Also known as Simhika.

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

In a war between the devas and asuras, almost all the asuras were killed, but one escaped to the netherworld. Surasa was the daughter of the asura who escaped. Kashyapa married her and they had six children – two girls Simhika and Ajamukhi and four sons, Shurapadma, Simhavaktra, Tarakasura and Gomukha, according to Skandapurana Asurakanda.

Angaraka once battled with Hanuman. As part of the search for Sita, Sugriva sent a group of vanaras southwards, under the leadership of Hanuman. He also warned Hanuman about Angaraka, who lived in the southern seas and who also had the power to use a person’s shadow to drag him towards her. When Hanuman jumped towards Lanka from the Mahendra mountain, Angaraka attacked him. According to Ramayana Sundarakanda Sarga 1 verses 178-186, Hanuman felt as though he had been hit by a storm, such was Angaraka’s power. Soon Hanuman saw Angaraka who had a mouth that seemed like a portal to the netherworld. He was finally able to defeat  her and proceed to Lanka.