page_title: Asura
section_title: Characteristics of Asuras
hierarchical_section_title: Asura / Context / Characteristics of Asuras
caption_attribution_description: The Asura Vayuphak is a creature from the Himmavana forest as depicted in The Ramayana epic story from India. This creature is half giant (like his father) and half bird (like his mother). Ashuras demons in Hindu mythology
context_page_description: Asuras are a class of beings or power-seeking clans related to the more benevolent Devas in Hinduism.
  The asuras battle constantly with the devas. Asuras are described in Indian texts as powerful superhuman demigods with good or bad qualities. The good Asuras are called Adityas and are led by Varuna, while the malevolent ones are called Danavas and are led by Vritra.
  In the earliest layer of Vedic texts Agni, Indra and other gods are also called Asuras, in the sense of their being "lords" of their respective domains, knowledge and abilities. In later Vedic and post-Vedic texts, the benevolent gods are called Devas, while malevolent Asuras compete against these Devas and are considered "enemy of the gods".
  Asuras are part of Indian mythology along with Devas, Yakshas and Rakshasas. Asuras feature in many cosmological theories in Hinduism.
context_section_description: In the earliest Vedic literature, all supernatural beings are called Devas and Asuras. A much-studied hymn of the Rigveda states Devav asura (Asuras who have become Devas), and contrasts it with Asura adevah (Asuras who are not Devas). Each Asura and Deva emerges from the same father (Prajapati), share the same residence (Loka), eat together the same food and drinks (Soma), and have innate potential, knowledge and special powers in Hindu mythology; the only thing that distinguishes "Asura who become Deva" from "Asura who remain Asura" is intent, action and choices they make in their mythic lives.
  "Asuras who remain Asura" share the character of powerful beings obsessed with their craving for ill-gotten Soma and wealth, ego, anger, unprincipled nature, force and violence. Further, when they lose, miss or don't get what they want because they were distracted by their cravings, the "Asuras who remain Asuras" question, challenge and attack the ""Asuras who become Devas" to loot and get a share from what Devas have and they don't, in Hindu mythology. The hostility between the two is the source of extensive legends, tales and literature in Hinduism; however, many texts discuss their hostility in neutral terms and without explicit moral connotations or condemnation. Some of these tales are the basis behind major Hindu Epics and annual festivals, such as the story of Asura Ravana and Deva Rama in the Ramayana and the legend of Asura Hiranyakashipu and Deva Vishnu as Narasimha, the latter celebrated with the Hindu spring festival of Holika and Holi.
caption: The concept of Asura-Devas migrated from India to southeast Asia in 1st millennium CE. Above Vayuphak Asura, from the Hindu epic Ramayana, represented in Thailand.
exif: {"Image ImageDescription": "The Asura-Vayuphak Barge at the Royal Barge Museum in Bangkok, Thailand.  This barge features the Asura Vayuphak as its figurehead.  The Asura Vayuphak is another creature from the Himmavana forest as depicted in The Ramayana epic story from India. This creature is half giant (like his father) and half bird (like his mother).\n\nThe original date of the barge is unknown and it was restored to its current condition in 1982.  The barge is 21 meters long and held 38 oarsmen and 17 crew members.", "Image Make": "Canon", "Image Model": "Canon PowerShot S100", "Image XResolution": "240", "Image YResolution": "240", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.4 (Windows)", "Image DateTime": "2014:05:11 22:56:24", "Image Artist": "Mark Fischer", "Image Copyright": "Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License", "Image ExifOffset": "810", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "1282", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "10660", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/125", "EXIF FNumber": "4", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "200", "EXIF SensitivityType": "Standard Output Sensitivity and Recommended Exposure Index", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0230", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2012:02:20 12:35:00", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2012:02:20 20:03:23", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "870723/125000", "EXIF ApertureValue": "4", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "-1", "EXIF MaxApertureValue": "4", "EXIF SubjectDistance": "5/2", "EXIF MeteringMode": "CenterWeightedAverage", "EXIF Flash": "Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "10779/1000", "EXIF FocalPlaneXResolution": "4000000/293", "EXIF FocalPlaneYResolution": "150000/11", "EXIF FocalPlaneResolutionUnit": "2", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Manual Exposure", "EXIF LensModel": "5.2-26.0 mm"}