Asuras

Tadaka

Other names- Tarka, Taraka, Tadka

Tadaka was a wicked demoness with the strength of a thousand elephants. Her sons Mareech and Subahu were also very powerful. However, the three of them used their strength to destroy the land lying north of Ganga, Malad and Kurush. In fact, their terror caused people to flee the land for who ever passed that way, would be killed and eaten by the terrible trio. Their terror and violence was such that the forest came to be known and feared as Tadakavan (forest of Tadaka).

In the close vicinity was the quiet sanctum of Siddhashram where sage Vishwamitra had been conducting a long Yagna (fire sacrifice). He was also under a vow of controlling his temper so he could not get angry or curse anyone.

Taking advantage of this situation, Tadaka and her sons Subahu and Mareech flew over the sacred spot and dropped faeces, urine and bones from overhead, contaminating the hallowed fire and ritual. Vishwamitra was fed up of their interference and at last he decided to go to Raja Dashratha to ask him to send his sons Rama and Lakshman to help him. At first Dasharatha was reluctant to do so but sage Vashishtha persuaded him to let the two princes accompany Vishwamitra.

When Vishwamitra arrived at Siddhashram with Rama and Lakshman , Tadaka caused a terrible storm to rage there. Huge stones and boulders began to rain from the skies. Vishwamitra told Rama that it is Tadaka that is causing these strange storms. She has made our life miserable with her wicked ways so kill her as soon as possible O Rama.

Rama asked him, “Who is this Tadaka and for how long has she been harassing you?” Vishwamitra explained that Tadaka was once a Yakshini (celestial being). Her father Yaksharaj Suketu had undergone vigorous meditation and prayer to obtain a son from Lord Brahma. But Lord Brahma said, “I will bestow on you a daughter, who will be mightier than a son; she will have the strength of a thousand elephants". Suketu arranged for this extraordinary, strong daughter to be married to Sund, son of Jambh, who was as strong as her.

Two sons were born to them, Subahu and Mareech. The two boys were stronger than anyone and together they created havoc in the ashram of Sage Agastya. Enraged, the sage cursed them to instant death for disturbing his religious practices. Sunda died and at once. Tadaka and Subahu rushed to attack Sage Agastya. But before they could do so, Agastya cursed them to turn into terrible, repulsive rakshas and rakshasi (demon and demoness). The people of Malad and Kurush are also fed up of these demons, so Rama, hurry up and kill this Tadaka.

Rama began to fight Tadaka but he could not bring himself to kill a woman. But sage Vishwamitra said, “It is a helpless woman who should not be attacked by a Kshatriya (Warrior caste) warrior but Tadaka is a wicked demoness. Kill her at once! Even in olden days, many brave Kshatriya warriors killed demonesses like her!”

So Rama, in obedience to sage Vishwamitra’s word, killed Tadaka. Siddhashram was now quiet and calm and the sages began their yagna again, guarded by Rama & Lakshman who stood watch nearby. Then with a thunderous roar, Subahu and Mareech appeared overhead and began to trouble the sages.

Rama aimed a featherless arrow at Mareech and he fell into the sea a thousand leagues away. He was the maternal uncle of Ravana. Then Rama attacked Subahu and killed him and thus Vishwamitra was able to conduct his Yagna (fire sacrifice) uninterrupted.

When Tadaka fell to her death, an amazing transformation occurred. She turned into a beautiful Yakshini (celestial being), bowed to Rama and disappeared into the sky in the twinkling of an eye. Subahu also was liberated thus.