Vyomasura (, IAST: Vyomāsura) is an

asura Asuras (Sanskrit: असुर) are a class of beings in Indic religions. They are described as power-seeking clans related to the more benevolent Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhist context, the word is sometimes translated ...

who appears in Hindu literature. He is a son of

Mayasura In Hindu scriptures, Maya ( sa, मय) or Mayāsura () was a great ancient king of the Asura, Daitya, Danava and Rākṣasa races. Maya was known for his brilliant architecture. In ''Mahabharata'', Mayasabha – the hall of illusions – was ...

. His death at the hands of the deity

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is on ...

is described in the

Bhagavata Purana The ''Bhagavata Purana'' ( sa, भागवतपुराण; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' or simply ''Bhagavata'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen great Puranas (''Mahapuranas''). Composed in S ...

Legend

Following the slaying of the horse-demon Keshi by Krishna and

Narada Narada ( sa, नारद, ), or Narada Muni, is a sage divinity, famous in Hindu traditions as a travelling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. He is one of mind-created children of Brahma, the creator god. He ...

'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 Hide-and-seek (sometimes known as hide-and-go-seek) is a popular children's game in which at least two players (usually at least three) conceal themselves in a set environment, to be found by one or more seekers. The game is played by one chos ...

, 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 Devas may refer to: * Devas Club, a club in south London * Anthony Devas (1911–1958), British portrait painter * Charles Stanton Devas (1848–1906), political economist * Jocelyn Devas (died 1886), founder of the Devas Club * Devas (band) Deva ...

witnessed this act, and liberated his friends by breaking open the seals of the caves. After they praised him, Krishna returned home to

Gokul Gokul is a town in the Mathura district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Mathura. According to Bhagavata Purana, Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is w ...

am.

References

{{Reflist Asura

Legend

See also

References