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The power to use the abilities of an asura. Variation of Demon Deity. Combination of Demon Physiology and Hindu Deity. Not to be confused with Asura Form.

Capabilities[]

User with this ability either is or can transform into an asura, a member of a group of power-seeking deities from Hindu/Buddhist mythology, who were sometimes considered sinful and materialistic, but most often considered to have become addicted to passions, especially wrath, pride, boasting, and bellicosity. The asura are obsessed with force and violence, always looking for an excuse to get into a fight, angry with everyone and unable to maintain calm or solve problems peacefully.

In terms of power, asuras rank equal to the other deities, and some have levels of power that rival even the most powerful. Some individuals have forced all Hindu-deities to retreat and were defeated only by exploiting their own weaknesses, main one being pride.

Applications[]

Variations[]

Notable Asuras[]

Out of the many powerful asuras that existed in Hindu Myth, there were a few cases that demonstrated abilities and power that made them leaders among the other asuras. Some include:

  • Adi - Āḍi (Sanskrit: आडि) is an Asura in Hindu mythology who appears in the Matsya Purāṇa. He was the son of the demon Andhaka, who was killed by the god Shiva.
    • Absolute Immortality and Omnifarious (Via transformation. At the time of his father's death, Āḍi did tapasya to please Brahmā who appeared before him asking what he desired. Āḍi replied that he sought immortality, to which Brahmā made clear that all living beings must eventually die. Āḍi clarified his request, stating that he would only die when he had changed form. Brahmā took advantage of this ambiguity and granted him the power of transformation)
    • Shapeshifting (Āḍi was prepared to face Shiva. Armed with this newfound power from Brahmā, he entered Shiva's private quarters in the guise of a snake, evading the watch of Shiva's attendant Vīrabhadra. When he tried to approach Shiva in the guise of Pārvatī, Shiva offered an affectionate greeting. However, he soon became suspicious and got to know his true form through Yog)
    • Omniscience, Absolute Combat Mastery, Absolute Transcendence and Omnipotence (The latter via Moksha. Another version of the story tells us that Brahma granted him another boon that he can learn warfare under Shiva. Adi started to train under Shiva. However, after a few years he started to trouble the residents of Mount Kailasha. Adi appeared as Parvati in front of Shiva and asked him for one more chance. However Shiva realised this was Adi and killed him with his trishula. Adi begged for forgiveness and Shiva gave him moksha)
  • Apasmara - Apasmara (Sanskrit: अपस्मार, romanized: Apasmāra) is a dwarf who represents spiritual ignorance and nonsensical speech in Hindu mythology where he is said to be an asura.
    • Absolute Memory/Memory Manipulation (The suffix smāra (from smaranam – 'utterances' or 'memorization') signifies 'memory', not 'speech'. The compound apasmāra means 'loss of memory/dementia/amnesia', 'gibberish', that is, nonsensical or unintelligible speech or ego (Ahamkara). The Ayurvedic disease concept 'Apasmara' referred to certain neurological disorders having such memory loss (not speech) as a symptom, but, given the absence, at the time, of such modern adjuncts to diagnosis as brain-scanning, it is hard now to determine with any exactitude what all these may have been)
    • Negation of Omniscience and Omninescience as well as a twisted form of Omniscience Bestowal (To preserve knowledge in the world, Apasmara must be subdued, not killed, as to do so would disturb the necessary balance between spiritual knowledge and ignorance. Killing Apasmara would symbolise the attainment of knowledge without the (essential) effort, dedication and hard work involved, and this would lead to the devaluing of knowledge in all its forms)
      • Absolute Immortality (To subdue Apasmara, Shiva adopted the form of Nataraja – the Lord of Dance – and performed the cosmic dance of tāṇḍava. During this dance, Nataraja suppressed Apasmara by crushing him with his right foot. As Apasmara is one of the few demons destined to immortality, it is believed that Shiva forever remains in his Nataraja form suppressing Apasmara for eternity)
  • Bhandasura - Son of Shiva who is featured in the Lalita Mahatmaya of the Brahmanda Purana, who drove all the gods out of Heaven and became the lord of the multiverse.
    • Absolute Invincibility (Through the boon and in battle against the Deva.)
    • Creation (Created two Asuras Vishanga and Vishukra from his shoulders, from his heart he created his sister, Dhumini. He also bought to life four wives with whom he had thirty sons in total and a daughter named Rashmiprabha.)
    • Greater Divinity (Defeated and surpassed every Deva.)
    • Multiversal Lordship (Was emperor of the multiverse for 60,000 years)
    • Omnificence Genesis (Created several Asura from his own being like Kutilaaksha, Durmnada kuranda, Karanka, Kaalavaasita, Vajradanta, Vajramukha, Vajraloma, Vikata, Vikataasana, Karaalaaksha, Karkataka, Dirgha Jihva, Humbaka, Karkasha, Pulkasa, Pundraketu, Jrumbhakaaksha, Tikshna shringa, Yamantaka, Atimaya, Ulukajitat, Kujvilaashwya, Attahasa, Mushaka, and Kumbhotkacha. Ashwarooda Devi killed Karanka, Sampathkari)
    • Strength Absorption, Power Level Infinitum and Strength Accumulation (His boon was the ability to take half of a person's strength and masculinity and add it to himself)
