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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Hiraṇyapuram (हिरण्यपुरम्).—A city of the Daityas. The Daitya woman, Pulomā got the city for her children by tapas. Pulomā is called Kālakā also. (Certain Purāṇas aver that Kālakā was the sister of Pulomā). The children of Pulomā are known as Kālakeyas for whose safety and security she did tapas for 1000 years. And, when Brahmā asked her to choose any boon she desired, Pulomā said as follows:— "There should arise no reason or cause for my sons to feel sorrow in their life; Devas, snakes or Rākṣasas should not kill them and they must have a beautiful city to live in. Brahmā granted her all the boons. Hiraṇyapura was built by Brahmā for the Kālakeyas to live in. It was full of gems and it could easily travel in the sky.

When life became impossible for the Devas due to the depredations of the Kālakeyas, Indra brought Arjuna to Devaloka. As the Kālakeyas were granted the boon that they would not be killed by the Devas, Arjuna’s help had thus to be sought by Indra. Arjuna killed the Kālakeyas and destroyed Hiraṇyapura. (Vana Parva, Chapter 173). On one occasion Nārada gave a correct description of Hiraṇyapura to Mātali, the charioteer of Indra. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 100).

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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