Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.1726

c7.1726

KĀLAKEYA(S). (KĀLAKHAÑJAS).
1) Birth. The Asuras who were born to Kālā (Kālikā) by Kaśyapa Prajāpati, the son of Marīci and Brahmā's grandson.
2) General. "Kālakeya" is not the proper name of a particular Asura. The sons of Kālā (Kālikā) are all collectively called Kālakeyas. They number about 60,000. Sometimes they fought under the leadership of Vṛtrāsura and at other times under other Asura leaders.
3) Agastya and the Kālakeyas. Once the Kālakeyas started a campaign of hatred against Brāhmaṇas. At nightfall they used to enter Brāhmaṇa premises and commit murders, disturb their yāgas, etc. The Brāhmaṇas complained to the sage Agastya. Agastya set out to capture the Kālakeyas, who were alarmed and hid themselves in the ocean. Agastya dried up the ocean by drinking it. But some of the Kālakeyas escaped and fled to Pātāla. (M.B. Vana Parva, Chapter 101).