Tirunangur Tirukavalampadi

Narakasura was the son of Bhūmi Devī. Having allied himself with Bāṇāsura, Naraka became a force to be reckoned with. To show his power, Naraka had kidnapped 16001 maidens and was planning to offer them to Kamakya Devī. Naraka then attacked Amarāvatī, the heavenly capital of Indra. Naraka stormed into Amarāvatī and stole all of Indra's elephants, Varuṇa's Umbrella, and mother Aditi's earrings. As Naraka was to attack Indra, Indra mounted Airāvata and fled to Dvārakā to seek the help and protection of Lord Shree Krishna.

Indra narrated what had happened at Amarāvatī and asked Krishna to bring back Mother Aditi's earrings. Lord Krishna, along with Satyabhāma, mounts the Lord's vehicle, Garuḍa, and leaves for Pragjyothisham (modern-day Assam), the kingdom of Naraka.

To stop intruders from entering his kingdom, Naraka had set up elaborate traps to take care of any who was daring enough to try and challenge him. Lord Krishna destroyed all the traps that were laid one by one. The first trap was a divine boulder that would crush anyone who tried to enter the border. The Lord destroyed the boulder with his mace. The second trap was a swirling pit of fire that would rise and engulf anyone who passed the first trial. The Lord sent his Sudarshana Chakra into the pit.

The Chakra engulfed the flames and absorbed them. The last trap that was laid was a demon named Mura. Mura was the commander-in-chief of Naraka's army. Mura tried his best to keep the Lord at bay but was easily defeated. Following the death of Mura, his seven sons tried to avenge his death, but all of them were easily defeated. Finally, Naraka showed himself and had a long battle with the Lord. At the end of the battle, Lord Shree Krishna emerged victoriously. Naraka, in his dying breath, asked Krishna for a boon.

He asked that one day in a year, to let Gaṅgā reach everyone so that they can atone for the sins that might have been committed by them knowingly or unknowingly. Lord Krishna granted the boon and said that day would henceforth be referred to as Naraka Chaturdashi. After Naraka's death, the Lord freed all the maidens and is said to have married all of them to protect them. He also placed Naraka's son Bhagadatta on the throne of Pragjyothisham and recovered Indra's elephants, Varuṇa's umbrella, and mother Aditi's earrings.

When Lord Shree Krishna and Satyabhāma reached Tirukavalampadi, Satyabhāma is said to have asked the Lord to bring her the divine Parijatham flower. Thus, the Lord went back to Indra and asked that he spare a flower for the sake of Satyabhāma. Indra promptly refused, saying the divine flower does not belong on Bhūlokam. Lord Shree Krishna is then said to have defeated Indra and established a Parijatham garden here at this Kshethram.

Tirumangai Āzhwār – 10 Pāsurams