Figure in the Hindu festival stories
Narakasura
The demon slain by Krishna on Naraka Chaturdashi
Also known as Naraka, Bhauma.
In short
Narakasura is a powerful asura (demon) king slain by Krishna, whose death is commemorated on Naraka Chaturdashi, or Chhoti Diwali. According to the Bhagavata Purana he was the son of Bhudevi, the earth goddess, and grew so tyrannical that he terrorised the heavens and imprisoned thousands of women, until Krishna, aided by his queen Satyabhama, destroyed him.
Reviewed by the Godify team · Last updated
Narakasura’s story and role
In the Bhagavata Purana and related texts, Narakasura, also called Bhauma (son of Bhumi, the earth), is born of Bhudevi, the earth goddess, fathered by Vishnu in his boar avatar Varaha. In a widely-told tradition he wins from Brahma a boon that he can be killed only by his own mother, and, believing this makes him effectively immortal, he grows utterly arrogant. He conquers kingdoms across the earth and heavens, usurps territory from Indra, seizes the earrings of Aditi, the mother of the gods, and imprisons sixteen thousand women.
Answering the plea of the gods and of Aditi, Krishna marches on Narakasura's fortress at Pragjyotisha, riding the eagle Garuda with his wife Satyabhama beside him. Satyabhama is regarded as an incarnation of Bhudevi herself, so when, in the popular telling, Krishna is momentarily struck down and Satyabhama takes up the bow to strike the fatal blow, the boon is fulfilled and Narakasura dies at the hands of his own mother. Krishna frees the sixteen thousand captive women and, to restore their honour in a society that would shun them, accepts them into his household.
As he dies, Narakasura repents and asks that his death be remembered not with mourning but with lights and rejoicing, and that people mark it with a cleansing bath. This is why Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before the main day of Diwali, is observed before dawn with a ritual oil bath (abhyanga snana), recalling how Krishna bathed to wash off the demon's blood, followed by the lighting of lamps. The festival celebrates the victory of light and good over the darkness of tyranny.
What Narakasura represents
Narakasura symbolises tyranny, arrogance and the ego that unchecked power breeds, the inner and outer darkness that must be cleansed. His defeat, and the pre-dawn bath that follows it, stand for purification and the triumph of light over that darkness.
Festivals with Narakasura
Related figures
More figures
About Narakasura
Which festival is linked to Narakasura?
Narakasura's slaying is commemorated on Naraka Chaturdashi, also known as Chhoti Diwali or Kali Chaudas, which falls on the day before the main day of Diwali. It marks the freeing of the world from his tyranny.
Who actually killed Narakasura?
Krishna leads the attack, but the fatal blow is delivered by his queen Satyabhama. Because Narakasura's boon allowed only his mother to kill him, and Satyabhama is regarded as an incarnation of his mother Bhudevi, her hand fulfils the condition of his death.
Why do people take an oil bath on Naraka Chaturdashi?
The pre-dawn ritual oil bath, or abhyanga snana, recalls how Krishna bathed to wash off the blood after slaying Narakasura. It symbolises washing away impurity and sin, and welcoming light and renewal before the lamps are lit.
What was Narakasura's boon?
After long penance Narakasura received from Brahma the boon that he could die only at the hands of his own mother. He believed this made him safe forever, since he could not imagine his mother turning against him.
What happened to the women Narakasura imprisoned?
Krishna freed the sixteen thousand women held captive in Narakasura's fortress. Because society of the time would have refused to accept them, Krishna gave them the dignity and protection of his household to restore their honour.
Bring Narakasura’s story to your own heart
Talk to Bhagavan about what this figure and their story mean for you — free, private, any hour.
Talk to Bhagavan