    • Primordial Darkness Generation (Andhatāmisraka (the great darkness) was sent by Bhandasura))
  • Bhasmasura - An asura who had the ability to burn anyone whose head he touched.
    • Absolute Destruction (In Hinduism, Bhasmasura (Sanskrit: भस्मासुर, Bhasmāsura) is an asura or demon, who was granted the power to burn up and immediately turn into ashes (bhasma) anyone whose head he touched with his hand)
    • Absolute Superpower Negation and immunity to all (Excluding Omnipotence. Bhasmasura sought the power to burn to ashes anybody on whose head he placed his hand. Shiva granted this to him. Bhasmasura became arrogant with the boon, and is stated to have become a nightmare to the whole w.o.rld)
  • Durgamā - An asura who is associated with the origin of the goddess Shakambhari.
    • Undefeatable (His name literally means impervious)
      • Omniscience Bestowal (After many years, Brahma appeared to grant him a boon of his choice. Departing from his ancestors' conventional wish for immortality, Durgama wished to be the sole owner of the texts and the knowledge of the Vedas.)
        • Absolute Separation (After gaining this ownership, he locked them in Patala, the netherworld, making them inaccessible to priests and sages on earth, who needed them to perform yajnas.)
        • Absolute Superpower Immunity, Chaos Manipulation and Superpower Absorption (On any level. This led to the extinction of this practice, which in turn led to the devas losing their power. The worlds descended into famine and thirst.)
        • Absolute Domination (Durgama seized the opportunity to usurp the throne of Svarga from Indra, enslaving all the devas.)
        • Omni-Protection (Via his father. Since Durgama's father had received a boon of protection for his entire family, the Trimurti were unable to intercede in this conflict)
        • Reality Warping (Hence, they summoned Jagadambika, the supreme goddess, to restore order. The goddess descended upon earth and shed tears of woe upon witnessing the state of humans, which led to the flow of rivers, and she also nourished the people with vegetables and herbs)
        • Meta Combat and Divine Slayer (Durgama attacked the goddess with his army. Dhāriṇī, Bālā, Tripurā, Bhairavī and Kālī emerged from Jagadambika's form, as manifestations of her shakti. After Durgama's army was obliterated, a single combat ensued between the king and the goddess. The asura king was slain by the arrows of the goddess. The Vedas were liberated, and order was restored.)
  • Durukti - An asuri who birthed concepts.
    • Fear Inducement, Meta Death-Force Manipulation, Hell Lordship, Torture Mastery, Law Manipulation, Greed Derivation, Sin Deity, Absolute Illusion and True Illusion (Via her family members. She begets a son named Bhaya (fear) and a daughter named Mrutyu (death). She is also the grandmother of a boy named Niraya (hell) and a girl named Yatana (torture) begotten by her children Bhaya and Mrutyu. Durukti and Kali belong to the lineage of Adharma (impropriety), who grows up from the Malinapataka, a deadly dark and sinful affliction produced from Brahma's back at the time of creation. Durukti is the granddaughter of Lobha (greed) and Nikriti (dishonesty), great-granddaughter of Dambha (vanity) and Maya (illusion), and great-great-granddaughter of Adharma and Mithya (falsehood).)
  • Gayāsura - An asura who was granted immunity to all but the Trimurti.
    • Omni-Immunity (Was immune to all deities barring the Trimurti.)
      • Fear Inducement (Deities like Indra and other gods were frightened by his intense penance. The deities approached Vishnu and asked him to stop Gayasura's further meditation.)
    • True Name Manipulation (The modern city of Gaya in the Indian state of Bihar derives its name from Gayasura whereas the Vishnupad Temple in the city is believed to be built upon the site where Vishnu had allegedly killed the asura or pinned him underground.)
  • Idumban - An asura who is featured in Tamil mythology.
    • Absolute Strength, Absolute Crafting and Reality Warping (According to legend, Sage Agastya wanted two hills, Shivagiri and Shaktigiri, to be transported to his abode in the south, and commissioned his disciple, the asura Idumban, to carry them. Idumban bore the hills slung across his shoulders by inventing a tool called the kavadi. The tool was made of the staff of Brahma, which was employed as a pole, and two divine serpents, which were employed as ropes.)
    • Guardian, Divine Combat and Infinite Supply (Murugan, having journeyed to Palani after losing the jnana palam (fruit of wisdom) to Ganesha, claimed the hills as his own. Unable to lift the hills and resume his journey, Idumban confronted the deity. In the combat that ensued, Idumban was slain, but was resurrected on the intercession of his wife, Idumbi, as well as Agastya. Restored to life, Idumban wished to serve for perpetuity as the dvarapala (door-guardian) of Murugan's shrine. The deity declared that Idumban would stand guard at the foot of the hill, and proclaimed that every devotee who worshipped him at the site would first venerate his dvarapala.)
  • Jvarasura - Jvara (Sanskrit: ज्वर, romanized: Jvaram, lit. 'fever'), also called Jvarasura, is the personification of fever.
    • Disease Manipulation (On a divine level. The creature was dwarfish, with penetrating eyes, donning a green moustache, with hair standing erect on his head and body, looking like hybrid of a hawk and an owl, jet-black in hue, and was dressed in a blood-coloured cloth. He named the creature Jvara, and the creature proceeded to cause a fever to all the devas.)
