Shambara

Shambara
An illustration of Shambara (left) talking with his court members
AffiliationAsura
TextsPuranas
Genealogy
ChildrenMayasura, Shringaketu, Kumbhaketu
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Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

Shambara (Sanskrit: शम्बर, romanized: Śambara), also known as Shambarasura (Sanskrit: शम्बरासुर, romanized: Śambarāsur) is an asura featured in Hindu mythology. He abducted the infant Pradyumna, the son of Krishna and Rukmini, and attempted to drown him.[1] Pradyumna was raised by Mayavati (Rati), Shambarasura's cook, and the consort of the deity's true form of Kamadeva. After eventually growing up, Pradyumna killed Shambarasura and returned to his family in Dvaraka, along with his consort.

Legend

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See also: Pradyumna

Kamadeva was burnt to ashes formerly by Shiva's anger. Kamadeva was later born as Pradyumna, the son of Krishna and Rukmini. The asura Shambarasura learned of the prophecy that Pradyumna was born to kill him. Shambarasura came to the palace of Dvaraka in the disguise of a woman, took away Pradyumna, who was hardly ten days old at that time, and threw him into the ocean. Pradyumna was swallowed by a large fish. Shambarasura later bought the same fish from a fisherman. Mayavati, the incarnation of Rati, who worked in Shambarasura's kitchen as a cook, found Pradyumna inside the fish. She recognised him as the reincarnation of her consort Kamadeva, and raised him until he was an adolescent.[2]

Battle with Shambarasura

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After Pradyumna grew up, Mayavati revealed to him his true identity as well as her own, as well as his purpose on earth, which was to slay Shambarasura. Pradyumna fought with Shambarasura, who employed the magic of the asuras. Rati also knew daitya magic, and taught Pradyumna how to neutralise the asura's magic with her knowledge of mahāmāyā vidyā. Pradyumna severed Shambarasura's head with one blow of his sword. Pradyumna then went to Dvaraka, and was reunited with his family.[3]

Pradyumna Kills Shambara

References

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  1. ^ Krishna's Lineage: The Harivamsha of Vyasa's Mahabharata. Oxford University Press. 2 July 2019. p. 295. ISBN 978-0-19-027920-2.
  2. ^ "Srimad Bhagavatam: Canto 10 - Chapter 55".
  3. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (30 August 2014). "Sambara killed by Pradyumna [Chapter XXVII]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
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