Asuras killed by Indra -,more to follow

From: kishore patnaik
Message: 59423
Date: 2008-06-28

 Dear all,

The king of Asuric Brahmins was Vritra.

Another king Vangrida ruled over 100 cities. He was killed by Indra.

8 Thou hast struck down in death Karanja, Parnaya, in Atithigva's very glorious going forth.(with the brightest spear of Atithigva)

Unyielding, when Rjisvan compassed them with siege, thou hast destroyed the hundred forts of Vangrida (without helper).( RV 1.53: 8)(this is repeated in Hymn 21 of Book 20 of Atharva veda) (RV. I. 51.5; I.53.8)

Thou slewest with thy bolt the Sasyu . . .
Far from the floor of Heaven in all directions,
the ancient riteless ones fled to destruction . . .
The Dasyu thou hast burned from the heavens.
They met in fight the army of the blameless,
then the Navagvas put forth all their power.
Like emasculates contending with men they fled,
by steep paths from Indra they scattered.
Indra broke through Ilibsa's strong castles,
and Sushna with his horn he cut to pieces . . .
Thou slewest thy fighting foe with thy Thunder . . .
Fierce on his enemies fell Indra's weapon.
with his sharp rushing Thunderbolt
he rent their towns to pieces.
Thou goest forth from fight to fight intrepidly,
destroying castle after castle with thy strength.
Thou Indra, with thy friend who makes the foe bow down,
slowest from far away the guileful Namuchi.
Thou hast struck down in death Karanja, Parnaya . . .
Thou hast destroyed the hundred towns of Vangrida.
The ridges of the lofty heaven thou madest shake
when thou, daring, by thyself smote Sambara.

Interestingly, Sambara also seems to be same person.

3 In the wild joy of Soma I demolished Śambara's forts, ninety-and-nine, together;

And, utterly, the hundredth habitation, when helping Divodāsa Atithigva.

(RV book 4, hymn 26, verse 3)

The reference to Divodasa Atithigva and 100 forts/cities  is important here.

[confused references to a Asuric and demented magician Sambara  in Buddhist literature are galore, made more interesting with connection of Puranic Sambara with Mayavati and magic Note that Vsnu purana also talks of a Sambara, who is the best of enchanters )

Sambara was the son of Kulitara, a Dasa living in the mountains and it took 40 autumns for Indra to find him.

Smoting him, Indra made Divodasa , the soma presser and the Bharadwaja, who praised Indra, rich with treasures.

Yet at another place, Indra and Vsnu are praised for smiting nine and ninety fortresses of Sambara, killing 100 men and thousand 'Varcins" without a fight.

The connection of Vsnu makes it more  allegorical, since Vsnu always stood for  the all pervading space. This verse might be having a Yogic meaning. For eg., Benfey in his glossary to Sama veda identifies Sambara (just as Vrtra) with clouds,water and force (bala).

I came across a name Marana dharma in some articles who is supposed to be having  rule over  land and sea. However, I could not find the reference for this in the Rg veda itself.

Similarly, Baya is the name of an asura king who was bestowed with magical sight of finding others' wealth. I do not know who this could be. Yet another story is about king swarabhanu, who had hidden the sun for sometime with his disc a la ka Lord Krishna in the Mbh during the killing of Saindhava. The story of Kubava,a demoness who has eaten away Indra as soon as she was born but Indra manages to kill her in the end.

Namuci is a famous name whose army included women.

Duhya is a king who had 68,068 soldiers. Krishna  is also an asuric king who had hidden in the water along with his 10,000 soldiers but was killed in the end. The pregnant wives of Krishna were also killed by Indra.

The other names include Nishwaca, Kuyaba, Rohina, Asana, Nahavasu, Sushna, Rudhira, Pipru, Arbuda, Ankuyavaca, Banu, Ahi, Camuri, Pramaganda, Mrigaya, Vireedha, Rujaswa, Vyamsa, Sandamarka, Balu, Mrga, Druhya, Manyamanu, Turvasa, Hradha, Sarita, Navavatsya, Dhwasi, Dhuni, Tripura, Yadva, Vetanu, Nasoni, Tugra, Tootadi, Atka,Randhaya, Vesa, Shadgami, Brhdradha, Nurwida, Asarmani, Dasa, Ahesana, Ahnavayya, Balpoodha, Ushnanatha, Aheshuba, Krishnavarchi, Kuyavacha, Nrimara, Urana, Asna, Rudhika, varchi, Asusha, Peeyu, Kivi, Kulataru, Danu, Vaci, Ourva, Chitra, Ibhu(or Ibhya), sarada, Dhutti varasi, Khuni, Anu, Yadya, Bedha, Vrisha sisra, Ournanabha, Ahisucha, Atka, Randhaya, swadhibha, Vesa, Shridgrabhi etc.

The group may please post information about the above tribes.

regards,

Kishore patnaik