    • Regenerative Healing Factor and Meta Movement (Once, Vishnu was inflicted with the fever of Jvarasura, when in the form of Hayagriva. He then killed the fever-demon by cutting him into three pieces using his discus, the Sudarshana Chakra. However, Jvarasura was later revived by Brahma, who joined the three parts. But, by that time, each three parts had grown a head and a limb. Thus, Jvarasura is depicted as having three faces, three feet, and remarkable ability to move in all directions at once. He was later selected as servant of the pox-goddess, Shitala.)
  • Kalanemi - Kalanemi (Sanskrit: कालनेमि, romanized: Kālanemī, lit. 'felly of the wheel of time') is an asura in Hindu mythology.
    • Meta Time Manipulation and Omni Identity (Kalanemi is a compound word made up of 'Kala', which means "time", and 'nemi', which means "the felly of a wheel or a portion". It represents the time segment of the wheel of time that denotes "the afternoon leading to sunset". 'Kala' also means "black", perceived to be the asura Kalanemi, who represents the period of darkness that "increases as the day move toward night and as the Dvapara Yuga moves towards the Kali Yuga.")
    • Supernatural Strength (In the Padma Purana, Kalanemi fought on the side of Soma and the rest of the daityas in the Tarakamaya War against the devas. He showered mountains upon the devas, who were terrified by the very sight of him as he had grown to immense proportions.)
      • Holy Fire Generation and Transcendent Weaponry (He breathed flames from his mouth, and launched a number of divine missiles on his foes.)
      • Earthquake Generation (On a planetary scale. When the asura smashed Garuda's head with his mace, Vishnu retaliated by employing the Sudarshana Chakra to chop all of the former's arms, causing his lifeless form to shake the earth upon its collapse.)
      • Omni-Immunity (To all beings but Vishnu - The devas were then advised by Narada to seek the help of Vishnu, as only he could kill Kalanemi, who had immense powers acquired by meditation.)
      • Enlightenment and Nigh-Omnipotence Bestowal (On the request made by the devas, Vishnu, riding his mount Garuda, attacked Kalanemi, and rendered him unconscious. Regaining consciousness, Kalanemi realised that he was confronting Vishnu, and accepted his defeat, requesting Vishnu to grant him beatitude as he had been defeated by a divine being.)
  • Kalayavana - An powerful Asura warlord who was burnt to ashes by Sri Krishna's devotee Muchukunda for disturbing his sleep.
      • Infinite Supply and Infinite Energy (He had so much power that even the Yadavas could not fight him on their own)
      • Undefeatable (Kalayavana had become a powerful Yavana warrior, who had gotten a boon from Shiva that on the battlefield, he would be undefeatable.)
  • Koka and Vikoka - A pair of asura brothers who help the asura Kali against Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu.
    • Absolute Immunity Bypassing and Absolute Reincarnation (The twin brothers Koka and Vikoka, who will threaten to defeat Kalki by raising themselves from the dead, faster than he can kill them.)
    • Immunity to Transcendent Weaponry as well as Absolute Superpower Immunity (When holding onto one another. The god Brahma eventually appears to Kalki and reveals to him that no earthly or celestial weapon can kill the brothers if they are allowed to hold on to one another; the only way Kalki can defeat them is to separate and attack them both simultaneously.)
  • Mada - An asura who embodies the Seven Deadly Sins.
    • Pride Embodiment (Mada is equivalent to Pride of Seven Deadly Sins
    • Complete nullification of Complete Arsenal, Autopotence, Absolute Transcendence and Omnipotence (Via shutting down Moksha. According to the Hindu theology, it signifies negative attributes such as "arrogance, excessive pride, obstinacy, stubborn mindedness". It is seen as a major obstacle to attaining moksha, or salvation. If one bears mada towards another person, they cannot attain moksha. The presence of Mada in a person leads to ignorance which in turn leads to the corruption of the mind. According to Hindu scriptures, mada is often manifested due to a variety of reasons.)
      • Alcohol Attacks and Omnislayer (In Hindu mythology, Mada is a gigantic Rakshasa (demon or monster) from the Hindu text, Mahabharata. It is created by sage Chyavana in response to the Aswins returning his youth and vision. Mada's name (मद) means the intoxicator, his strength being feared by the king of devas, Indra. It has the ability to change its size, able to grow big enough to swallow the entire universe in one gulp.)
        • Nullification of Absolute Immortality (When the Aswins wished to become completely immortal by drinking Soma (the elixir of immortality), they were insulted to discover that Indra had not invited them to his party at Svarga. The twins rushed to speak with Indra, who refused both Soma and access to Svagra, on the basis that they associated with mortals and changed form too freely. Following this, they sought the assistance of the great sage Chyavana. Chyavana started to prepare a sacrifice in the name of the Aswins. This enraged Indra, who planned to attack Chyavan with a mountain in one hand and a thunderbolt in the other, refusing to acknowledge the twins as worthy. Upon discovering this, Chyavan retaliated by creating the monster, Mada. Mada was said to have two sets of gigantic teeth and jaws, so enormous that one could engulf the earth while the other swallowed the heavens. Realising Mada was going to swallow the entire universe (including the gods), Indra surrendered and asked the sage to call off the beast. Chyavan agreed, under the condition that the devas allowed the Aswins to participate in his feast at Svarga, and so gain their rightful place among the devas.)
