Story of Kṛtyā

(KṚTYAKĀ) I. A Rākṣasī who is born when the black arts as enunciated in the Atharvaveda are practised to annihilate enemies. Kṛtyā may appear in male form too. Some of the activities of Kṛtyā are given below.

Carried off Duryodhana.

While the Pāṇḍavas were living in exile in the forest, Duryodhana and others went in a procession to the forest. Though Duryodhana was taken into captivity in the forest by a Gandharva, Arjuna saved him out of fraternal consideration for him. Duryodhana returned to Hastināpura. Now the question was whether half of the kingdom should be given to the Pāṇḍavas or not. Śakuni and others advised Duryodhana to give it, but the latter remained adamant against it. Dhṛtarāṣṭra decided to end his life and for the purpose spread darbha grass on earth and sat thereon. The Asuras heard about these developments and created a Kṛtyā by mantras. The Kṛtyā took Duryodhana to Pātāla where the Asuras advised him against any compromise with the Pāṇḍavas. On the other hand they wanted him to intensify his hatred against the Pāṇḍavas, and they assured him all support. After that Kṛtyā took Duryodhana back to Hastināpura. (Vana Parva, Chapter 252).

Kṛtyā born under the name Madana.

Devendra once prevented the Aśvinīdevas from drinking Soma juice.

(Devas drink a liquid-liqueur extracted from the soma creeper, during yajñas, and that is called Somapāna). Aggrieved at the orders of Indra the Aśvinīdevas wandered about the world in the course of which they approached sage Cyavana of the Bhārgava family. They restored sight to the blind Cyavana, who, in return, assured them that he would see to it that they got the right of drinking soma juice. Cyavana began a Yajña and Indra came for Somapāna. The sage invited the Aśvinīdevas also for Somapāna. Indra prevented them from doing so, and the sage opposed him. Then Indra drew his Vajrāyudha against Cyavana. The sage made Indra’s hands paralysed. Further, he raised from the Yājñic fire a Kṛtyā which appeared in male form under the name Madana. Sharp molar teeth hundred yojanas long, other teeth each ten yojanas long, hands ten thousand yojanas long and as big as mountains, round eyes like the Sun and Moon, mouth spitting fire—such was Madana, the Kṛtyā, a really terrible being. Frightened at the sight of the terrible being Indra permitted the Aśvinīdevas to drink Soma.

Kṛtyā against Ambarīṣa.

Ambarīṣa once began the Ekādaśī Vrata and the Devas deputed Durvāsas to obstruct it somehow or other. Durvāsas came to Ambarīṣa, who requested him to return after bath. But, though the vrata was over the sage did not return and Ambarīṣa fed the Devas with the offerings (havis). Immediately after that Durvāsas returned and complained that what he was given was the left-overs of the havis, By means of black art he created a Kṛtyā, who charged against Ambarīṣa’s throat. Ambarīṣa prayed and the Sudarśana Cakra of Viṣṇu appeared and killed the Kṛtyā and drove Durvāsas round the three worlds. At last the sage sought refuge with Ambarīṣa himself and thus saved himself. (Bhāgavata, 9th Skandha).

Kṛtyā opposed Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

While Kṛṣṇa was ruling Dvārakā, Pauṇḍrakavāsudeva was the King of Kārūṣa. Once he sent a messenger to ask Kṛṣṇa to go and bow down before him as he was the real Vāsudeva. Enraged at this insolent demand Kṛṣṇa cut off Pauṇḍraka’s head with the Sudarśana Cakra. The dead King’s son, Sudakṣiṇa, to gather power enough to fight Kṛṣṇa went to Kāśī and performed penance to please Śiva. Śiva appeared and taught him the method of creating Kṛtyā. Accordingly he created from fire, a Kṛtyā, who dashed against Kṛṣṇa roaring like hell. Kṛṣṇa used the Sudarśana Cakra, which burnt to death not only the Kṛtyā, but also Sudakṣiṇa.

Kṛtyā against Prahlāda.

To change the nature of Prahlāda, a great devotee of Viṣṇu, his father Hiraṇyakaśipu deputed Asura preceptors. But, severe punishments like poisoning, throwing into fire etc. did not succeed in changing the devotee’s character. At last, the preceptors raised Kṛtyā from fire. The Śūlam, which Kṛtyā thrust against the throat of Prahlāda was broken into hundreds of pieces. Kṛtyā then got angry and turned against the preceptors, who had sent her against Prahlāda. The preceptors fell down unconscious on the verge of death. But, Prahlāda touched their bodies and they became alive again. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Part 1, Chapter 18).