Raktabīja
Raktabīja | |
---|---|
Affiliation | Asura |
Texts | Puranas |
Personal information | |
Siblings | Mahishasura |
Raktabīja (
Legend
Origin
According to the
Battle
The eighth chapter of the Devi Mahatmya narrates Durga's battle with Raktabīja as a part of her battle against the asuras Shumbha and Nishumbha, who had disenfranchised the devas from Svarga. After the deaths of Dhumralochana, Chanda and Munda, Shumbha sent Raktabīja to fight. Raktabīja was wounded, but his drops of blood falling on the ground created innumerable other Raktabījas, and hence Durga and the Matrikas struggled to defeat them. Durga issued the following instruction to Kali:[3]
O Cāmuṇḍā! Open out your mouth quickly, and no sooner I strike Raktabīja with weapons, you would drink off the blood as fast as it runs out of his body. Instantly I will kill those Dānavas sprung from the blood with sharpened arrows, clubs, swords and Muṣalas; and you would then be able to devour them all at your will, and, then, roam in this field as you like. O Large-eyed One! You would drink off all the jets of blood in such a way that not a drop of it escapes and falls on the ground.
— Devi Bhagavata Purana, Book 5, Chapter 29
Ultimately, even as every drop of the blood that streamed from the asura was consumed by Kali, Raktabīja was beheaded by Durga and her axe.
According to popular folklore, after killing Raktabīja and most of his entire army, the goddess Kali went on to kill all creatures in a fury, but was timely intervened by Shiva who laid himself in her path. Striking his body, Kali was shaken and embarrassed, and took out her tongue. This act has been depicted in many Hindu paintings and portraits.
There are references of Kali not being created, but having sprung from Durga's forehead, as they were all the same goddess in different forms.
See also
References
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (28 January 2019). "Story of Raktabīja". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (28 January 2019). "Story of Mahiṣa". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (15 May 2013). "On the killing of Raktabīja [Chapter 29]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
External links
- On the description of the war of Raktabija
- On the killing of Raktabija
- ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dhallapiccola
- Devi Mahatmya, Chapter 9000.