According to the Bhagawat Purana, Narakasura was born of Mother Earth. Yet in his personality he was a brutish beast.
Naraka’s deeds were so dark that his name has come down as a symbol of darkness. Many who celebrate the festival of lights – Deepavali – believe that they are commemorating the death of Naraka and the consequent emancipation of all good spirits.
In South India, the story of Naraka is laced with a ‘woman’s lib’ edge. As told over there, it is Satyabhama who took up arms against the Asura when, during the battle, Krishna had closed his eyes in momentary exhaustion. The Purana, apparently, has no knowledge of this.
The frequent references to Krishna in our epics and poems, as the enemy of Naraka (Narakari) and even his deputy Mura (Murari) seem to indicate that the tyrant of Pragjyotishapura was notorious in his times.
