This article refers to the mythical demon in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. For the Islamic festival, see Day of Ashurah

In Hinduism

In Hindu mythology, the Asura (Sanskrit: असुर) are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes misleadingly referred to as demons. They were opposed to the devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa. The name is cognate to Ahura and Æsir, which implies a common Proto-Indo-European origin for the Asura and the Æsir.

The negative character of the asura in Hinduism seems to have evolved over time. In general, the earliest texts have the asuras presiding over moral and social phenomena (e.g. Varuna, the guardian of rta, or Bhaga, the patron of marriages) and the devas presiding over natural phenomena (e.g. Ushas, whose name means "dawn", or Indra, a weather god).

Mitra, Varuna and Vritra are the

The term corresponds to the Zoroastrian word Ahura. In Zoroastrianism the Ahuras are supreme, while the devas are demonic. This observation corroborates with some intepretations of the Indo-Aryan migration hypothesis, that a single tribe in Central Asia split into two went separate ways, both ideologically and geographically, one migrating to India and the other to Persia.

In both cultures, this antagonism is worked out along the axis of sacrifice. The first Zoroastrian Gatha excoriates the worshippers of the daewas (devas) for their cruel treatment of sacrificial cows, while the Ahuras make efforts to protect the sacred cattle. In later Vedic ritual, the asuras and devas are frequently portrayed as fighting with one another over the offerings.

According to one hypothesis, the opposition between asuras and devas is rooted in proto-Indo-Iranian social structure. At important festivals, perhaps for new-year celebrations, it is postulated that two clans or sub-tribes would compete in making the most perfect ritual offering to the gods, seeking to outdo their

In Buddhism

Asuras also appear as a type of supernatural being in traditional Buddhist cosmology. For information on this subject, see six lower realms.

In Fiction

• Asura is also a character from the video game, Samurai Shodown. See Asura.
• Asura is the main antagonist from the Karmatrón comic book.
• A chojin wrestler named Asuraman in Kinnikuman and its sequel Ultimate Muscle.
• In Fist of the North Star there is a country called The Land of Asura that is home to many of the series' martial arts and merciless warriors called Asura who fear only the rakshasa.
• Asuras are a race of extraplanar creatures in some editions of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.

In Popular culture

• Asura is the name of a server for the MMORPG, Final Fantasy XI. It is also the name of the Queen of Summons in Final Fantasy IV -- an ally who casts healing and protective spells on the party. In addition, Asura is a name given to various mid-level swords in the series, usually katanas.
• Asura's armour is a very powerful chest plate found in Venus lighthouse in the RPG, Golden Sun.
• Asura Strike is a skill for the Monk class in the MMORPG, Ragnarok Online
• Azura is a deadra (demon) in the RPG Elder Scrolls Series. Asura

asura アスラ Asura asura