Astronomy:Aghasura

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Krishna enters the mouth of Aghasura

Template:Hindu mythology

Short description: Demon in Hindu scriptures

Aghasura (Sanskrit: अघासुर) is an asura featured in Hindu literature, most notably in the Bhagavata Purana. He was one of Kamsa's generals,[1][2] and the elder brother of the demoness Putana and Bakasura.

Agha is stated to be as one of the tribes that was in alliance with Kamsa.[3] The killing of Aghasura by Krishna is narrated by the sage Shuka to King Parikshit in the Bhagavata Purana.[4]

Legend

King Kamsa made many attempts on the life of Krishna, all of them failing.[5] Then he sent Aghasura to kill Krishna, who did so willingly knowing that his younger siblings Putana and Bakasura were killed by Krishna.[6] He assumed the form of the 8-mile-long serpent, disguising his open mouth against a mountain.[7] All the cowherd boys entered the mouth of the demon, mistaking it to be a cavern.[8] When the serpent closed his mouth, the victims generally suffocated to death.[9]

Krishna entered the serpent upon his arrival and then increased the size of his own body.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]

See also

References

Agasura (a serpent demon) is killed by Krishna
  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. "King Parikshit's Question to Suka Maharishi - The Glory of God: A Summary of the Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana - Discourse 1". https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/bhagavata/bhagavata_1.html. 
  5. "The Hare Krsnas - Krsna's Later Pastimes with Demons - The Demon Kamsa". https://www.harekrsna.com/philosophy/associates/demons/mathura/kamsa.htm. 
  6. "The Hare Krsnas - Krsna's Vrindaban Pastimes - Aghasura Demon". https://www.harekrsna.com/philosophy/associates/demons/vrindaban/aghasura.htm. 
  7. "Krishna Kills the Great Python Aghasura". 2021-07-01. https://back2godhead.com/the-killing-of-the-great-python/. 
  8. "Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead". https://krsnabook.com/. 
  9. "Krishna Kills the Snake Demon Aghasura" (in en). 2021-08-26. https://www.4to40.com/folktales-for-kids/folktales-in-english/krishna-kills-the-snake-demon-aghasura/. 
  10. "PrabhupadaBooks.com Srila Prabhupada's Original Books". https://prabhupadabooks.com/kb/1/12. 
  11. "Mythological Story : Krishna kills Aghasura". https://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/indian_mythology_stories/krishna_kills_aghasura.htm. 
  12. "Krishna Kills the Snake Demon Aghasura" (in en). 2021-08-26. https://www.4to40.com/folktales-for-kids/folktales-in-english/krishna-kills-the-snake-demon-aghasura/. 

External links

Krishna subdues the serpent Aghasura