Andhaka - Informative & researched article on Andhaka
  Indianetzone: Largest Free Encyclopedia of India with thousand of articles Indian Purans


in  
Art & Culture | Entertainment | Health | Reference | Sports | Society | Travel
Forum  | Free E-magazine
Indian Purans : Mahabharata l Ramayana l Bhagavad Gita l Indian Mythological Places l Puranic Deities of India l Indian Folktales l Epic Age In India l Indian Fables l Garuda Purana l Harivamsa Parva l Vishnu Purana l Padma Purana l Markandeya Purana l Vamana Purana l Brahma Purana l Matsya Purana l Linga Purana l Shiva Purana l Skanda Purana l Agni Purana l Kurma Purana l Agneya Purana l Vayu Purana
Home > Reference > Indian Purans > Shiva Purana > Andhaka
Andhaka
After his birth, Andhaka was given to Hiranyaksha, an asura of ancient India.
  Bhajamana   Kambalavarhish    

In Hinduism, Andhaka is described as the third son of Shiva and Parvati. After his birth, Andhaka was given to Hiranyaksha, an asura of ancient India and the son of Diti and a pre-ancient Dravidian King. Hiranyaksha had no son and he brought up Andhaka as his own son. Later, Andhaka became the king of Hiranyaksha`s kingdom.

After a short time, Andhaka understood that his cousins are plotting to overthrow him and capture the kingdom and as a reason of this, he retreated and went to the forest to meditate.

Andhaka began a new life there. He fasted and stood upon one leg for more than a million years. He chopped off parts of his body as a sacrifice to Brahma, the Supreme God and waited. Pleased at Andhaka`s prayer, Brahma appeared before Andhaka and asked him about his wanting. Andhaka said that he wanted to be immortal. He also said that he will die only if he marries any woman of his motherly age. Brahma blessed him. Then Andhaka returned to his own kingdom and settled everything with his cousins. After some million years had passed, Duryodhana, Vighasa and Hasti, the three generals of Andhaka saw Shiva and Parvati in a cave but could not recognise them. They thought that the woman is very beautiful and could be the perfect match for their king. So, they ran to Andhaka to deliver the good news. Andhaka asked them to return and ask the woman for marriage. At this proposal, Shiva refused but Andhaka rushed to the cave to fight a battle with Shiva.

A chivalrous battle took place, which lasted for long hundred years and involved many other gods and demons. But at last, Shiva killed Andhaka by thrusting his trident at Andhaka`s chest. Thus Shiva killed his own son.

(Last Updated on : 31/12/2008)
  More Articles in Shiva Purana
 
Andhaka Pidari, Consort of Shiva Khandoba, Incarnation of Lord Shiva
Bhairava, Incarnation of Shiva Virabhadra, Form of Shiva Saiva Origins of God Vitthala
Skanda, Son of Shiva Chandrashekhara Nataraja
Mercury Shivalinga Kartikeya Ardhanarishvara
Jalamdhara Hymns for Lord Shiva Shree Shiv Tandav Stotram
Tandu Pushpadanta  
Recently Updated Articles in Indian Purans
  • Characters in Ramayana
    Characters in Ramayana are beautifully portrayed and are meaningfully interwoven with each other. The characters facilitate to carry the tale forward towards the conclusion.
  •  
  • Death of Lord Krishna
    Death of Lord Krishna occurred by a hunter’s accidental shot. The misunderstanding aroused in Mahabharata as Krishna used to keep a peacock feather on his head.
  •  
     
  • Sumitra
    Sumitra was the third wife of King Dasaratha in Ramayana and a queen of Ayodhya. She was the mother of twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
  •  
  • Arjuna
    Arjuna was the third of the five Pandava brothers. Arjuna, the son of Pandu and Kunti, was known to be a master archer and a great warrior.
  •  
  • Gopal Bhar
    Gopal Bhar was a legendary court jester in medieval Bengal. He was jester in the court of Raja Krishnachandra, king of Nadia during the 18th Century AD.
  •  
    E-mail this Article | Post a Comment
    RSS Feeds
    Forum
    Forum on Indian Purans

    Free E-magazine
    Subscribe to Free
    E-Magazine on Indian Crafts
     
     
    Andhaka - Informative & researched article on Andhaka
    Sitemap
    Contact Us   |   RSS Feeds
    Copyright © 2008 Jupiter Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved including the right to reproduce the contents in whole or in part in any form or medium without the express written permission of Jupiter Infomedia Pvt. Ltd.