Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1014

c8.1014

Vidyuddhvaja was once bathing in a river when muddy waters flowed from up the river and the arrogant demon sent a servant to find out the cause thereof. When he went up by the shores he saw an ox and an elephant bathing in the river. They were the Vāhanas of Śiva and Indra. The elephant was the famous Airāvata. He came back and intimated to Vidyuddhvaja what he saw. The demon then ordered his people to bring the culprits to his side. But the Vāhanas killed those who went to capture them and then they went to their masters, Śiva and Indra. Hearing about this audacity of the demon-chief the Devas challenged the asuras to a fight. This time the army of the devas was led by Muktāphalaketu.