As per Mahabharata Karnaparva Chapter 20 verses 10-11, the soldiers of Andhra were called Andhrakas. The king of Pandya defeated the Andhrakas in the Kurukshetra war. Krishna advised Arjuna to destroy the Andhrakas and Pulindas as per Mahabharata Karnaparva Chapter 73 verses 19-21.

A king of Andhra. As per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 4 verse 24, he was present at Indraprastha, which Maya had built for Yudhishtira. He was also present at Yudhishtira’s rajasuya yajna as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 34 verse 11.

A soldier of the region of Andhra as per Mahabharata Dronaparva Chapter 4 verse 8.

As per Mahabharata Bhishmaparva Chapter 9 verse 49, a place that existed at the time of the Mahabharata. Believed to be the same region as Andhra today.

One of the 28 narakas. This is for men or women who eat without giving food to their spouse. Yama seeks them out with his noose and they faint when they can no longer suffer the winding of the noose around their neck. As per Devibhagavata Ashtamaskanda, when they wake up they try to escape the place but are brought back by Yama’s henchmen.

A holy place as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 25 verses 32-33. Bathing at this place has the same effect as conducting a purushamedhayajna.

A naraka. In the Devibhagavata, Vishnu tells Narada about 28 narakas, one of which is Andhakupa. It is a naraka for those who have killed brahmins, devotees or sanyasis. The place is filled with ferocious animals, birds and reptiles as per Devibhagavata Ashtamaskanda.

A place in Kraunchadweepa as per Mahabharata Bhishmaparva Chapter 12 verse 22.

As per Mahabharata Bhishmaparva Chapter 12 verse 18, a mountain in Kraunchadweepa.

A foster son of Hiranyaksha. Shiva was Andhaka’s real father. Once, while Shiva was meditating, his daughter put her hands over his eyes. A darkness arose, and with a thundering sound, a rakshasa emerged from it. Since he was born from the darkness, he was called Andhaka. During this time, Hiranyaksha was praying to Shiva for a son. As per Vamanapurana Chapter 63, Shiva gave Andhaka to Hiranyaksha and told him that if Andhaka earned the illwill of the world, killed a brahmin or lusted after devis, Shiva would burn him himself.

Once, when he was filled with lust, Andhaka called the asuras and told them that whoever brought Pravati, Shiva’s wife to him first would be considered his dearest friend. On hearing this, Prahlad let Andhaka know that Paravati was his actual mother. Andhaka didn’t relent though Prahlad also told him that lusting after another man’s wife was an evil deed. Andhaka sent Shambarasura to Shiva to demand Parvati for him. Shiva replied that he would hand over Parvati if he could be defeated in a game of dice. Andhaka was angry and proceeded to the mountain Mandara to do battle with Shiva. He was defeated , apologised to Shiva and accepted that Parvati was his mother. He also sought blessings from Shiva to help him get over his evilness. According to Vamanapurana Chapter 63, Shiva blessed him and transformed him into an asura chieftain called Bhringi.