[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c7.881 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.881 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c7.881 - **Language:** English ### [c7.881](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.881) 8) Indra and Triśiras. Indra’s brother Tvaṣṭṛ did not like some of Indra’s activities. With the object of rebuking Indra, Tvaṣṭṛ begot a son named Viśvarūpa, Viśvarūpa had three faces and so he was also called Triśiras. With one face he used to recite Vedas, with the second he drank alcohol and he used the third face for observing the world. He performed a rigorous tapas. Indra, who was alarmed at it, sent goddesses to allure him, but in vain. At last Indra himself went to the forest riding on his elephant Airāvata and killed Triśiras with his Vajrāyudha. In his violent fury he had the three heads of Triśiras cut by a carpenter. From that day, it was ordained that the head of the cow sacrificed at yāgas should be given to a carpenter. Tvaṣṭṛ who was enraged by Indra’s killing of his son Triśiras, begot another son Vṛtrāsura. (Devī Bhāgavata, 6th Skandha). - [Previous: c7.880](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.880) - [Next: c7.882](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.882) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7) ## Cites (1) - [Devībhāgavatapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.upa.sakta.devibhagavata) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.881](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.881) · Pramāṇa