Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma – Marichi – Kashyapa – Ajamukhi.

Once, during the deva-asura war, an asura survived and escaped to the netherworld. His daughter was Surasa. Surasa married Kashyapa and had six children –  Shurapadma, Simhika, Simhavaktra, Tarakasura, Ajamukhi and Gomukha.

Once Shurapadma asked his brothers Simhavaktra and Tarakasura to establish cities on the northern and southern sides of the Meru mountains. Tarakasura took half their armies and built Mayapura on the southern side, Simhavaktra built a city on the northern side. Meanwhile Ajamukhi roamed around seducing men. She found Durvasa at the foothills of the Himalayas and managed to get married to him. Ilvala and Vatapi were born to them. They demanded all of Durvasa’s abilities that he had amassed with meditation. As per the Skandapurana Asurakanda, a furious Durvasa cursed that they would die at the hands of Agastya.

Once the lustful Ajamukhi went to the Shiva temple at Kashi, and saw Indra’s wife Shachi. She caught Shachi in order to gift her to her brother Shurapadma. Shachi cried for help and Shiva appeared with a sword. Ajamukhi still wouldn’t let go of Shachi and so Shiva cut off both her hands. Shurapadma was furious when he heard this. He sent his armies and captured the devas. Brahma made a new set of hands for Ajamukhi while in captivity. According to Skandapurana Asurakanda, Shurapadma’s son Bhanugopa fought with the remaining devas and defeated them too.