Killing of Narakasura - Kalika Puran

There is a version of the killing of Narakasura which is detailed in the Kalika Purana. Kalika Purana talks about Kamakhya, the goddess of Assam. 

It is said that when Vishnu, in his incarnation as the boar, had rescued the earth, a child was born from the union. The time was bad and the child born was destined to be evil. He was born from the earth and was found by King Janaka of Mithila. Janaka brought up the boy. When the boy was sixteen, he was taken to Pragjyotishpur where the presiding deity, Kamakhya (picture below) was worshipped. Shiva secretly lived in that place. 

Naraka was advised to reside in the kingdom and rule justly. He was asked to worship Kamakhya and be kind to all holy saints. He was also told that the day Kamakhya vanished from his land, his death would follow.

Sage Vashishtha used to worship in the Sandhyachal hills that lay in the kingdom of Narakasura. One day, he came to visit the shrine of the Mother Goddess. Naraka was not ken on anyone else worshiping the goddess and  expressed his grudge towards the goddess and prevented the sage from visiting the goddess. Consequently, Sage Vashishtha cursed him that the goddess would no longer stay in his kingdom. Narakasura was no longer favored by the goddess.

 Naraka then , in course of time, attacked and stole the ear rings of Aditi, the mother of the Devas,

One night, Naraka observed Goddess Kamakhya dancing in her temple. He was stunned by the beauty of the Goddess, and losing his senses, he approached her and asked to marry him. She laughed at him and told that it will happen if Naraka constructs temple, tank, and stair case from the foot of Nilachal hill to her place, before the cock crow  He started the task and almost completed it. Vishnu appeared in the form a rooster and started crowing, signifying starting of the day. Naraka became frustrated, and stopped. In the mean while the day really came. Naraka failed to reach the goal and got angry on  Kamakhya. Kamakhya disappeared .

In the meantime, Bhudevi, Naraka's mother, who was pained by the sufferings Naraka was causing, started praying to the Gods for his end. Krishna agreed to end Naraka with the blessings of Kalika.

Sri Krishna went with Satyabhama to kíll Narakasura. In the fight that ensure, with the blessings of Kamakhya, Krishna killed Narakasura. When Krishna was about to kill Naraka, the asura saw Kali standing there, sometimes appearing as Krishna, sometimes as Kamakhya.

Seeing her son fall, Bhudevi appeared before Krishna, lamenting the death of her son. She then handed over the earrings of Aditi, that had been stolen by Naraka, to Krishna. Krishna consoled her, saying she herself had prayed for Naraka's end.


Kamakhya is pictured as a  goddess with twelve arms and six heads of varying colors, representing a powerful goddess who is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. She is ornately dressed, typically wearing a red sari.

She holds in each of her ten hands a lotus, trident, sword, bell, discus, bow, arrows, club or scepter, goad, and shield. In of her remaining hands, she holds a bowl, and the other hand is for blessings.

She is seated upon a lotus, which emerges from the navel of Lord Shiva, who in turn lies atop a lion.
To each side of her sit Brahma and Vishnu, who are each seated upon a lotus, as well.

Satyabhama - killer of Narakasura - another version - Celebration of Naraka Chaturdashi

While Bhagwad Purana talks about Krishna killing Narakasura, there are other versions from other scriptures. Krishna is present in all of them.

A folk tale tells of Satyabhama taking a form of the Mother Goddess and killing Naraka. As per the folk tale, Naraka had a boon, that he could be killed only by his mother.

Later when he became proud and arrogant, Bhu Devi (Earth) reborn as Satyambhama, killed Naraka while she had accompanied Krishna.

In the war Satyabhama fought with Narakasura valiantly but he was more skillful. After a few days Narakasura got a chance to hurt Krishna. Krishna fainted as per the predestined divinely plan made with Satyabhama. When Satyabhama saw Narakasura attacking Krishna then she got furious.

She doubledher strength and attacked the demon king Narakasura and finally. Before Narakasura`s death, he requested a boon from his mother, Satyabhama that everyone should celebrate his death with colourful lights. Accordingly this day is celebrated as the first day of Diwali or Naraka Chaturdashi.

Narak Chaturdashi - Day Two of Deepawali

While in Bengal, this is the day Kali Puja starts. This year, Amavasya Tithi Begins at 21:23 on 10 th November 2015 and ends at 23:16 on 11 th November 2015.

For Kali Puja, the day when Amavasya starts is considered while for Lakshmi Puja/ Deepawali the day when Amavasya ends is considered. For this, on many days Kali Puja happens a day before the designated day for Deepawali.

