its mouth (mistaking it for a mountain cavern), making Krishna arrive to their rescue and killing Aghasura.[5] The killing of Aghasura by Lord Krishna is narrated by Sage Sukadeva to the king Parikshit in Srimad Bhagavatam.[6]

Krishna Subdues the Serpent Aghasura

Story[]

King Kamsa made many attempts on the life of Krishna, all of them failing.[7] Then he sent Aghasura to kill Krishna, who did so willingly knowing that his younger siblings Putana and Bakasura were killed by Krishna.[8] He assumed the form of the 8-mile-long serpent, disguising his open mouth against a mountain.[9] All the cowherd boys entered the mouth of the demon mistaking it to be a cavern.[10] When the serpent closes his mouth, the people will not be able to breath and eventually, they die.[11]

Krishna entered the serpent upon his arrival and then increased the size of his own body.[12] In response, the demon too extended his own body's size but started suffocating as Krishna was expanding more faster than him, causing his eyes to pop out.[13] The demon's life force, however, could not pass through any outlet, and therefore burst out through a hole in the top of Agasura's head, meeting his end in Krishna's hand.[14]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ A Dictionary of Hindu Mythology & Religion by John Dowson, ISBN 978-81-246-0108-2
  2. ^ Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology
  3. ^ A study of the Bhagavata Purana; or, Esoteric Hinduism by Purnendu Narayana Sinha, p. 247
  4. ^ Srimad Bhagavatam(10:12:1-44)
  5. ^ vaishnavi9 (27 February 2019). "Aghasura". Swadharma. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  6. ^ "King Parikshit's Question to Suka Maharishi - The Glory of God: A Summary of the Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana - Discourse 1". www.swami-krishnananda.org. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  7. ^ "The Hare Krsnas - Krsna's Later Pastimes with Demons - The Demon Kamsa". www.harekrsna.com. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  8. ^ "The Hare Krsnas - Krsna's Vrindaban Pastimes - Aghasura Demon". www.harekrsna.com. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Krishna Kills the Great Python Aghasura". Back to Godhead. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead". krsnabook.com. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Krishna Kills the Snake Demon Aghasura". Kids Portal For Parents. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  12. ^ "PrabhupadaBooks.com Srila Prabhupada's Original Books". prabhupadabooks.com. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Mythological Story : Krishna kills Aghasura". www.kidsgen.com. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Krishna Kills the Snake Demon Aghasura". Kids Portal For Parents. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.

External links[]


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