Jvarasura

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Jvarasura
disease and fever
Jwarhareshwor Statue at Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple Premises, Gokarna, Kathmandu.jpg
Devanagariज्वारासुर
Tamil scriptஜ்வரஷுற
Bengaliজ্বরাসুর
AffiliationAsura

Jvarasura also called Jwarasura (Hindi: ज्वरासुर) (Bengali: জ্বরাসুর) in Hindu mythology is the fever-deity and the servant of the pox-deity goddess, Shitala.

In Hindu mythology[]

According to one legend, Jvarasura was born out of sweat of the fore-head of meditating Shiva and was a threat to the Devas. Once Vishnu was inflicted with the fever of Javarasura, when in the form of Haya-griva. He then killed the fever-demon by cutting him into three pieces using his cosmic-disk weapon, the Sudarshana Chakra. However, Jvarasura was later revived by Brahma, who joined the three parts. But by that time each three parts had grown a head and a limb.[1][2] Thus Jvarasura is depicted as having three faces, three feet and remarkable ability to move in all directions at once. He was later selected as servant of the pox-goddess, Shitala.[1]

The cult of Shitala-Jvarasura is widely popular in Bengali culture. Incidentally, in Bengali, Oriya and Hindi languages, fever is referred to as Jvara.[3] and Asura means demon. The name Jvarasura is combination of these two words - Jvara (meaning fever) and Asura (meaning demon) - Jvarasura. Thus, Jvarasura means the demon of fever. Jvarasura is disguised as a young servant. Shitala, the consort of Jvarasura is widely worshipped by village folk in whole of North India, as a protector of pox and fever diseases.[4]

In Buddhism[]

In Buddhist culture, Jvarasura is depicted sometimes as consort of Paranasabari, the Buddhist Goddess of diseases. In some images these deities are shown as flying away to escape from wrath of Vajrayogini, the Buddhist Goddess and destroyer of diseases.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Hawley, John Stratton; Wulff, Donna Marie (1982). The Divine consort: Rādhā and the goddesses of India By John Stratton Hawley, Harvard University. Center for the Study of World Religions. ISBN 9780895811028.
  2. ^ a b P. K. Mishra (1999). Studies in Hindu and Buddhist art. ISBN 9788170173687.
  3. ^ Alf Hiltebeitel (1991). On Hindu ritual and the goddess. ISBN 9780226340487.
  4. ^ Nicholas, Ralph W. (2003). Fruits of worship: practical religion in Bengal By Ralph W. Nicholas. ISBN 9788180280061.
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