Originally posted by: Wistfulness
It's there in the Puranas.
Going by the texts, Shiva was acting in accordance with a boon given to Banasura. It was, by all means, a play by Hari-Hara. π
Banasur was the 10th descendant of Prahlad and eldest among 100 sons of King Bali, who got a boon from Lord Shiva that he will protect the Asura all the time and presented him a thousand powerful arms which added arrogance to this demon. With arrogance, when he attacked Kailash, Shiva warned him that his ending is nearer now. He also reminded him that the reason for his demise had already been born and he would notice this when the flag on his kingdom gate would be broken.
Here is an interesting story --- we don't know how these CVs depict it, but it's a highly romantic story with high-velocity happenings!
Banasura had a daughter Usha who saw a handsome prince in her dream and wanted to have him! When she revealed to her maid Chitralekha about her dream she with her black magic draws a portrait of the prince seen in Ushaβs dream. Usha confirmed that the portrait was of the same person, Chitralekha told that the prince was Aniruddha, the grandson of Sri Krishna. Usha asked her to bring him to her.
Chitralekha reached Dwaraka and made Aniruddha unconscious while he was in sleep. Then she took Aniruddha to Banasuraβs palace while he was still sleeping. When Aniruddha woke up, he found himself in front of Usha and she explained about her dream and how she fell in love with him. Aniruddha looking at her beauty and falls in love. They stay together in her chambers for several days, but meanwhile, the flag was broken and Banasur suspected that someone is there in his daughter's chambers!
Meanwhile, there was already huge havoc in Dwarka about the missing of Aniruddha. Lord Krishna received the message that Banasura held Aniruddha captive. He then, along with Balarama and some army, attacked Banasuraβs kingdom. Balarama with his power destroyed all of Banasuraβs army. Banasura confronted Krishna but he was powerless in front of Krishna. Then Banasura prays for Lord Shiva.
Shiva, confined with his boon, came to rescue Banasura and started the war with Krishna in order to protect Banasur. Both Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna battled with each other. When Krishna found out that he was helpless to kill Banasur when Lord Shiva is protecting him, he prayed to Lord Shiva silently. Then Lord Shiva gives him a trick to follow. Krishna threw an arrow that made Lord Shiva fall asleep. After this, Krishna took out his Sudarshan Chakra and cut off all the arms of Banasur. Finally, he ordered the Sudarshan Chakra to cut of Banasurβs head when Shiva woke up and blocked the Chakra. Shiva then pledges Krishna to forgive Banasur as he is one of his great devotees.
Banasura then married Aniruddha and Usha to each other and left them with Krishna respectfully.
Banasura Charitra was referred to in Epic Mahabharatha and in Bhagavatha Purana.
And Srikrishna Devaraya's Usha Parinayam was the recent reference book for this Shiva> Krishna / Vishnu war.
Edited by Viswasruti - 5 years ago