  • Mahishasura - Prince of the asura who was granted invincibility by Brahma himself and became powerful enough to drive all the gods (devas) out of Heaven (Swarga) and defeat their king, Lord Indra, single-handedly. His special powers were:
    • Absolute Illusion (In Srimad Devi Bhagavatam Chapters 6-7 in Book 5: "The Demon Mahiṣa spread then his Śāmvarī Māyā, destructive to all the worlds and fascinating to the Munis. Hundreds and hundreds of powerful buffalo-like appearances resembling Mahiṣa became, then, visible on the battle-field; they all began to kill the Deva forces with weapons in their hands. Seeing this magic of the Dānava, Indra became thunderstruck and very much confounded with terror. Varuṇa, Kuvera, the Lord of wealth, Yama, Fire, Moon, Sun, and other Devas all fled with terror. Indra then, being surrounded by the network of magic, began to call Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa in his mind. The Dānava Mahiṣa struck Garuḍa, the conveyance of Hari, with his club; Garuḍa, being very much distressed with the blow, sat down, gasping. Indra and the Devas were much distressed with fear and began to cry aloud. The powerful Dānava, then, swelled with pride, began to hurl the mountain tops with his horns, thus killing the Deva forces. Some by hoofs and some by the lashing of the tail, that angry Mahiṣa, very wonderful to behold, sent to the region of Death. Then the Devas and Gandarbhas became very much frightened; so much so, that Indra fled away at once on the sight of Mahiṣa. Indra thus retreating from the field, Yama, Kuvera, and Varuṇa all quitted the battle-ground with fear. Indra fled away quitting his Airāvata elephant and Uccaiśravā horse; so Mahiṣa got the possession of the elephant and the horse, as well the heavenly cow of the Sun. So the Dānavas considered themselves pre-eminently victorious and returned to their abodes. Next they wanted to go, as early as possible, to the Heavens, with all their forces. Thus fighting full one hundred years, the Dānava Mahiṣa, puffed up with pride, acquired the seat of Indra, his desired object. He banished the Devas from the Heavens; the Devas, thus tormented began to wander in the caves of hills and dales for a period of good many years. In no time Mahiṣa went to the abode of Indra, deserted by all the terror-stricken Devas and got the possession thereof. Then taking his seat on the beautiful throne of Indra, he made the other Dānavas occupy the several seats of the other Devas. O Bibhu! It is You that gave before this boon to Mahiṣa; and therefore it is you that have wrought this mischief. Dānava has become so strong a hero that he has caused terror to all the Devas even. Now where can we get such a noble woman who becomes able to kill that Dānava, elated with pride.")
    • Absolute Invincibility (in battle)
      • Absolute Domination (Over gods. In Book 5, Chapter 18: "Mahiṣāsura, the tormentor of Devas then, quitting the man-form took up the lion-form and by his claws cut the Devī’s lion and wounded him very much by his nails. On Mahiṣāsura taking up this lion-form, the Devī became very angry and began to shoot arrows after arrows at him all very terrible, sharp and like poisonous snakes. Then the Asura quitting the lion form assumed the appearance of a male elephant, oozing out juice from his temples and began to hurl the mountain tops by his trunk. Seeing the mountain peaks thus hurled on Her, She cut them off to pieces by Her sharp arrows and began to laugh. The Devī’s lion on the other hand, sprang on the head of the elephant Mahiṣa and by his claws rent him to pieces. To kill the Devī’s lion, then, Mahiṣa quitted his elephant-form and assumed the appearance of a Sarabha, more powerful and terrible than lion. The Devī seeing that Sarabha became angry and struck on the head of that Sarabha with Her axe; the Sarabha, too, attacked the Devī. Their fight became horrible; Mahiṣāsura, then, assumed the appearance of a buffalo and struck the Bhagavatī by his horns. That horrible Asura, of hideous appearance, swinging his tail, began to attack the thin bodied Devī. That violent Asura caught hold of the mountain peaks by his tail and, whirling them round and round, hurled them on the Devī. The Devī said :-- “O Villain! Do not boast; keep yourself firm in the fight. Today I will kill you and make the Devas discard their fear. O Wretch! You are a Sinner; you torment the Devas and terrify the Munis. I will slay you undoubtedly.” Vyāsa said:-- O King! Saying thus, the Devī pursued him with trident in Her hands, to the great joy of gladdening all the Devas. The Devas began to rain showers of flowers on the Devī and praised Her and shouted victories to Her with Dundubhi (a Divine drum) Jai, Jīva; victory, live. The Ṛṣis, Siddhas, Gandarbhas, Piśācas, Uragas, and Kinnaras witnessed the battle from the celestial space and became very much delighted. On the other hand, Mahiṣāsura, the hypocrite Pundit, began to assume various magic forms and struck the Devī repeatedly. The Devī Caṇḍikā, then, infuriated and with eyes reddened, pierced violently the breast of that vicious Mahiṣa with Her sharp trident.")
