Surapadma or Surapadman ( ta, சூரபத்மன்) was an

asura Asuras (Sanskrit: असुर) are a class of beings in Indian religions, Indic religions. They are described as power-seeking clans related to the more benevolent Deva (Hinduism), Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhism, Buddhi ...

who was the son of the rishi

Kashyapa Kashyapa ( sa, कश्यप}, ) is a revered Vedas, Vedic Sage (philosophy), sage of Hinduism., Quote: "Kasyapa (Rudra),(Vedic Seer)..." He is one of the Saptarishis, the seven ancient sages of the ''Rigveda''. Kashyapa is the most ancien ...

and the asuri sorceress Maya. He was defeated by

Murugan Kartikeya ( sa, कार्त्तिकेय, Kārttikeya), also known as Skanda, Subrahmanya, Shanmukha (), and Murugan ( ta, முருகன்), is the Hindu god of war. He is the son of Parvati and Shiva, the brother of Ganesha ...

but asking for pardon prior to his defeat, was granted the honour of becoming his

vahana ''Vahana'' ( sa, वाहन, or animal vehicle, literally "that which carries, that which pulls") denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical, a particular Hindus, Hindu God is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vahana ...

, the

peacock Peafowl is a common name for three bird species in the genera ''Pavo (genus), Pavo'' and ''Afropavo'' within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae, the pheasants and their allies. Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female pea ...

. He is the brother of Singamuka and Tarakasura. His eldest son is Banukopan.

Legends

Surapadman was the son of Maya, a sorceress and rishi Kashyapa. The couple had three sons and one daughter, and then the rishi went to meditate again for centuries. Hence, the siblings grew up to be Asuras. Surapadma did a very long penance to Shiva. As a result, he was granted a boon that no one except Shiva's offspring, born without Shiva's union with a female, in any nature, could either kill or defeat him. This boon resulted in a highly negative effect, as Surapadma took it to his head, and he conquered the mortal world, either by direct war, or by subjugation as inferior rulers. According to scriptures, Surapadman once tried to lift Mount Kailash, but Shiva pushed the mountain into place and trapped Surapadman beneath it. For a thousand years, the imprisoned Surapadman sang hymns ( Shiva Tundan) in praise of Shiva, who finally blessed him and granted him an invincible sword and a powerful

linga A lingam ( sa, लिङ्ग , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. It is typically the primary ''murti'' or devotional im ...

(Shiva's an iconic symbol, Atmalinga) to worship. He established a capital of empire at Veera Mahendrapuri, two miles into the sea, and gave parts of his vast empire to his brothers. At the same time his sister's arm was amputated by a ( MahaKalan) guard of the Indrarani, as the sister was trying to get the queen for Surapadman as a concubine. This angered Surapadman, who then conquered the heaven, and took all devas as prisoners and tortured them. Shiva had meanwhile created a Son,

also known as Karthikeya, from his forehead flames. The boy was extremely handsome and well talented with War and all other aspects. He started to march towards Veera Mahendrapuri, with the mortal army of Veerabagu brothers. Tarakasura, younger brother of Surapadma, ruling the entrance empire and an

is killed by Murugan; Murugan had to kill most of Surapadma's soldiers and defeat the middle brother Simhamukha (whom he graced to become His mother's lion

). As Surapadma still refused to surrender, the final battle arose and the former was defeated. He had lost his weapons, Vehicle and almost all of his army. In the end, Murugan mortally wounded him with his

Vel Vel ( ta, வேல், lit=Vēl) is a divine javelin or spear associated with Murugan, the Hindu god of war. Significance According to Shaiva tradition, the goddess Parvati presented the Vel to her son Murugan, as an embodiment of her shakti, ...

—and Surapadma asked his glory be spared. Murugan granted this, on the provision that Surapadma would forever be his

— whereupon Surapadma assumed the form of a

. The killing of Surapadma is celebrated as Surasamharam. The festival of Surasamharam is celebrated grandly in South India, especially in

Tiruchendur Tiruchendur is a municipality located in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is home to the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, which is one of the Six Abodes of Murugan. Etymology Tiruchendur, a temple town like many towns in the st ...

where it is said that the final battle between Murugan and Surapadma took place. According to Manava Purana,

Narakasura Naraka, also known as Narakasura (), is an asura king in Hindu mythology. In Assamese tradition, he is regarded as the legendary progenitor of all three dynasties of Pragjyotisha-Kamarupa, and the founding ruler of the legendary Bhauma dyna ...

was the rebirth of this asura.

References

External links

*http://www.murugan.org/gallery/kanda_puranam/html/kp_12.htm *http://murugan.org/gallery/kanda_puranam/html/kp_17.htm *http://tiruchendur.org/das-article.htm {{DEFAULTSORT:Surapadma Daityas

Legends

See also

References

External links