Asuras

Asuras are a class of beings or power-seeking clans. The word is often translated as "titan," "demigod," or "antigod." They are always in constant battles with the Devas (aka Suras). They are described as powerful superhuman demigods with good or bad qualities. In early Vedic literature, good Asuras are called Adityas, led by Varuna, and malevolent Asuras are called Danavas, led by Vritra.

Adi

Aghāsura

Anthkashur: known as the father of Ravana.

Anuhlāda

Apasmāra

Aśva: son of Diti.

Āyu: son of Hiranyakasipuuu (Harivaṃśa).

Alāmbāsa: a powerful asura featured in Hindu epic Mahabharata.

Alāmvūshā: a powerful asura featured in Hindu epic Mahabharata.

Alāyūdhā: a powerful asura featured in Hindu epic Mahabharata.

Bhandāsura: an asura slayed by Lalitha Tripurasundari Devi.

Bali: an asura king.

Bāṇāsura: an ancient king of Sonitpur and known as the thousand-armed Asura king and the son of Mahabali.

Bhasmāsura: an asura or demon known for being granted the power of burning up and turning anyone to ashes whose head made contact with his hand. He was eventually tricked by Lord Vishnu's only female Avatar, Mohini, to turn himself to ashes.

Bakāsura: a rakshasa also known by the names Baka, Vaka, and Kuaishwa. Also known as a crane demon.

Chanda: an asura in service of Shumbha.

Candravarma

Danu: a primordial goddess, mother of the Danavas.

Darika

Dhenuka

Diti: the mother of asuras.

Dūṣaṇa

Dhumralochana

Gajāsura: a group of demons that takes the form of an elephant.

Gayā

Hiraṇyakaśipu: an asura, king of the daityas.

Hiraṇyākṣa: an oppressive asura who attacked the heavens and kidnapped and tried to destroy the earth goddess.

Hlāda: son of Hiraṇyakaśipu.

Holikā: a demoness who was the sister of King Hiraṇyakaśipu and aunt of Prahlad.

Ilvala

Indrajit: regarded as one of the greatest warriors. He was a prince of Lanka and possessor of Indra Loka. He defeated the Gods (i.e., Devas) in heaven and killed 670 million Vanaras in a single day using Brahmastra. He basically exterminated half of the vanara race. He is also known as Meghanāda.

Jālāndhāra: an evil demigod who was born when Shiva opened its third eye to destroy Indra. Also called Chalantarana.

Jālāndhāra: the fever deity and a servant of the pox-deity goddess, Shitala. Also called Jwarasura.

Jātāsura: a rakshasa who disguised himself as a brahmin.

Kāmsā: a tyrant ruler of the Vrishni kingdom.

Kaiṭabha: a daitya associated with religious cosmology. They originated from Vishnu's earwax while he was in a meditative deep sleep state of Yoganidra.

Kakasura

Kāla: son of Hiraṇyakaśipu.

Kālanemi: a demon, son of Hiranyakska and brother of Andhaka.

Kālayāvana: a king who invaded Mathurā with three million yavanas against Sri Krishna.

Karambha

Karindrāsura

Keśī: a horse-demon killed by Krishna, an Avatar of Vishnu.

Kābāndhā: a demon who was killed and freed from a curse by Rama, an Avatar of Vishnu.

Khara: a man-eating rakshasa. 

Kṛṣṇāsura: an asura king.

Kamlasura

Mada

Mudha: a daitya associated with religious cosmology. They originated from Vishnu's earwax while he was in a meditative deep sleep state of Yoganidra.

Mahābali: a Daitya king. Grandson of Prahlada and a descendant of the sage, Kashyapa. He was a benevolent and kind Demon King who mortals loved, but was exiled to the underworld by Vamana, an Avatar of Vishnu.

Mahiṣāsura: a buffalo asura. He is known as a deceitful demon who did his evil deeds by shape-shifting.

Mallanāga

Mandodarī

Mayāsura: an ancient king of the asuras, daityas, and raksasa. He is known for his amazing architecture.

Mitra

Mukāsura: an asura who was sent to disturb the austerities that Arjuna performed at Indra keeladri, now known geographically as Andhra pradesh.

Munda: in service of Shumbha.

Murāsura

Namuci

Narakāsura: an asura king and the legendary progenitor of all three dynasties of Pragjyotisha-Kamarupa, and the founding ruler of the legendary Bhauma dynasty of Pragjyotisha. Also known as Narakasura.

Niśumbha: an asura that confronted and ultimately slain by Kaushiki. The name is also spelled as Nisumbha or Nishumbha.

Pahārāda: an asura king.

Praheti

Prahlāda: the song of Hiraṇyakaśipu and Kayadhu.

Pralamba: an asura who was killed by Balarama.

Puloman: a demon father who was slain by Indra.

Rāhu: an asura king.

Raktabīja: an asura who fought with Shumbha and Nishumbha against Parvati, Kali, or Chamunda.

