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Devaasur Sangraam

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Devaasur Sangraam
Adapted from "History of Ancient India: from 7300 BC to 4250 BC" by JP Mittal

There are 12 Devaasur Sangraam known in mythological history --

(1) Varaah - Bhaadrapad Shukla 3 is Varaah Bhagavaan's birth day. On this day he brought Prithvi up from the bottom of the sea and killed Hiranyaaksh.

(2) Aadibak - Viprachitti was the eldest son of Danu whose children were known as Daanav. He was the king of Daanav. He was very mighty, brave, learned and Rishi. He had defeated Devtaa many times. In the last Indra killed him by attacking him from the behind.

(3) Taarak-Maya - Taarak was also a great and mighty Asur. He did a great Tap and asked the Var to be killed only by Shiv's 6-day old son. To fulfill this condition, Shiv married Paarvatee, had the son named Kaarttikeya. When he was 6 days old, he killed Taarak with only one arrow. This happened on Skand Shashthee - Maargsheersh Shukla 6. Since both Taarak and Maya Daanav were killed in this batle, this battle is known as Taarak-Maya.

(4) Narasinh - When Hiranyakashyap's atrocities increased too much towards his son Prahlaad and others, Vishnu had to incarnate in Narasinh form ( neither human, nor animal, nor any other form created by Brahmaa Jee) to kill him and killed him according to his conditions. He killed him in the evening (neither day, nor night), in the doorway (nether inside, nor outside), with his nails (not with any kind of weapon) putting him on his knees (neither on Prithvi, nor in sky). This happened on Vaishaakh Shukla 14 - Narsinh Jayantee. This was the fourth Devaasur Sangraam known as Narsinh.

(5) Tripur - There were three Raakshas (Taarakaasur's sons) who inhabited three cities in the sky built by Maya Daanav - one of gold, one of silver and one of iron. They were killed by Shiv on Maargsheersh Poornimaa. This day is known as Tripur Bhairavee Jayantee.

(6) Andhak - Andhakaasur was the son of Shambaraasur and the grandson of Hiranyaaksh. He attacked Devtaa so Shiv and Indra went to fight with him. When Shiv killed the Asur, his army ran away.

Note - Some say that he was the son of Viprachitti and Sinhikaa - Hiranyaaksh's sister. But Shambar was the son of Hiranyaaksh

(7) Saagar Manthan - Although Devta and Asur both were step brothers but the power of Asur was much more superior than Devtaa, so Devtaa had to be smarter and cleverer than them to defeat them. Brihaspati had already abandoned Devtaa because once Indra did not respect him, besides Indra showed disrespect to Durvaasaa also, so he gave Shaap to him that his all wealth will be lost. Taking the advantage of this opportunity, Bali invaded Indra and took his Amaraavatee. When Daitya Raaj Bali had taken Indra's kingdom Swarg, Devtaa went to Brahmaa jee and Brahmaa Jee went to Vishnu along with all Devtaa. Vishnu asked them to do Saagar Manthan (churning Ksheer Saagar) along with Daitya, as this would help to take out Amrit which will at least save lives of Devtaa.

This Saagar Manthan started on Vaishaakh Krishn 1 - Kashchap Avataar. Many things came out by churning the sea including poison, Lakshmee, Kalp Vriksh, Kaamdhenu. In the last came out Amrit. Other things got distributed easily but the dispute started on Amrit. Devtaa grabbed it with the help of Vishnu on Vaishaakh Shukla 11 (Mohinee Ekaadashee). Vishnu had to appear as Mohinee and then only He distributed Amrit to Devtaa. After quite some time Daitya realized that they were cheated and it resulted in Devaasur Sangraam which is called Saagar manthan.