This day is also called Bhut Chaturdashi or Kali Chaturdashi. This is the day to abolish and kill off the laziness in our lives.

Some say this is the day when Hanuman gulped down the sun.

There also a legend associated with Bali, grandson of Prahalada. King Bali became the most powerful king on earth. But he became highly arrogant. His form of charity was an occasion for pomp and show and those who went to seek Alms from the king Bali suffered insults and humiliation. His arrogance and misrule ended when the Lord appeared as beggar (vaman avtaar). King Bali asked the dwarf beggar to get anything in his kingdom. Lord replied he just want a piece of land that could be covered in his 3 steps. And with his first step Lord Vishnu covered the entire heaven, with the second step the earth and asked Bali where to keep his third step. Bali offered his head and became spiritually enlightened. The Narak chaturdashi day therefore is dedicated to lights and prayers and the elimination of greed.

Here in South India, this is supposed to be the day when Narakasura was killed.

Celebrated as the second of the auspicious Deepavali days, Narkachaturdashi originates from days of Lord Krishna. God Yama is also worshiped on this day to get over the fear of demon Narakasura. Lamps with four wicks are lighted at various places. People make an effigy of Narakasura, carry it to the outskirts, and burn it. Later, they take bath and burst crackers. This is the day of Narakasura's death and hence a celebration for all.

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From the Bhagwad Puran - Krishna kills Narakasura

It is said that Narakasura was the son of the earth, by Vishnu, in his incarnation as a boar. He became a demon due to the bad association of Bana, another demon. It is mentioned in the Bhagwad Purana, Birth alone is not always the criterion of goodness; unless and until one is trained in the culture of good association, one cannot become good. Thus Narakasura became a demon even though he was born good. Narakasura was also called Bhaumasura, as he was born from Bhoomi (earth).

He was a powerful demon. He stole Varuna's umbrella, Abhoga. Abhoga, fashioned from a cobra's hood such that no water could penetrate it. He also stole the divine earrings from Aditi, the mother of Devas. He would forcibly kipnap damsels and hold them captive.

Hearing this complaint by Indra, Krishna, accompanied by His wife Satyabhama, immediately started for the abode of Narakasura. Both of them rode on the back of Garuda, who flew them to Pragjyotisa-pura, the capital city of the demon. It was not a very easy task to enter the city , as it was very well fortified. First of all, there were four formidable forts guarding the four directions of the city, and it was well-protected on all sides by great military strength. The next boundary was a water canal all around the city. The next fortification was of anila, a gaseous substance. After this, there was a network of barbed wiring constructed by a demon named Mura.

When Krishna arrived, he broke all the forts to pieces by the strokes of 'gada' (club, called Kaumodaki) and the constant onslaught of the arrows . With his Sudarshana Chakra, he destroyed the channels of water and the gaseous boundary. By the vibration of His conchshell, He not only broke the hearts of the great fighters, but also the fighting machines which were there. Similarly, the walls around the city were broken.

The demon Mura heard the vibration of the conchshell, awakened from his sleep, and  came out to see what was happening. He had five heads and had long been living within the water. The Mura demon was as brilliant as the sun at the time of the dissolution of the cosmic manifestation, and his temper was like blazing fire. His body was so dazzling that it was difficult to see him with open eyes. When he came out, he first took out his trident and began to attack Krishna.  First of all he attacked  Garuda, by whirling his trident and he began to vibrate sounds through his five faces like the roaring of a lion. The roaring produced by the vibration of his mouths spread all. Krishna saw that the trident of the Mura demon was gradually rushing toward  Garuda. Immediately, by a trick of His hand, He took two arrows and threw them toward the trident, cutting it to pieces. Simultaneously, he pierced the mouths of the demon Mura with arrows stopping the noise and shot down the trident.
Mura demon immediately began to strike Krishna with his club. But Krishna, broke the club of Mura to pieces . Mura then began to attack Krsna with his strong arms, but by the aid of his discus. Krishna killed Mura. From then on, Krishna became known as Murare.

Seeing this. Narakasura came out and immediately released a weapon called Sataghni, by which he could kill hundreds of warriors with one stroke, and simultaneously all his soldiers also threw their respective weapons at Krishna. Krishna countered all the weapons, and all soldiers fell dead.

Taking a trident in his hand , the demon hurled it towards Krishna which was cut off by Sudarshan Chakra. Krishna then killed Narakasura by cutting off his head.