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After having been Indra's assistant and younger brother and playing a secondary part for the mighty god who fights Vrtra, in the vedas, the relations between these two 16 Gonda J., Op.Cit., P.89.

485 gods undergo a radical change in the epic period,17 Visnu Thus when the gods were harassed by 18 becomes the typical fighter for the gods, assuming a superior position and being called the god who is over Indra-Atindra. The Brahma Purana provides many references when Indra being afraid of his enemies approach lord Visnu for protection. Demons and similar evil beings which in earlier times were regarded as special enemies of Indra are eventually combated and destroyed by Visnu. the demon Taraka, they at first worshipped lord Visnu and on his advice approached Himalaya and requested him to practice penance to have Uma as his daughter who in future. might marry lord Siva and be the mother of Kartikeya who 19 would slay the demon Taraka. Similarly, when the gods were confronted by the danger from the demon Bali, Visnu took the form of a dwarf and saved them (A.73). Visnu cut off the head of the daitya Rahu when he drank the neetar after taking the form of a god (A.106). Visnu killed the demon Sardula and brought back Suvarna, the daughter of lord Siva, who was carried away by the demon (129.64-69). The demon Sambara, a sort of replica of Vrtra, who in the Rv. Similarly, is vanquished by Indra, 20 is said to be killed by Visnu in 17 Hopkins, Epic Mythology, P.140, 204 etc. 18 Ibid. 19 A.71; also cf. Matsya A.147-159, Brahmanda IV.11.7, III. 10.49, IV.30.103; Vayu 72.47%; Padma P. Srsti kh.42; Linga P.1.71; Mbh.Karnaparva 24.7; Kumarasambhava. 20 Macdonell, Vedic mythology, P.161; Rv.7.99.5 - he is defeated by Indra and Visnu.

486 the Brahma purana (134.10-13). Similarly, it is said that lord Visnu killed the daityas who carried away the cows of the gods (131.16-20). Elsewhere it is said that Visnu killed the demons Iliranyakasipu and the demon Ambarya in his Nrsimha incarnation (A.149,156). Indra worships Visnu and Siva when he is confronted with the doubts regarding his frequent dethronement (122.68Lord Visnu kills the demon Mahasani when Indra requests him to do so (129.94-100). Again it is said that Indra 88). obtained the kingdom of the three worlds by praying lord Visnu, and therefore lord Visnu was called Govinda according to the etymology Indram gam avindayat (122.95-97). ficant. The relation of lord Visnu with Siva is very signiThough, Visnu is considered to be the supreme god, he is said to worship lord Sive. Thus Visnu is said to have A sra received back his cakra which was swalloed by Virabhadra, an attendant of lord Siva, by praying to lord Siva (122.95-97). The Brahma purana relates an interesting anecdote about the quarrel between Brahma and Visnu regarding their relative superiority. It states that when they were quarreling in order to establish their individual supremacy, a Sivalinga arise between the two and the divine speech declared that whosoever would find out its end, would be considered as i

487 superior over the other. Both of them were unable to find out the end, and thereupon Visnu declared his ignorance, but Brahma spoke lie with his fifth head and he was cursed by lord Siva (A.135). Visnu's role as a beneficent god is also very prominent in the Brahma Purana Dhanvantari attained the status of Indra on praying lord Visnu (122.44-47). When the penance of the sage Kandu was disturbed by the nymph Pramloca, he prayed lord Visnu and attained him (A.178). Visnu is the highest among all the Adityas and is the lord of all (69.11,12). Once it is said that lord Indra and others practice penance on account of his fear (109.41,42). By praying lord Visnu the sage Maudgalya obtained prosperity (A.136).