Although there were frequent wars between the gods and asuras, the suras were not averse to receive the aid of their foes at the churning of the ocean; and some of them were not inferior in power and skill to the gods. Bali, one of their number, is worshipped by the Hindus on their birthday; and Jalandhara conquered in battle even Vishnu himself; Indra and the other gods fled before him, and Siva, unaided, could not destroy him. Rahu is an asura, and it was to destroy some of these mighty beings who distressed the gods, that Durga and Kali had to put forth their strength. In the constant wars between these rivals, Sukra, the preceptor of the asuras, was frequently called to resuscitate the fallen. The following story of Jalandhara from the Uttara

[paragraph continues] Khanda of the "Padma Purana" [**] will illustrate the teaching of the later Hindu Scriptures respecting the asuras.

JALANDHARA.

The story of Jalandhara's birth and life was narrated by Narada to the Pandavas to encourage them when they were in distress on account of their misfortunes. He reminds them that adversity and prosperity come to all: Rahu, who swallows the sun, is the same Rahu whose head was severed from his body by Vishnu; and the valiant Jalandhara, the son of the Ocean and the river Ganges, who on one occasion conquered Vishnu, was himself slain by Siva. The mention of this fact excites the curiosity of his hearers; and in answer to their inquiry about him, Narada gives the following history.

Indra and the other gods, arriving at Siva's home on Mount Kailasa to pay him a visit, informed the bull Nandi, the chief of Siva's attendants, that they had come to amuse his master with song and dance. Siva invites them to enter, and, being delighted with their music, tells Indra to ask a boon, who, in a defiant tone, asks that he might be a warrior like Siva himself. The boon is granted, and the gods depart. No sooner have they left than Siva asks his attendants if they had not noticed Indra's haughty tone, when immediately there stood before him a form of anger, black as darkness, who said to Siva, "Give me thy similitude, and then what can I do for you?" Siva tells him to incorporate himself with the river of heaven (Ganga), form a union between her and the Ocean, and conquer Indra.