      • Absolute Strength (He fought every single Deva at the same time)
    • Absolute Invulnerability and Omni-Negation (He was so powerful that even Sudarshan Chakra , Trishul and many astras could do him no harm. Brahma ,Vishnu and Shiva could not kill the powerful demon since he was destined to die at the hands of a woman)
    • Army Manipulation (Was able to drive away all of the Deva)
    • Buffalo Physiology (In art and iconography)
    • Divine Slayer (Slayed several Devas)
    • Greater/Supreme Divinity (Transcended each of the Devas.)
    • Lord of the Universe (Ruled over Heaven)
    • Omnifarious (In Markandeya Purana Chapter 80: "She flung her noose and bound the great asura in this. When he was bound in this way in that great battle, he abandoned his form of a buffalo and instantly assumed the form of a lion. When Ambika severed its head, he was seen to be in the form of a man, holding a sword in his hand. When the goddess quickly cut down the man who was wielding a sword and a shield, he assumed the form of a gigantic elephant. The elephant dragged the large lion with its trunk and roared. When it was dragging in this way, the goddess used her sword to slice off the trunk. At this, the giant asura again assumed the form of a buffalo and agitated the three worlds, with all the mobile and immobile objects")
    • Omni-Immunity and Absolute Invulnerability (To all men and in Srimad Devi Bhagavatam Book 5 Chapter 6: “O Grand Sire! Grant, then, that no Deva, Dānava, nor human being of the male sex can cause my death. There is none among women who can cause my death. Therefore, O Lotus-eyed! Let woman be the cause of my death; how can women slay me! The are too weak to kill me!” Brahmā said:-- “O Lord of the Dānavas! Your death will certainly occur, at any time, through a woman; O Highly Fortunate One! No man will be able to cause your death.”)
  • Mamuni Mayan - A demon in Tamil mythology associated with Mayāsura (मयासुर) who is a figure in Hindu mythology. He is king of the danavas, a demonic race, and famous for his brilliant architecture.
    • Absolute Artisan Mastery and Absolute Crafting (His most important creations include the Mayasabha (the hall of illusions) for the Pandavas and Tripura (the three cities) for the sons of Tarakasura.)
    • Reality Warping (Mayasura built a grand palace named Mayasabha, where the Pandavas would perform the Rajasuya Yagna. Mayasura also offers him gifts like a bow, a sword etc. He gives a mace to Arjuna's brother Bhima named Vrkodara. In some versions of the Mahabharata he also gives Arjuna the Gandiva bow.)
  • Narakasura
    • Absolute Domination and Divine Combat (Drunk with power, as he considered himself to be unrivaled in prowess, he brought all the kingdoms on earth under his control. Next, he turned his eyes towards Svargaloka. Even the mighty Indra could not withstand the assault of this son of Vishnu, and had to flee the heavens. Narakasura had become the overlord of both the heavens and earth. Addicted to power, he stole the earrings of Aditi, the heavenly mother goddess, and usurped some of her territories, while also kidnapping 16000 women. All the devas, led by Indra, went to Vishnu to ask him to deliver them from Narakasura. Vishnu promised them that he would attend to this matter, when he would be incarnated as Krishna.)
    • Omnipotence Embodiment (Boon being granted by Vishnu. His mother, the earth, sought the boon from Vishnu that her son should have a long life, and that he should be all-powerful. Vishnu granted these boons.)
    • Transcendent Weaponry (Narakasura used several divine weapons against Krishna, but the latter easily countered all those weapons. Narakasura employed the Brahmastra against Krishna, but Krishna neutralised it with his own Brahmastra. Narakasura used the Agneyastra against Krishna, but Krishna nullified it with the Varunastra. Narakasura hurled the Nagapasha against Krishna, but Krishna negated it with the Garudastra. In desperation, Narakasura launched the Vaishnavastra on Krishna, but Krishna met it with another Vaishnavastra. At last, when Narakasura tried to kill Krishna with a trident, Krishna pretended to swoon, because of a boon that Narakasura could be killed only by the one who gave birth to him. Outraged, Satyabhama attacked Narakasura and Krishna killed him with his Sudarshana Chakra (discus) by splitting Narakasura into two halves.)
  • Raktabīja - An asura who fought against Kali and Chandra; also had a boon given by Shiva according to the Bhagavatam Purana.
    • Blood Manipulation (According to Devi Bhagavata Purana, Book 5, he could control his blood once he was damaged)
      • Blood Cloning (Upon the blood drops going onto a surface or even onto himself, he could summon clones from his blood.)
        • Self-Replication (According to Chapter 29 of the same Purana, his clones had the same equipment, form and strength as him, even one blood drop. according to the Purana, could either summon an endless number of clones or many thousands.)
    • Perfect Doppelgänger (With mastery. He could shapeshift into different Deva using the ability.)
  • Śūrapadmā - Śūrapadmā is an asura in Hindu literature.
    • Omniarch, Absolute Immortality and Nigh-Omnipotence Bestowal (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, 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.)


