Surapadma (), Surapadman () is an
asura
Asuras () are a class of beings in Indian religions, and later Persian and Turkic mythology. They are described as power-seeking beings related to the more benevolent Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhist context, the wor ...
featured in
Hindu literature
Hindu texts or Hindu scriptures are manuscripts and voluminous historical literature which are related to any of the diverse traditions within Hinduism. Some of the major Hindu texts include the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Itihasa. Scholars ...
. He is the son of the sage
Kashyapa
Kashyapa (, ) is a revered Vedic 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 ancient and venerated rishi, along with the other Sa ...
and a
shakti
Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; 'energy, ability, strength, effort, power, might, capability') in Hinduism, is the "Universal Power" that underlies and sustains all existence. Conceived as feminine in essence, Shakti refer ...
named Maya. He wages war against the
devas by invading
Devaloka
In Indian religions, a devaloka or deva loka is a plane of existence where deity, gods aka Deva (Hinduism), devas exist. The deva lokas are usually described as places of eternal light and goodness, similar to the concept of Heaven. Teachers ...
with a massive army. He is defeated by
Murugan
Kartikeya (/ kɑɾt̪ɪkejə/; ), also known as Skanda ( /skən̪d̪ə/), Subrahmanya (/ sʊbɾəɦməɲjə/, /ɕʊ-/), Shanmukha ( /ɕɑnmʊkʰə/) and Murugan (/ mʊɾʊgən/), is the Hindu god of war. He is generally described as the ...
, and according to
Tamil tradition, turned into his
vahana
''Vāhana'' () or ''vahanam'' () denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical entity, a particular Hindus, Hindu deity is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vāhana is often called the deity's "mount". Upon the partnership b ...
, the
peacock
Peafowl is a common name for two bird species of the genus '' Pavo'' and one species of the closely related genus '' Afropavo'' within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae (the pheasants and their allies). Male peafowl are referred t ...
. He is the brother of
Tarakasura. His eldest son is Banukopan.
Legend
The
Kanda Puranam, the Tamil iteration of the Skanda Purana, describes the legend of Surapadma. He is said to have engaged in intense austerities to propitiate the deity
Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
, who appeared to grant the asura a boon. He asked for the boon of living for 108
yugas, and reign over the 1008 worlds. He marries Padmakomalai, with whom he sired several sons, the eldest of whom is Banukopan. Establishing his capital at a city named Viramakendiram located at the eastern sea, he ruled the world. An enemy of the devas, he started to harass them, and attacked a number of
Indra's sons. He also desired
Indrani
Indrani (Sanskrit: इन्द्राणी, IAST: ''Indrāṇī''), also known as Shachi (Sanskrit: शची, IAST: ''Śacī''), is the queen of the Deva (Hinduism), devas in Hinduism. Described as tantalisingly beautiful, proud and kind, ...
, the wife of Indra. When Indra and his wife fled to the earth, Murugan sent his messenger named Viravakutevar to urge Surapadma to cease his activities, but to no avail. Murugan declared war on Surapadma, and in the ensuing battle, all of the latter's sons except Iraniyan were slain. Unwilling to concede his defeat, Surapadma retreated to the sea, assuming the form of a mango tree. Murugan sliced the tree in twain, from which emerged a cock and a peacock. The deity started to employ the cock as his battle standard, and the peacock as his mount.
Tiruchendur
Tiruchendur (Tamil language, Tamil: ''Tiruccentūr'' �t̪iɾɯtːʃen̪d̪uːr also ''jayantipuram'') is a municipality in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is home to the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur, Arulmigu ...
is identified by adherents as the site Surapadma is slain by Murugan.
In Tamil tradition, Surapadma is conceived with the same origin as Tarakasura, the asura who necessitates the birth of a son of Shiva, Murugan. The slaying of Surapadma by Murugan is also described to mark the onset of the
Kali Yuga
''Kali Yuga'' (Devanagari: कलियुग), in Hinduism, is the fourth, shortest, and worst of the four '' yugas'' (world ages) in a '' Yuga cycle'', preceded by '' Dvapara Yuga'' and followed by the next cycle's '' Krita (Satya) Yuga''. I ...
. The downfall of Surapadma is the legend behind the occasion of the festival of
Thaipusam
Thaipusam or Thaipoosam (Tamil language, Tamil: Taippūcam, ) is a Tamil Hindu festival celebrated on the first Purnima, full moon day of the Tamil calendar, Tamil month of Pausha, Thai coinciding with Pushya, Pusam Nakshatra, star. The festiv ...
.
See also
*
Tarakasura
*
Jalandhara
Jalandhara (Sanskrit: जलन्धर, lit. ''he who holds water''), also known as Chalantarana (Sanskrit: चलन्तरण, lit. ''he who walks and swims'') is an asura in Hinduism. He was born when Shiva opened his third eye in his fury w ...
*
Banasura
Bana, also referred to as Banasura (), is an asura king in Hindu mythology, ruling from the city of Śoṇitapura. He is described to be the son of Mahabali. His tale of battling Krishna is described in the Bhagavata Purana. Legend
A mighty asur ...
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
Asura
Kartikeya