Rambha

Ravana: a king of Lanka and the chief antagonist in the epic, Ramayana. He is the eldest son of the sage, Vishrava, and Rakshasi, Kaikeshi. He is widely considered to be a symbol of evil, but he also has many qualities of a learned scholar. He was well-versed in the six shastras and the four Vedas. he was also to be considered the most revered devotee of Shiva.

Saṁbara: a rakshasa who abducted the infant, Pradyumna (the son of Krishna and Rukmini), to kill him. After he grows up, Pradyumna killed Sambara. His name is also spelled as Shambara.

Saṁhlāda: son of Hiraṇyakaśipu.

Śibi: son of Hiraṇyakaśipu.

Śukra: the name of an ancient lineage of sages who counselled the Asuras.

Somaprabhā: daughter of Mayāsura.

Sucitti (Pali)

Sugriva

Sujā: daughter of Vemacitrin, an asura king.

Śumbha: an asura that confronted and ultimately slain by Kaushiki. The name is also spelled as Shumbha.

Sunda: an asura prince. Son of Jambha or in other versions, Nikumbha.

Śūrapadmā: an asura who was the son of Vajranaga, an asura rishi, and the princess, Varangi. His name is also spelled as Surapadma or Surapadman.

Svarbhānu: an asura who has been traditionally held responsible for solar and lunar eclipses. Their name is also spelled as Svarbhānu or Swarbhanu.

Sumālī: the son of Demon King Sukesa and Gandharva princess, Devavati. He was Ravana's grandfather.

Tārakāsura: a powerful asura, son of Asura Vajranaka and Vajrangini. Also known  as Tārakāsura, Tāraka, Tharakasuran, or Tarakasura.

Tripurāsura: a trio of asura brothers named Tarakaksha, Vidyunmāli and Kamalaksha and sons of Tārakāsura.

Triśiras: the three-headed asura son of Tvaṣṭā and grandson of Prahlada, as well as the twin of Saraṇyū. Also known as Viśvarūpa.

Upasunda: an asura prince. Son of Jambha or in other versions, Nikumbha.

Ūṣā

Vātāpi: a rakshasa and brother to Ilvala.

Vemacitrin: an asura king.

Vipracitti: king of Danavas.

Virocana: grandson of Hiraṇyakaśipu and son of Prahlada.

Virūpākṣa

Vṛkāsura

Vṛṣaparva

Vṛṣaśipta

Vṛtra: a serpent, dragon, or demon who was the personification of drought. He appears as a dragon blocking the course or rivers and is ultimately slain by Indra.

Vyomāsura

✧✦✧

Daityas

A clan or race of asura, children of Diti and the sage, Kashyapa.

Andhakasura: son of Hiraṇyakaśipu.

Bali: an asura king.

Bāṇāsura: an ancient king of Sonitpur and known as the thousand-armed Asura king and the son of Mahabali.

Devamba: mother of Bali.

Hiraṇyakaśipu: an asura, king of the daityas.

Hiraṇyākṣa: an oppressive asura who attacked the heavens and kidnapped and tried to destroy the earth goddess.

Holikā: a demoness who was the sister of King Hiraṇyakaśipu and aunt of Prahlad.

Jalandahara

Prahlāda: the song of Hiraṇyakaśipu and Kayadhu.

Virocana: grandson of Hiraṇyakaśipu and son of Prahlada.

Danavas

Danavas are a race of Asura who descend from Daksha, a progenitor god.

Ahara

Ajaka

Anjaka

Ashva

Ashvagiri

Ashvagriva

Ashvapati

Ashvasanku

Ashvasiras

Atibala

Ayumukha

Chandrahartar

Chandravimadana

Danayu

Dantāvakra

Dhenuka

Dhundubhi

Dirghajivha

Ekacakra

Ekaksha

Gaganamurdhana

Gavisthar

Grasana

Hara

Isrpa

Ilvala

Jalandahara

Kabandha

Kālanābha

Kāpata

Kapila

Karambha

Kesin

Ketumat

Khasrima

Krura

Kuhoo

Kupatha

Lavana

Mahābal

Mandodari

Marutvasura

Māyā

Māyāvi

Maydānav

Mitha

Mrtapa

Nabha

Namuchi

Naraka

Nichandra

Nikumbha

Pralamba

Puloman

Rāhu

Rambhā

Salabha

Salya

Saṁbara: a rakshasa who abducted the infant, Pradyumna (the son of Krishna and Rukmini), to kill him. After he grows up, Pradyumna killed Sambara. His name is also spelled as Shambara.

Śankara

Sankusiras

Sārabha

Satha

Satrutpana

Suchandra

Swabhanu

Swarbhanu

Tuhundra

Updanvi

Vaktrayodhin

Vātāpi: a rakshasa and brother to Ilvala.

Vinishakarva

Vipracitti: king of Danavas.

Vṛṣaparva

Vyamsa

•✦──────✧✦✧──────✦•

Did you find this interesting? Please let us know in the comments!

If you have any additions or corrections, be sure to let us know!

Check out the next few chapters for Indian folktales, myths, and legends!