Banasur

Banasura
Banasura battles with Krishna
Information
Children	Usha

Bana (also called Banasura), in Hindu mythology, was a thousand-armed asura King and son of Bali. Banasura is believed to have ruled the present-day central Assam with his capital at Sonitpur (present-day Tezpur, Assam). According to the legend, Banasura was a kirata king. However, according to Himachal folklore, he was the king of Shonitpur, presently known as Sarahan in Himachal Pradesh.

Banasura, a mighty asura once ruled over a large kingdom. So strong and fierce was his influence that all the kings and even some of the devas shuddered in front of his might. Banasura use to worship Rasalingam, which was given by Vishvakarman on instruction from Vishnu. An ardent devotee of Shiva, used his thousand arms to play the Mridanga when Shiva was performing the tandava dance. Shiva gave Banasura a boon and Banasura requested Shiva to be his protector. Banasura became invincible. As time passed, Banasura become cruel and arrogant. He locked up his daughter, Usha in a fortress called Agnigarh because many young suitors came to him asking for her hand. One day, Usha saw a young man in her dream and fell in love with him. Chitraleka was a friend of Usha and daughter of Kumbhanda, Minister of Banasura. Chitralekha was a talented artist who helped Usha to identify the young man seen in her dream, by sketching various portraits. She had dreamt of Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord Krishna. Chitralekha, through supernatural powers, abducted Aniruddha from the palace of Krishna and brought him to Usha.

The genealogy of Banasura is as follows:

Banasura's wife's name was Kandala.