Product Code Database
Maya () or Mayāsura (मयासुर), also called Maya Danava, is a figure in Hindu history, described as the king of the Danavas, a race of beings descending from Kashyapa and his wife Danu. He is known for his architectural expertise, credited with creating the Mayasabha (Hall of Illusions) for the and Tripura (Three cities) for the sons of Tarakasura. In the Ramayana, he is mentioned as the father-in-law of Ravana. He is presented as an architect of Maya (the illusory material reality). In the Surya Siddhanta 1.02, Mayāsura is described as a Daitya who received divine astronomical knowledge from the Sun God sometime around the end of Satya Yuga.
Mayasura had befriended a Nāga named Takshaka and lived with him in the area of Khandavaprastha along with his family and friends, but when the Pandavas came there after the partition of Hastinapura, Arjuna burnt the entire forest, forcing Takshaka to flee and killing everyone else. This made Mayasura decide to surrender to the Pandavas. Krishna was ready to forgive him and in return, Mayasura built a grand palace named Mayasabha, where the Pandavas would perform the Rajasuya.
Mayasura also offers him gifts like a bow, a sword etc. He gives a mace to Arjuna's brother Bhima named Vrkodara. In some versions of the Mahabharata he also gives Arjuna the Gandiva bow.
|
|
