Taraka- Hindu DemonDemon"King of the Asuras"
Also known as: Tārakāsura, तारक, and Tāraka
Description
He chose his own doom cleverly: only a son of Shiva could kill him, and Shiva was a celibate ascetic who would never take a wife. But his tyranny was so total that the gods conspired to make Shiva fall in love, and the son born of that union drove a lance through Taraka's chest.
Mythology & Lore
The Boon
Taraka, son of the asura Vajranga, performed austerities on the Paripatra mountains for thousands of years. The heat of his tapas scorched the three worlds. Brahma appeared and offered a boon. Taraka, knowing Shiva was a celibate ascetic who would never father a child, asked that only a son of Shiva could kill him. Brahma granted it. Taraka believed he had made himself immortal.
The Conquest
Taraka assembled the asura hosts and marched on heaven. He defeated Indra and the guardians of the directions, seized control of all three worlds, and stripped the gods of their sacrificial offerings. The dispossessed devas served him as laborers. When they appealed to Brahma and Vishnu, both told them the same thing: only a son of Shiva could save them, and they would have to find a way to make Shiva take a wife.
The Lance
The gods sent Kamadeva to rouse Shiva. Shiva burned him to ash. Parvati performed her own austerities and won Shiva through devotion. Their son Skanda was born and appointed commander of the divine armies.
Skanda led the gods against Taraka's forces. Taraka fought with his mace and hurled mountains. Skanda met every blow. In the final clash, he drove his divine lance, the Shakti, through Taraka's chest. The boon that was supposed to make Taraka immortal had instead determined who would kill him.