  • Susna - Susna (Sanskrit: शुष्ण, romanized: Śuṣṇa) is an asura described in Hindu texts who is normally associated with droughts.
    • Drought Creation and Serpentine Tail (Normally associated with drought, Susna is often described as possessing a snake-like form with horns. He is an enemy of the deity Indra.)
    • Vapor Absorption (In the Rigveda, Susna is described as being a "child of mists" similar to Vritra, a massive dragon who blocks the rivers of the world. Like Vritra, Susna is seen as a causer of drought and as a foe of Indra. However, while Indra is able to kill Vritra with a thunderbolt, Susna must be destroyed by returning water to the land. To defeat the asura, Indra destroys Susna's fortress, and, at the request of his follower Kutsa, sends rains to end the drought, defeating the asura. One passage from the text notes Indra "made flow the springs restrained by the season through killing Susna, the child of mists.")
      • Breath Attacks and Absolute Immortality (In the Brahmana and Yajurveda texts within the Vedas, Susna is described as being a bitter enemy (dasa) of the god Indra. Susna, who is described as a horned serpent-asura, aids the Asuras in their war against Indra and his fellow devas. Whenever an asura is killed in battle, Susna uses his mystical breath (which contains the essence of the amrta, the elixir of immortality) to restore the fallen warrior to life.)
  • Svarbhānu - Svarabhānu (Sanskrit: स्वरभानु, lit. 'Splendour of Radiance') is an asura traditionally held responsible for solar eclipses in Vedic tradition.
    • Celestial Event Manipulation (An assistant of Shukra (Venus), Svarbhānu was also the teacher of the asuras. He deceitfully quaffed the amrita proffered by Mohini, thereby achieving immortality as two beings despite being beheaded immediately after: his head as Rahu and his body as Ketu. According to the Mahabharata, the sun god Surya is also described as an "enemy of Svarbhānu". Svarbhānu was said to strike both the sun and moon with arrows, the celestial bodies being revived by Atri as in the Rigveda.)
    • Solar and Lunar Empowerment (Svarbhānu is described as an asura twice in the Family Books of the Rigveda. Svarbhānu is described to strike Surya, overshadowing the sun with darkness. Stella Kramrisch considers this act as portraying Svarbhānu as a deity greater than the sun.)
  • Trinavarta - An asura who took the form of a whirlwind.
    • Sandstorm Creation and Absolute Strength (Kamsa sent Trinavarta to kill his nephew. Assuming the form of a whirl-wind, Trinavarta carried away the sitting Krishna. He enveloped the whole of Gokulam with a cloud of dust and darkness, the resultant cover of sand particles causing great distress to Yashoda, who attempted to find her son with the help of the gopis. Even as the asura carried the deity to the sky, Krishna caused himself to possess enormous weight, halting the asura in his ascent, who was unable to carry him farther.)
  • Tripurasura - Tripurasura (Sanskrit: त्रिपुरासुर) is a trio of asura brothers named Tarakaksha, Vidyunmāli and Kamalaksha, who were the sons of the asura Tarakasura.
    • Divine Protection (They were then granted boons by Brahma to have three forts: gold, silver, and iron, which angered the Devas.)
    • Omni-Negation (In their forts. The Asuras had three citadels; the lowest was of iron, then there was one of silver, then one of gold. The gods could not conquer them; they sought to conquer them by siege; therefore they say--both those who know thus and those who do not--'By siege they conquer great citadels.' They made ready an arrow, Agni as the point, Soma as the socket, Visnu as the shaft. They said, 'Who shall shoot it?' 'Rudra', they said, 'Rudra is fierce, let him shoot it.' He said, 'Let me choose a boon; let me be overlord of Pashus.' Therefore is Rudra overlord of Pashus. Rudra let it go; it cleft the Citadels and drove the Asuras away from these worlds.)
      • Absolute Immortality (The three brothers began to perform tapasya. For a hundred years they meditated standing only on one leg. For a thousand more years they lived on air and meditated. They stood on their heads and meditated in this posture for yet another thousand years. Brahma was pleased with this difficult tapasya. He appeared before them and said, "What boon do you want?" "Make us immortal", answered Tarakasura's sons. "I can’t make you immortal", replied Brahma. "I don’t have the power. Ask for something else instead". "Very well", then, said Tarakaksha, Vidyunmāli and Kamalaksha. "Grant us the following: Let three forts be made. The first will be of gold, the second of silver and the third of iron. We will live in these forts for a thousand years. These forts built in different worlds shall align once in every 1000 years. This combined fort will be called Tripura. And if anyone can then destroy Tripura with only a single arrow that shall be the death destined for us".)
      • Absolute Domination, Absolute Superpower Absorption, Almighty Ascension, Prosperity Embodiment, Heaven Lordship, Earth Manipulation and Hell Lordship (They were great cities of prosperity, power and dominance over the world, but due to their impious nature. This rather unusual boon Brahma granted. There was a Danava named Maya who was very good at building work. Brahma asked him to build the forts. The golden fort was built in heaven, the silver one in the sky and the iron one on earth. Tarakaksha got the golden fort, Kamalaksha the silver one and Vidyunmali the iron one. Each of the forts was as big as a city and had many palaces and vimanas inside. The asuras populated the three forts and began to flourish. The gods did not like this at all. They first went to Brahma, but Brahma said he could not help them. After all, the asuras had got Tripura thanks to his boon and these were impregnable fortresses.)
  • Trisiras - A three-headed demon who is the son of Vishwakarman.
    • Avian Physiology (His heads which turned into birds)
    • Multiple Heads, Power Level Infinitum, Ritual Empowerment, immunity to Absolute Love Inducement and Reality Warping (Tvashta had a conflict with Indra and wanted to dethrone him. With his wife Virocana (or Rechana), who was the daughter of Prahlada and belonged to Asura race, Tvashta had Trishiras, who was born with three heads. His three heads were each named Somapītha, Surāpītha, and Annāda as each head consumed Soma, Sura, and food, respectively. It is also told that one head was responsible for drinking; with another head, he observed his surroundings; and with his last head, he read the Vedas. Trishiras grew powerful and performed penance to become more powerful. Indra became frightened of him, and sent Apsaras (nymphs) to seduce him and break his penance. However, Trisharas was unaffected and Indra went to him and killed him using his thunderbolt. He was concerned about the possibility of Trishiras reviving.)
  • Vajradatta - An asura king who has all of Indra's powers.
    • Absolute Invulnerability (In Buddhism, he is said to be completely invulnerable and can do things such as making infinite copies of himself in the Avatamsaka Sutra.)
    • Anti-Gravity Manipulation (In the Rigveda)
    • Demiurge (In Dharmic faiths)
    • Electromagnetism Manipulation (In the Rigveda, he was conceptualised as being gravity and electromagnetism.)
    • Heaven Deity
    • Lightning Deity
    • Life and Light Manipulation (His name indha, or "igniter", for his ability to bring light and power (indriya) that ignites the vital forces of life (prana). This is based on Shatapatha Brahmana.)
    • Multiversal Lordship/Omniscience (With Indra's Net)
