An asura race. As per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 155 verse 22, Vasishta once destroyed the race with his spiritual energy.

Another name for Vishnu as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 17 verse 43.

Skanda’s attendant as per Mahabharata Shalyaparva Chapter 46 verse 22.

Skanda’s attendant as per Mahabharata Shalyaparva Chapter 46 verse 22.

Skanda’s attendant as per Mahabharata Shalyaparva Chapter 46 verse 26.

Another rakshasa who helped Ravana in his war with Rama. He also fought Rama as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 285 verse 2.

A rakshasa. Khara and Atikaya were incarnations of Madhukaidabhas. (See Kaidabha and Atikaya) To Brahma was born Vishravas and to him Kuber, who lruled Lanka. Vishravas was alone and once looked at Kuber in anger. Kuber understood the reason and in order to placate his father, Kuber appointed three maids to serve him – Raka, Malini and Pushpolkada. Vishrawas sired Ravana and Kumbhakarna from Pushpolkada, Vibhishana with Malini and Khara and Shurpanakha with Raka according to Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 275 verses 1-8.

Khara subsequently became a famous rakshasa warrior. When Ravana, Vibhishana and Kumbhakarna meditated for boons, they were looked after by Khara and Shurpanakha, as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 275. Khara had two brothers named Dushana, Trishiras as per Uttararamayana. When Rama, Lakshmana and Sita were staying in their hermitage in Dandakaranya, Shurpanakha arrived there one day and tried to make Rama and then, Lakshmana her husband. Lakshmana hacked her nose and ears and she went crying back to Khara, Dushana and Trishiras. They battled Rama and Lakshmana with 14000 soldiers. They were all killed by Rama and Lakshmana as per Ramayana Aranyakanda Sargas 19-30.

The eldest son of the suryavanshi king Vivamsha. He was a tyrant and was exiled as per Mahabharata Ashwamedhaparva Chapter 4.

A messenger sent by Vidura to the Pandavas in the lac house. It was he who told the Pandavas the exact night when Duryodhana planned to set fire to the house, as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 147.

Shiva. It was when the Naranarayanas meditated at Badaryashrama that Daksha’s famous yajna was conducted. Daksha did not invite his son-in-law Shiva and Shiva threw his trident at Daksha. After destroying the yajna, it sped towards Narayana’s chest. Its energy made Narayana’s hair go pale. (munja) Since then he was also known as Munjakesha. Narayana uttered a hunkara and stopped the trident, and it returned to Shiva.

Shiva became angry and started fighting Narayana. Nara sent an arrow to kill Shiva. The arrow became an axe (parashu) but Shiva broke it. It then became Shiva’s weapon. Shiva later gave it to his disciple Bhargavarama as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 49 verse 33. Shiva was thus named Khandaparashu as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 343 verses 159-167.