Evil


Other names- Andhakaasur, Aandhakasur, Andhaakasur

In the ancient stories Demon king Andhakasur has been referred to as the enemy of the Devtas. He used to harass Saints and Sages and they were fed up of his atrocities. Andhakasur used to have enmity with the Devtas and wanted to destroy the grandeur of heaven and to kidnap Ganga, the beauty of heaven. For this, he sent his chief associates and demons Pralayasur and Jwalasur but they did not succeed in their mission. Then, with the guidance of Shukracharya, the guru of the demons, he wanted to go for penance of lord Shiva and acquire a boon to conquest the whole world. Worried with the penance of Andhakasur, Lord Indra sent heavenly nymph Rambha to disrupt his penance. But Rambha failed to disrupt his penance. Then on Devi Ganga’s suggestion lord Indra observed penance to gain Yagyashakti for himself. Penance was observed under the guidance of Brihaspati, Guru of the Devtas. Demon guru Shukracharya tried to make this penance unsuccessful but Devi Ganga did not let him succeed in his desire.

fx Then Andhakasur attacked heaven with his illusive powers. A fierce battle was fought between the devtas and demons. The devtas were defeated in this war and ran away. Andhakasur took over heaven and tried to kidnap Devi Ganga. After being defeated by Andhakasur, Lord Indra on Naradji’s suggestion went to Devi Ganga. Tired of Andhakasur’s atrocities and his ego, Devi Uma herself wanted to kill him but Devi Ganga stopped her from doing so. Andhakasur kept trying to kidnap Devi Ganga. In the end he himself went to Devi Ganga and Devi Uma and challenged them for war. A battle was fought between Ganga and Andhakasur. All illusive powers of Andhakasur failed. He realized the power of Devi Ganga and accepted his mistake and started appreciating Devi Ganga. Pleased with Andhakasur, Ganga appeared in her divine form in front of him. Andhakasur returned to Patal lok (under world). Then demon guru Shukracharya and other demons snatched away his crown and threw him out of Patal lok and crowned Hiranyakashyap, the king of the demons.

During the last days of his life, Andhakasur wanted to observe penance to bring Ganga to Patal lok to make it sanctify Patal lok. Demon guru Shukracharya wanted to fail this attempt of Andhakasur. But pleased with his penance, Devi Ganga fulfilled his wish and with the preachings of Ganga, even Shukracharya attained wisdom. With the efforts of Andhakasur, welfare of Asurlok was also possible.

Andhakasur has been picturised in the Puranas as the one who left demonic desires, gained pure and gentle acts and became a devotee of Devi Ganga and lived a blessed life.