Darika
Encyclopedia
Darika is a character in Mudiyettu
, a ritualistic dance from the Bhagavathi
or Bhadrakali
cult, usually performed only in the Kali
temples of Kerala
. The story is also known as "Darika vadham", or "death of Darika".
In the story, Brahma
granted immunity from death at the hands of any man to two of the fiercest Asuras (or demons) Darika and Danavendra, but with a curse that a woman would kill them. The two grew powerful and became a threat for the gods and godly men. After several attempts by the gods to defeat them, Lord Siva
created Bhadrakali
following the design given by Narada
. All the gods donated their special weapons, and Bhadrakali succeeded in destroying the demons after a fierce battle.
daruka was an asura
Mudiyett
MudiyettuMudiyettu is ritualistic dance drama performed after the harvest of summer crops in Kerala.In 2010, Mudiyettu included in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists...
, a ritualistic dance from the Bhagavathi
Bhagavathi
Bhagavathi or Bhagavati is the general way people refer to the Hindu goddesses in Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra states of India. It can be used to refer any of the Hindu goddesses like Durga, Kannaki, Parvati, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Kali...
or Bhadrakali
Bhadrakali
Bhadrakāli , is one of the forms of the Great Goddess mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. In Sanskrit, the word Bhadra means "blessed", "auspicious", "fair", "beautiful", "good", "fortunate", "prosperous"....
cult, usually performed only in the Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
temples of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. The story is also known as "Darika vadham", or "death of Darika".
In the story, Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
granted immunity from death at the hands of any man to two of the fiercest Asuras (or demons) Darika and Danavendra, but with a curse that a woman would kill them. The two grew powerful and became a threat for the gods and godly men. After several attempts by the gods to defeat them, Lord Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
created Bhadrakali
Bhadrakali
Bhadrakāli , is one of the forms of the Great Goddess mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. In Sanskrit, the word Bhadra means "blessed", "auspicious", "fair", "beautiful", "good", "fortunate", "prosperous"....
following the design given by Narada
Narada
Narada or Narada Muni is a divine sage from the Vaisnava tradition, who plays a prominent role in a number of the Puranic texts, especially in the Bhagavata Purana, and in the Ramayana...
. All the gods donated their special weapons, and Bhadrakali succeeded in destroying the demons after a fierce battle.
daruka was an asura