    • Nigh-Omnipotence (In the Rigvedic texts. The ancient Aitareya Upanishad equates Indra, along with other deities, with Atman (soul, self) in the Vedanta's spirit of internalization of rituals and gods. It begins with its cosmological theory in verse 1.1.1 by stating that, "in the beginning, Atman, verily one only, was here - no other blinking thing whatever; he bethought himself: let me now create worlds". This soul, which the text refers to as Brahman as well, then proceeds to create the worlds and beings in those worlds wherein all Vedic gods and goddesses such as sun-god, moon-god, Agni, and other divinities become active cooperative organs of the body. The Atman thereafter creates food, and thus emerges a sustainable non-sentient universe, according to the Upanishad. The eternal Atman then enters each living being making the universe full of sentient beings, but these living beings fail to perceive their Atman.)
    • Nullification to Absolute Immortality and Absolute Invincibility and has the ability of Power Bestowal and Meta Immunity Bypassing (by granting Karna the Vasavi Shakti, a dart of anti-mortality that can kill any being who is immortal or invincible which can only be used once and could harm Vritra who had boons with Indra swearing that he would not attack Vritra with anything made of metal, wood or stone, nor anything that was dry or wet, or during the day or the night.)
    • Obstacle Manipulation and Reality Warping (Somewhat limited. His myths and adventures in the Vedic literature are numerous, ranging from harnessing the rains, cutting through mountains to help rivers flow, helping land becoming fertile, unleashing sun by defeating the clouds, warming the land by overcoming the winter forces, winning the light and dawn for mankind, putting milk in the cows, rejuvenating the immobile into something mobile and prosperous, and in general, he is depicted as removing any and all sorts of obstacles to human progress.)
    • Omnifarious, Primordial Fire Manipulation, Absolute Superpower Immunity, Absolute Miracle Manipulation and Absolute Illusion (Somewhat limited. In Vedic times Indra was described in Rig Veda 6.30.4 as superior to any other god. Sayana in his commentary on Rig Veda 6.47.18 described Indra as assuming many forms, making Agni, Vishnu, and Rudra his illusory forms. Over a quarter of the 1,028 hymns of the Rigveda mention Indra, making him the most referred to deity. These hymns present a complex picture of Indra, but some aspects of Indra are often repeated.)
    • Path Manipulation (Can control paths likely through rain or thunder)
    • Peace/War Deity (God of war)
    • River Deity (In pre-Vedic myths.)
    • Sky Father (King of the gods)
      • Alpha Divine (A being who rules over most deities in Hindu mythology.)
    • Transcendent Element Manipulation (His thunder in iconography and the texts are mostly transcendent due to the nature of the Vajra.)
    • Trickster (In later myths)
    • Trinitarian Deity and Trinity Force (In Rigvedic hymn 2.1.3, which states, "Thou Agni, art Indra, a bull among all beings; thou art the wide-ruling Vishnu, worthy of adoration. Thou art the Brahman, (...)." He is also part of one of many Vedic trinities as "Agni, Indra and Surya", representing the "creator-maintainer-destroyer" aspects of existence in Hindu thought.)
    • Victory Deity (Can grant victory)
  • Vala - A presumed Asura according to older Vedic beliefs.
    • Absolute Defense, Unnatural Size and Sealing (Vala (valá-), meaning "enclosure" in Vedic Sanskrit, is a demon mentioned in the Vedas, including the Rigveda and the Atharvaveda. Vala is attributed to be the son of Tvashtr and therefore the brother of Vrtra. Historically, it has the same origin as the Vrtra story, being derived from the same root, and from the same root also as Varuna, *val-/var- (PIE *wel-) "to cover, to enclose" (perhaps cognate to veil). Parallel to Vrtra "the blocker", a stone serpent slain by Indra to liberate the rivers, Vala is a stone cave, split by Indra (intoxicated and strengthened by Soma, identified with Brhaspati in 4.50 and 10.68 or Trita in 1.52, aided by the Angirasas in 2.11), to liberate the cows and Ushas, hidden there by the Panis. Already in 2.24, the story is given a mystical interpretation, with warlike Indra replaced by Brahmanaspati, the lord of prayer, who split Vala with prayer (brahman) rather than with the thunderbolt).)
  • Vemacitrin - A Buddhist asura who was imprisoned at the hands of Indra.
    • Patience Empowerment and Immortal Aging (Vemacitrin is the most prominent of the leaders of the Asuras in their fight with the devas of Trāyastriṃśa where they had formerly lived. After one battle he was made prisoner and bound before the throne of Śakra, ruler of Trāyastriṃśa, whom he treated with bitter verbal abuse. Śakra bore his insults patiently, and argued that such patience was a sign of strength, not of weakness. Vemacitrin's daughter was named Sujā (or Sujātā). After a courtship that extended over many lives, Sujā married Śakra and Vemacitrin became his enemy's father-in-law.)
  • Virochana - King of the asura who travelled with Indra, the king of the devas, on a quest to achieve enlightenment. His special powers include:
    • Miracle Performing and Reality Warping (In the Shatapatha Brahmana, Indra lost his regal aura to Virochana, and had to flee Amaravati. Seeking to obtain his aura once more, he assumed the form of a poor priest and joined the service of the asura king. He learnt that Virochana had earned the favour of Shri due to his virtue. Pleased with Indra's service, Virochana offered his servant a boon of his choice, and the latter asked for Virochana's virtue. Without guile, Virochana granted him what he asked, and hence lost the favour of the goddess, whereas Indra was able to once again assume his throne.)
    • Nigh-Omniscience (An Asura sage who had knowledge on the cosmos and virtually all things within.)
    • Power Bestowal (Bestowed his servant with a boon of his virtue as a result of his actions towards Indra)
    • Solar Deity (In the Ganesha Purana, he was given a crown by Surya where he would only die if it was removed.
      • Absolute Immortality (Limited. He can survive any injury with his crown on and can only die if the crown is removed, which was later done by Vishnu in the form of a damsel in the Ganesha Purana.)
  • Vyomasura - An asura who dies at Krishna's hands. His death is described in the Bhagavata Purana.
    • Omnifarious (possibly), Mountain Deity and Sealing (Following the slaying of the horse-asura Keshi by Krishna and Narada's salutation of him, the deity tended the cattle along a mountain slope along with the gopas, the cow-herding youth. They decided to play a game similar to hide-and-seek, where there divided themselves into the roles of three groups: the cattle, the cattle-keepers, who had to protect the cattle, and the cattle-lifters, who had to attempt to steal the animals. Vyoma, a magically-gifted asura who was the son of Mayasura, disguised himself as a youth, and played the part of a cattle-lifter, stealing away a number of the boys who posed as goats and other creatures. He carried each of them to the mountain caves and shut the boys within them, until only half a dozen boys had not been captured. Realising that his friends had been taken captive, Krishna caught hold of this asura, "as a lion would do a jackal". Mayasura assumed his true form as a massive mountain to escape from the deity's clutches, but to no avail. Krishna hurled him against the earth and suffocated him, even as the devas witnessed this act, and liberated his friends by breaking open the seals of the caves. After they praised him, Krishna returned home to Gokulam.)

