Andhaka
| Andhaka | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Asura |
| Gender | Male |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | Hiraṇyākṣa (adoptive father in some Puranas) Shiva and Parvati (parents; in some Puranas) |
| Children | Adi |
In Hindu literature, Andhaka (Sanskrit: अन्धक, IAST: Andhaka; lit. "He who darkens") refers to a malevolent asura, whose pride is vanquished by Shiva and Parvati.
His story finds mention in various Hindu texts, including the Matsya Purāṇa, the Kūrma Purāṇa, the Liṅga Purāṇa, the Padma Purana, and the Shiva Purana. He is believed to have one thousand heads, and one thousand arms, and also having two thousand eyes. In another version, he has two thousand arms, and two thousand legs. In some versions of his story, Andhaka is described as a son of Shiva and Parvati.