Narakasuravadham (The Slaying of Narakasura) is an Aattakatha (

Kathakali ''Kathakali'' (International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: Kathakaḷi ) is a traditional form of Indian Classical Dance, and one of the most complex forms of Theatre of India, Indian theatre. It is a play of verses. These vers ...

play) authored by

Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (1724–17 February 1798) often referred to as Rama Varma I or Dharma Raja, was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He succeeded his uncle Marthanda Varma, who is credited with the title o ...

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

. Based on the

Bhagavatam The ''Bhagavata Purana'' (; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam)'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' () or simply ''Bhagavata (Bhāgavata)'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen major Puranas (''Mahapuranas'') and one o ...

, it narrates the tale of the rise to power of the demon king

Narakasura Naraka, also known as Narakāsura, and Bhaumāsura was an asura king, the legendary progenitor of all three dynasties of Pragjyotisha-Kamarupa, and the founding ruler of the legendary Bhauma dynasty of Pragjyotisha. Though the myths about ...

. Narakasura sends his servant, the demoness Nakrathundi to heaven to capture some divine damsels. Nakrathundi, in the process, gets smitten by

Indra Indra (; ) is the Hindu god of weather, considered the king of the Deva (Hinduism), Devas and Svarga in Hinduism. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes Indra is the m ...

's son, Jayantha, and approaches him with amorous requests. Jayantha rejects her, and she attempts to seize him. In the ensuing confrontation, she ends up being mutilated by Jayantha. Nakrathundi rushes back to Narakasura, who is infuriated, and decides to avenge her by attacking heaven. He conquers heaven and dethrones Indra. The king of the devas then approaches Krishna, who finally defeats Narakasura."Humbling of Narakasura" from "The Hindu", 13 June 2013
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References

{{reflist Kathakali Indian plays Malayalam-language literature