Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.2049

c8.2049

2) Satī, Pārvatī (Kālī). During that time a son named Vajrāṅga was born to Kaśyapa of his wife Diti. This virtuous asura practised austerities for a thousand years and when he opened his eyes after his long penance he did not see his wife. Vajrāṅga started in search of her collecting fruits and roots for his food on the way. Then he came across her standing underneath a tree weeping and she said : "All the time you were doing penance, Indra was teasing me. I was living without food on the banks of the river keeping a vow of silence. Indra came there in the form of a monkey and threw away all my articles used for worship. Then he came in the form of a lion and frightened me. Then again he came in the form of a serpent and bit me. Oh lord, am I, your wife, an orphan?" Vajrāṅga got angry and decided to do penance again to find a remedy for this unjust act of Indra. Then Brahmā coming to know of the fierce decision of Vajrāṅga appeared before him and said "Why do you go in for a penance again? Ask me what you want and I shall grant you." Vajrāṅga said "Oh Lord, I did penance all these thousand years to get rid of the demoniac disposition of mine. But when I was engaged in meditation Indra tormented my virtuous wife very much without any reason. If you will bless me I must get a son named Tāraka to kill all the devas including Indra." Brahmā granted the boon.