(8) Vaaman - Although Devtaa got Amrit, but Daitya were still very powerful and they were not going to be defeated by Daevtaa easily. On the other side, Bali liked Amaraavatee so much that he decided to live there permanently. His Guru Shukraachaarya told him that he could not live there like that unless he had performed 100 Ashwamedh Yagya, so Bali started doing Ashwamedh Yagya. he finished 99 Yagya and now he was going to the last one, the 100th one, and after that he would become Indra. It was necessary for Devtaa to disturb this Yagya so that Indra can regain his kingdom. So Vishnu took Avataar of Vaamn (Dwarf) an asked three feet land in donation on the last day of the Yagya. In spite of Shukraachaarya's warning, Bali gave Him three feet land. Vaaman increased His body so much that He measured Prithvi under one foot, Swarg under His second foot. Now He asked him where He should measure His third foot land. Bali lay downward and asked Bhagavaan to measure His third foot on his body. Pleased by his Bhakti, Vaaman gave him the kingdom of Sutal Lok, appointed Indra of next Manvantar (the 8th one) and promised to guard his city. All this happened on Bhaadrapad Shukla 12 (Vaaman Jayantee).

(9) Halaahal - Prajanee was the son of Praanshu, the 9th son of Vaivswat Manu. He killed Balaasur. Devtaa killed Jambhaasur with the help of Ayodhyaa's king Kakutsth. After defeating Asur Kakutsth was known as Puranjaya as Indra was given the title of Purandar. This Devaasur Sangraam is known as Halaahal.

(10) Vritraasur - In this Devaasur Sangraam, Indra killed Vritraasur. As it was very difficult to kill Vritraasur, Bhagavaan suggested Indra to go to Dadheechi and ask his bones to use to make a weapon, Vajra, by Vishwaarmaa and kill him with that. So Indra went to Dadheechi and asked his bones which he gave him soon by leaving his body through Yog. Indra got the bones made into Vajra and killed Vritraasur. After this Indra got the title of Mahendra.

(11) Kolaahal - Shund and Murk were the priests of Daitya. Even being Braahman they were called Asur. In this Devaasur Sangraam, Nahush's younger brother Rajji helped Devtaa on the condition that after killing those Daitya he would be appointed as Indra. But after that he declined the Indra Pad. Later instigated by by Naarad his children claimed the throne, they did get it, but lst after a while as they could not follow the rules to hold it.

(12) Dhwaj - This Sangraam took place in Tretaa Yug. It was fought in Dandak Van, Devtaa and human beings on one side and Asur on the other side. The leader of Asur was Shambaraasur. At that time Indra was Sumantu. Maya Daanav was also killed in this battle. This was the same Devaasur Sangraam in which Kaikeyee was the chariot driver of Dasharath, she saved Dasharath's life and Dasharath asked her to ask for two Var. At that time Jataayu healed his wounds and became his friend.


Another List of 12 Dev-Asur Battles

Agni Puraan, 27 also gives the names of 12 Dev-Asur battles --
(1) Narasinh - Narasinh Bhagavaan tore Hiranyakashyap's heart and appointed Prahlaad as Daitya's King.

(2) Vaaman - At the time of Dev-Asur Sangraam He appeared as Vaaman and returned Tri-Lok kingdom to Indra by cheating Daitya King Bali.

(3) Varaah Sangraam (battle) - He incarnated as Varaah and killed Hiranyaaksh and took out sank Prithvi in water.

(4) Amrit Manthan - Once Devtaa and Asur jointly churned the sea making Vaasuki as churning rope and Mandaraachal as churning rod and took out Amrit. Bhagavaan gave all Amrit to Devtaa that is why both had a great fight.

(5) Taarakaamaya Sangraam- Brahmaa stopped Devtaa and Daanav from fighting and established Som Vansh.

(6) Aajeevak - In this fight, Vishwaamitra, Vashishth and Atri etc Rishi killed Daanav and protected Devtaa.

(7) Traipur - In this battle, Shiv set off to destroy Tri-Pur seated on Prithvi-chariot yoking Ved-horses. Vishnu set on an arrow and destroyed Tri-Pur.

(8) Andhak Vadh - Andhakaasur troubled a lot with the intention to abduct Gauree, so he killed him.

(9) Vritra Vighaatak Sangraam - To kill Vritraasur, Vishnu sat on Indra's Vajra as the foam of water.

(10) Jit - Hari incarnated as Parashuraam and won Shaalv etc Daanav.

(11) Haalaahal - Bhagavaan made Devtaa fearless by asking Shiv to destroy the Daitya appeared as Halaahal poison coming out from Saagar Manthan by drinking it.

(12) Ghor Kolaahal - There was a Daitya named Kolaahal in Dev-Asur Sangraam, He killed him.

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/06
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 04/09/13