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Shiva as Veerbhadra slaying the

demon Andaka, Elephanta Caves

Shiva kills the demon Andhaka, ca.

1590 (painted),Razmanama

AndhakaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Hindu mythology, Andhaka () often refers to a malevolent

asura, demon. Shiva assumed the Veerbhadra form to kill him.[1][2][3] His

story finds mention in various Hindu texts, includingMatsya Purana and

Shiva Purana. [4]

Contents

1 Story

2 In Mahabharata

3 See also

4 References

Story

The name "Andhaka" refers to "the blind one." Some commentators say

that the symbology of Andhaka being born "blind" relates to the passage

of the soul to enlightenment and the moral conflict of the soul, which is

subject to the laws of karma and can be ignorant of its own divine nature,

with the Divine. [Needs References.]

It is said that Andhaka was born blind as a son to Lord Shiva. Afterbirth, Andhaka was given to the demon Hiranyaksha to be raised, as

Hiranyaksha had no sons. Hiranyaksha spent many years in prayerto

Lord Shiva and requested a son as a boon. Lord Shiva provided

Hiranyanksha with his own son, Andhaka. Later, Andhaka became the

king of Hiranyaksha's kingdom.

Shortly after becoming king, Andhaka discovered that his cousins were

plotting to overthrow him, so he retreated to the forest to meditate. He

fasted and stood upon one leg for more than one million years, chopping

off parts of his body as a sacrifice to Brahma as he waited.

Brahma finally appeared and Andhaka asked that he be allowed to see,

and become immortal to be able to be killed by no-one. Brahma

agreed so long as Andhaka named the circumstances of his own death,

to which Andhaka said he would die if he ever chose to marry a woman

who is like a mother to him.

Andhaka returned to his kingdom and quickly calmed the problems with

his cousins.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_kills_the_demon_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_kills_the_demon_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_kills_the_demon_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_kills_the_demon_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_kills_the_demon_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_slaying_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_slaying_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_slaying_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_slaying_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_slaying_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_slaying_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsya_Puranahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_slaying_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asurahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veerbhadrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_slaying_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapas_(Sanskrit)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiranyakshahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva_Puranahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsya_Puranahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veerbhadrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asurahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Razmanama&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_kills_the_demon_Andhaka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephanta_Caveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veerbhadrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_slaying_Andhaka.jpg

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In Mahabharata

Some millions of years later, three of Andhaka's generals (Duryodhana [This is not the Duryodhana from the

Mahabharata], Vighasa and Hasti) happened upon Shiva and Parvati in a cave, but did not recognise them. They

thought that the woman was beautiful enough for their king, and so hurried back to tell him the good news.

Andhaka asked them to return and ask for the woman in marriage. Shiva refused and Andhaka rushed to the cave

to do battle.

There then followed a battle that lasted for hundreds of years and involved many other gods and demons, but finall

Shiva killed Andhaka by thrusting his trident through his son's chest. In some accounts, Lord Shiva held Andhaka

on His (Lord Shiva's) trident until the Sun withered away Andhaka's sins. After that time, Andhaka was purified by

the Lord's touch and became a Gana (attendant) to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

The myth stresses Andhaka's unnatural lust for his mother, a product of his blindness and inability to recognize

moral wrongs.

See alsoMatrikas

References

1. ^ Stella Kramrisch (January 1994). The Presence of Siva (http://books.google.com/books?

id=O5BanndcIgUC&pg=PA375). Princeton University Press. pp. 375. ISBN 978-0-691-01930-7. Retrieved 28

August 2013.

2. ^ Charles Dillard Collins (1 January 1988). The Iconography and Ritual of Siva at Elephanta

(http://books.google.com/books?id=pQNi6kAGJQ4C&pg=PA58). SUNY Press . pp. 58. ISBN 978-0-7914-99535. Retrieved 28 August 2013.

3. ^ George M. Williams (27 March 2008).Handbook of Hindu Mythology (http://books.google.com/books?

id=N7LOZfwCDpEC&pg=PA54). Oxford University Press. pp. 54. ISBN 978-0-19-533261-2. Retrieved 28

August 2013.

4. ^ B. K. Chaturvedi (2004). Shiv Purana (http://books.google.com/books?id=bchgql0em9YC&pg=PA106).

Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. pp. 106. ISBN 978-81-7182-721-3. Retrieved 28 August 2013.

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