Associations[]

Limitations[]

  • Addicted to passions, especially wrath, pride, boasting, and bellicosity.
  • The asuras' hotblooded and passion-driven nature tended to cloud their judgment and leaves them vulnerable to damage.

Known Users[]

  • Asura (Asura's Wrath)
  • Fortress (Bakugan: Battle Brawlers)
  • Asura (Hindu Mythology)
  • Ashoka (Hindu Mythology/Buddhism) via the Asura Path
  • Shivano/Ashuraman (Kinnikuman)
  • Precious Lara Quigaman (Kung Fu Kids); as Shen Li Liang
  • Mario Kugutsu (My Hero Academia: Vigilantes); via Bundodo
  • Asura Ōtsutsuki (Naruto); via Hands of Bonds and Six Paths: Kunitsukami
  • Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto); via Asura Kurama Mode
  • Asura (Pathfinder RPG)
  • Rouge (Ranma ½)
  • Scarlet King (SCP Foundation)
  • Asura (Shin Megami Tensei)
  • Nishumbha (Shuumatsu no Valkyrie)
  • Shumbha (Shuumatsu no Valkyrie)
  • Ashura (Skyblazer)
  • Asura (Yo-Kai Watch)
  • ZW - Asura Strike (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
  • Ahura (Zoroastrian Mythology); a heavenly form of the asuras.

Gallery[]

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