Asura · Shakta · Pan-India

Mahishasura

Also called: Mahisha, the buffalo demon

The buffalo demon who took Indra's seat after a hundred-year war and was killed by the goddess born of the gods' light (Devi Mahatmya 2-3). In the Skanda Purana's Arunachala Mahatmya he comes courting Gauri at the hill as an old man, is challenged to show his strength, fights her as buffalo, lion, tiger, elephant and warrior, and is beheaded; a linga is found in his throat and sticks to her hand, because he had been a devotee of Shiva.

Sources: Devi Mahatmyam, chapters 2-4 (the Mahishasura episode), Sanskrit with English on devimahatmyam.aurobharati.in; The Skanda Purana, tr. G. V. Tagare (Motilal Banarsidass), Maheshvara Khanda: Kedara Khanda 27, 34-35 and Arunachala Mahatmya 3-13, on Wisdom Library · see Mahishasura's web

Relations 1

Mahishasura slain by

Parvati (Consort) Shakta · The gods' light becomes a woman: Mahishasura, and Uma's homecoming in Bengal
As Durga, the goddess of the gods' light; at Arunachala with the sword.

Stories 1

The gods' light becomes a woman: Mahishasura, and Uma's homecoming in Bengal
Legend · as the buffalo demon who took Indra's seat · 2 tellings

Cited

Devi Mahatmyam, chapters 2-4 (the Mahishasura episode), Sanskrit with English on devimahatmyam.aurobharati.in § 2 Primary text (translation)
Devi Mahatmyam, chapters 2-4 (the Mahishasura episode), Sanskrit with English on devimahatmyam.aurobharati.in § 3 Primary text (translation)
The Skanda Purana, tr. G. V. Tagare (Motilal Banarsidass), Maheshvara Khanda: Kedara Khanda 27, 34-35 and Arunachala Mahatmya 3-13, on Wisdom Library § 1.3a.10 Primary text (translation)
The Skanda Purana, tr. G. V. Tagare (Motilal Banarsidass), Maheshvara Khanda: Kedara Khanda 27, 34-35 and Arunachala Mahatmya 3-13, on Wisdom Library § 1.3a.11 Primary text (translation)