Word

Tarakasura

Sanskrit

तारकासुर

IAST

tārakasura

In General

Tarakasura was the son of Vajranga and Varangi. He underwent lot of austerities and obtained boon to become invisible to others. He defeated Devas and became a unbeatable and his atrocities have no end. Devas fought with the leadership of Subromonya and killed him.

Purana

Kumarasambhava of Kalidas and Skandapurana describe the war with Tarakasura in great detail.

Taraka had three sons: Taraksha, Kalaksha, and Vidyunmali. They too pleased Brahma and with acquired boon built three floating cities made of gold, silver and Iron. These cities together were called as Tripura. When their atrocities gone beyond the limit, Lord Siva killed all the three of them and destroyed their cities. Lord Siva is thus also known by the name Tripurari (also Tripuranthaka).