Development of Hinduism

SR No.: 007303
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M M Ninan
Publisher: M M Ninan
Total Pages: 582
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 45 MB

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14. THE CONCEPT OF AVATARS
Narakasura Narakasura was the son of Goddess earth, (referred to as Bhumi), by Lord Vishnu himself during his Varaha (boar) avatar. In other sources, he is the son of the asura Hiranyaksa. He is said to have established the kingdom of Pragjyotisha in Assam after overthrowing the last of the Danava king Ghatakasura.
An alternate story is told in the South where it was Satybhama who killed Narakasure
Narakasura's Killing
Narakasura was a demon king, ruling Pragjothishyapur, a southern province in the present day Nepal. He gained a boon from Brahma that he would die only in the hands of a woman. Armed with the boon, he ruled like a despot. Narakasura was infamous for his wicked ruling and high disregard for demigods and women.
Addicted to power, he defeated Lord Indra (king of demigods) and abducted 16000 women and imprisoned them in his palace. He stole the earrings of Aditi (the heavenly mother goddess) and usurped some of her territory. Aditi was a relative of Satyabhama. When she heard of the Narakasuara's ill treatment of women and his behaviour with Aditi, she was enraged. Satyabhama approached Lord Krishna for permission to wage a war against Narakasura. Krishna not only agreed, but also offered to drive her chariot in the battlefield.
On the day of the war, Satyabhama fought Narakasura bravely, but she was no match to his trained skills. After a few days days, when Narakasura got a chance, he took aim at Krishna, hurting him lightly. Krishna fainted in a preordained divinely plan adopted to empower Satyabhama. Seeing this Satyabhama was furious. She doubled her attack on the demon king and killed him finally. Her victory on Narakasura translated into freedom for all his prisoners and honoring of Aditi. Having rescued the 16000 women, Krishna was compelled to marry them per the customs of the day.
(Theosophy encyclopedia)
The Puranas apparently have no knowledge of this. Diwali, the festival of light is also called "Naraka Chaturdasi" and is the celebration of this victory.
There are practically two accounts of the Varaha Avatars whereas the older puranas consider Varaha as and avatar of Brahma, later puranas ascribes it to Vishnu. This is one of the occassions when Vaishnavites take over the older stories and rewrite it in terms of Vishnu. In the former Brahma the
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