Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.610

c8.610

1). Birth. On the banks of the river Sarayū, there were two states lying adjacent called Malada and Karūṣa. The great sages conducted Jaladhārā (showering of water) on the head of Indra to absolve him of his sin of killing Vṛtrāsura at this place. At that time Mala (excreta) and Karūṣa (spittings) of Indra fell at those places and so they got the name of Malada and Karūṣa. At that place was born after a few years a demoness named Tāṭakā who had the strength of a thousand elephants. A demon called Sunda married Tāṭakā and she got two sons named Mārica and Subāhu. (Sarga 24, Bāla Kāṇḍa, Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa and Bāla Kāṇḍa, Kamba Rāmāyaṇa).