Tarakasuras

Tarakasura (often spelled Tarakasura) is a demon figure in Hindu mythology. The name combines Taraka, meaning star or shining one, with asura, meaning demon. In most traditions Tarakasura is depicted as a powerful antagonist whose defeat marks a key episode in the legends surrounding the birth and career of Skanda/Kartikeya, the son of Shiva and Parvati.

Most commonly told, Tarakasura performed intense penance to please Brahma and obtained a boon that would make him invincible except to the son of Shiva and Parvati. This boon enabled him to rule the worlds with great strength, and the gods faced severe trouble until a divine child of Shiva was born to challenge him. In response, the gods support the birth and maturation of Skanda, who ultimately confronts and defeats Tarakasura in battle. The death of Tarakasura is often cited as a turning point that establishes Skanda as a major war deity and guardian of the gods.

Variations of the tale appear in different Puranas and regional retellings. Some sources treat Tarakasura as the name of a single formidable demon, while others use Tarakasura or Tarakasuras to refer to a class or succession of demons with similar traits. Despite variations, the core motif emphasizes the limits of boons and the eventual rise of Skanda to vanquish a dominant asura.

In cultural depictions, Tarakasura appears in literature, sculpture, and temple iconography as an adversary of Skanda, emphasizing themes of cosmic order, divine intervention, and the triumph of devas over asuras.