Kalakeyas
Encyclopedia
In Hinduism
the Kalakeyas or Kalakanjas were a powerful, ferocious and cruel clan of Danavas
.
, daughter of Vaiswanara (a son of Danu
). Vaiswanara had three other beautiful daughters. They were Puloma, Updanavi, and Hayasira (also spelled Harashira), alternatively Updanavi, Harashira and Suchi are named as daughters of Puloma. Suchi was married to Śakra
Indra
. Puloma herself was the progenitor of another clan of Danavas called the "Paulomas". Both Kalaka and Puloma were married to Kasyapa who bore him sixty thousand distinguished Danavas.
, there was a demon called Vrutraasura
. Vrutraasura and his associates (the Kalakeyas), were teasing the Devatas and causing them to suffer greatly. With the help of Vajrayudha, Indra killed Vrutraasura. The Kalakeyas fled away and hid themselves in the sea. They would remain in the sea during the day time and come out at night and as usual they would tease the saints, sages, Devatas and other citizens. This time all the Devatas along with Indra approached Lord Vishnu
and requested him to help them. Lord Vishnu said:
"Kalakeyas are more powerful and stronger than all of you. Besides that, they are in the sea. It is very difficult to kill them. If all the water in the sea is drained out, we can kill them. Therefore, you should approach Saint Agastya
and seek his help" said Lord Vishnu.
Agastya drank all of the water in the sea until it became dry. All the Kalakeyas who are hiding in the sea came out. Devatas fought with them and killed them. Those who escaped fled underground. The only problem now was refilling the sea.
Considered a class of Asuras. They were present at the Mahā Samaya, and are spoken of as being of a fearsome shape (D.ii.259; also DA.iii.789.820).
They are the very lowest of the Asura groups, and the Buddha
warns Sunakkhatta that Korakkhattiya will, after his death from epilepsy, be born among them; and it did so happen (D.iii.7f; J.i.389).
Bodhisattas are never born among the Kālakañjakas (J.i.44; BuA.224). Sometimes (E.g., J.v.187; PvA.272), when Asuras are mentioned, the Commentaries explain the word as meaning the Kālakañjakas.
Beings born among them suffer from excessive thirst, which they are unable to quench even by immersing themselves in the Ganges. (For a story of one of them see VibhA.5).
The Kājakañjakas resemble the petas in shape, sex-life, diet and length of life, and they intermarry with them (Kvu.360).
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
the Kalakeyas or Kalakanjas were a powerful, ferocious and cruel clan of Danavas
Danava (Hinduism)
In Vedic mythology the Danavas were a race of the Asuras.The Danavas were the sons of Danu, who in turn was a daughter of Daksha. Danu is connected with the waters of heavens and she is probably associated with the formless, primordial waters that existed prior to the creation. The name is...
.
Kalaka and Puloma
The Kalakeyas were the descendants of KalakaKaláka
Kaláka is a folk music group formed in Budapest, Hungary on November 26, 1969. The founding members are Dániel Gryllus, Vilmos Gryllus, István Mikó and Balázs Radványi. Later Mikó was replaced by Péter Dabasi who in turn was replaced by Péter Huzella and later by Gábor Becze. Tamás Kobzos Kiss was...
, daughter of Vaiswanara (a son of Danu
Danu (Asura)
Dānu, a Hindu primordial goddess, is mentioned in the Rigveda, mother of the Danavas. The word Danu described the primeval waters which this deity perhaps embodied. In the Rigveda , she is identified as the mother of Vrtra, the demonic serpent slain by Indra...
). Vaiswanara had three other beautiful daughters. They were Puloma, Updanavi, and Hayasira (also spelled Harashira), alternatively Updanavi, Harashira and Suchi are named as daughters of Puloma. Suchi was married to Śakra
Sakra
Śakra or Sakka is the ruler of the Heaven according to Buddhist cosmology. His full title is |deva]]s". In Buddhist texts, Śakra is the proper name and not an epithet of this deity; conversely, Indra in Sanskrit and Inda in Pali are sometimes used as an epithet for Śakra as "lord".In East...
Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
. Puloma herself was the progenitor of another clan of Danavas called the "Paulomas". Both Kalaka and Puloma were married to Kasyapa who bore him sixty thousand distinguished Danavas.
The City of Gold
The Kalakeyas and the Paulomas defended the great city of gold, Hiranyapura. Hiranyapura was a floating celestial sky-city created by Brahma as a boon granted to Kalaka and Puloma to protect their children.The Defeat of the Kalakeyas
In the time of KrutayugaSatya Yuga
The Satya Yuga , also called Sat Yuga, Krta Yuga and Krita Yuga in Hinduism, is the "Yuga of Truth", when mankind is governed by gods, and every manifestation or work is close to the purest ideal and mankind will allow intrinsic goodness to rule supreme...
, there was a demon called Vrutraasura
Vritra
In the early Vedic religion, Vritra , is an Asura and also a serpent or dragon, the personification of drought and enemy of Indra. Vritra was also known in the Vedas as Ahi...
. Vrutraasura and his associates (the Kalakeyas), were teasing the Devatas and causing them to suffer greatly. With the help of Vajrayudha, Indra killed Vrutraasura. The Kalakeyas fled away and hid themselves in the sea. They would remain in the sea during the day time and come out at night and as usual they would tease the saints, sages, Devatas and other citizens. This time all the Devatas along with Indra approached Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
and requested him to help them. Lord Vishnu said:
"Kalakeyas are more powerful and stronger than all of you. Besides that, they are in the sea. It is very difficult to kill them. If all the water in the sea is drained out, we can kill them. Therefore, you should approach Saint Agastya
Agastya
Agastya was a Tamil/Vedic Siddhar or sage. Agastya and his clan are also generally credited with uncovering many mantras of the Rig Veda, the earliest and most revered Hindu scripture, in the sense of first having the mantras revealed in his mind by the Supreme Brahman...
and seek his help" said Lord Vishnu.
Agastya drank all of the water in the sea until it became dry. All the Kalakeyas who are hiding in the sea came out. Devatas fought with them and killed them. Those who escaped fled underground. The only problem now was refilling the sea.
In Buddhism
In Buddhism they are called the "terrible-faced" Kālakañjakas.Considered a class of Asuras. They were present at the Mahā Samaya, and are spoken of as being of a fearsome shape (D.ii.259; also DA.iii.789.820).
They are the very lowest of the Asura groups, and the Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
warns Sunakkhatta that Korakkhattiya will, after his death from epilepsy, be born among them; and it did so happen (D.iii.7f; J.i.389).
Bodhisattas are never born among the Kālakañjakas (J.i.44; BuA.224). Sometimes (E.g., J.v.187; PvA.272), when Asuras are mentioned, the Commentaries explain the word as meaning the Kālakañjakas.
Beings born among them suffer from excessive thirst, which they are unable to quench even by immersing themselves in the Ganges. (For a story of one of them see VibhA.5).
The Kājakañjakas resemble the petas in shape, sex-life, diet and length of life, and they intermarry with them (Kvu.360).
See also
- AsuraAsura-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asuras constitute a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes considered sinful and materialistic. The Daityas and Danavas were combinedly known as Asuras. The Asura were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa...
- DaityasDaityaIn Hinduism, the Daityas are a clan or race or Asura as are the Danavas. Daityas were the children of Diti and the sage Kashyapa. They were a race of giants who fought against the Devas because they were jealous of their Deva half-brothers...
- DanavasDanava (Hinduism)In Vedic mythology the Danavas were a race of the Asuras.The Danavas were the sons of Danu, who in turn was a daughter of Daksha. Danu is connected with the waters of heavens and she is probably associated with the formless, primordial waters that existed prior to the creation. The name is...
- Exotic tribes of ancient IndiaExotic tribes of ancient IndiaThe classic Indian epics such as the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the Puranas refer to many exotic tribes, describing them as superhuman or subhuman. Narrations about these tribes are often mixed with mythology and fiction...
- List of Asuras
- Nivatakavacha