Banasura

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Banasura (बाणासुर) or Bana was a thousand-armed Asura and son of Bali. Banasur was a powerful and great Asura. Non Aryan Kings in that age were termed as Asuras or daityas. All people even the king of earth and Devas of heaven were afraid of him. Bana was a follower of Shiva.

Places after Banasura

There are various places having association with Banasura:

1. Sonitpur is a district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters is located at Tezpur. The name Sonitpur as well as Tezpur literally means "the city of blood". It reminds of the romantic legend of Usha and Anirudha. Banasura ruled with his capital at Sonitpur. .

2. Bayana is tahsil place in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. Its ancient name was Banapura (बाणपुर) which is associated with Banasura and his daughter Usha. Ukha temple is a monument of Usha. An inscription of 956 AD obtained from Usha Temple mentions name of the ruler as Laxman Sen. Usha was a daughter of the king Banasura and wife of Aniruddha, grandson of Lord Krishna. Aniruddha and Usha's son Vajra is ancestor of Bharatpur Sinsinwar Jat rulers.

3. Bana Tirtham : There is a waterfall and place called Bana Tirtham in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu. There is mention of Bana Chieftains along with Pallavas and as feudatory of Cholas in Tamil Nadu.

Jat Gotras from Banasura

• Bana (Jat clan): The word Bāṇeya is used for the adherents of Banasura. The present Bana clan may be identified with them. Bana clan people are descendants of King Banasura.

History

The ancient Multan city of Punjab is known by different names, but one of its oldest name according to Cunningham, was Kashyappur . It was founded by Kashyapa. After Kashyapa, his eldest son, Daitya Hiran Kashyapa born from Diti, succeeded him. After him his son Prahlad and later his son Banasura, became the heir of the Kingdom of Kashyapa. At the same time Krishna killed Banasura and later Krishna's son Samba became the king of Kashyapapur.

Legends about Banasura

There are several legends associated with Banasura.

1. The name Sonitpur as well as Tezpur literally means "the city of blood". It reminds of the romantic legend of Usha and Anirudha. The legend revolves around Banasura, the great Asura king of ancient Tezpur, his beautiful daughter Usha and her friend Chitralekha. The princess saw a handsome prince in her dreams and fell in love with him. Chitralekha, a talented artist, not only painted his portrait from Usha's description but recognised him to be Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord Krishna and ruler of Dwarka. Using her magical powers, Chitralekha spirited Aniruddha away to the princess' boudoir where the two married each other according to Gandharva rites, without the knowledge of the king. When Banasura learnt of the clandestine romance, he imprisoned Aniruddha, which led to the arrival of Lord Krishna to rescue his grandson. A fierce battle followed and the entire city was drenched in human blood, hence the name Sonitpur or Tezpur, i.e. ‘the city of blood’ . The story of eternal love between Usha and Aniruddha finds expression in many stories, novels, dramas, dance-dramas, movies.

2. According to a legend, Banasura had obtained a boon from Lord Shiva that he could be vanquished only by a virgin, unable to bear the harassment of the asura king, Shakti, the supreme Goddess was requested by the Devas to destroy Banasura who was creating havoc on the inhabitants of this world. In Shakti appeared as a young virgin girl at Kanyakumari and commenced penance in answer to their Prayers.

3. Another legend is that Sthanunatha (a form of Shiva) god of Suchindram, a nearby town located 12 km from Kanya Kumari, desired to marry the virgin goddess. Other gods became apprehensive that the marriage would result into the goddess losing her power. Narada schemed to resolve the problem. The marriage was fixed to be solemnized just before the daybreak. When Shiva's procession reached a site by name Vazhukkumpaarai, a rooster crowed, heralding daybreak, and that Shiva assuming that the auspicious hour was past, returned to Suchindram. All the food prepared for the wedding was laid waste and that it turned into the colored sand seen on the southern shores of the subcontinent.

Meanwhile, Banasura heard about the beauty of the girl and came to request her hand in marriage. When Devi rejected the idea, Banasura decided to win her by force. This led to a fierce battle in which the goddess killed Banasura.

In Ramayana

The Ramayana Bala Kanda Sarga 70 gives Ikshvaaku's lineage details. It provides in shloka 23 that from the most brilliant and courageous Vikukshi, Bana emerged as son, and the highly refulgent and valinat Anaranya is the son of Bana... [1-70-23]

21. Manu is the earliest Prajaapati and Ikshvaaku is the son of Manu, and that Ikshvaaku is the first king of Ayodhya... know thus... [1-70-21]

22. The son of Ikshvaaku is the legendary Kukshi, thus he is renowned, and the famous Vikukshi is the son of Kukshi... [1-70-22]

23. From that most brilliant and courageous Vikukshi, Bana emerged as son, and the highly refulgent and valinat Anaranya is the son of Baana... [1-70-23]

In Mahabharata

Banas are descendents of King Banasura. Their capital was at Bayana in Bharatpur. The princess of Bayana was Usha married to Anirudha. There is a temple at Bayana constructed in memory of Usha. Virkvansi Jats and Sinsinwar Jats of Bharatpur later on occupied Bayana.

Shalya Parva, Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 44 mentions about Bana along with Gaina, hasana and khadaga warriors who came to the ceremony for investing Kartikeya with the status of generalissimo. (Mahabharata IX.44.62)

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Shalya Parva, Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 45 mentions that then Bali's son Bana of great might, getting upon the Krauncha mountain, battled with the celestial host. Possessed of great intelligence, the great generalissimo Skanda rushed against that foe of the gods. From fear of Kartikeya, he took shelter within the Kraunca mountain:(Mahabharata IX.45.71)

Genealogy of Banasura

The genealogy of Banasura is as under:

Brahma's (ब्रह्मा) son was Paricha'

Paricha's (परीच) son was Kashyapa, Kashyapa's (कश्यप) son was Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha,

Hiranyakashipu's (हिरण्यकश्यप) youngest son was Prahlada,

Prahlada's (प्रहलाद) son was Virochana,

Virochana's (विरोचन) son was Bali,

Bali's (बलि) son was Banasura Banasura's wife's name was Kandala (कन्दला).

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Brahma → Paricha → Kashyapa → Hiranyakashipu (+ Hiranyaksha) → Hiranyakashipu's youngest son was Prahlada → Virochana → Bali → Banasura

Usha in love with Aniruddha

Banasura had a beautiful daughter named Usha. When Usha became young, number of proposals came for her marriage but Banasura accepted none. Wary, that Usha might fall in love with men other than his choice, he kept Usha in a formidable fortress called 'Agnigarh 'with her friends. Usha one day saw a young man in her dream and fell in love with him. Chitralekha was a friend of Usha and daughter of Kumbhada, minister of Banasura. She was a talented artist who helped Usha to identify the young man seen in the dream of Usha by painting the portrait. He was Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord Krishna. Chitralekha through supernatural powers abducted Aniruddha from the palace of Krishna and brought him to Usha. Usha and Aniruddha secretly married and lived together as husband and wife in the Agnigarh.

War of Banasura with Krishna

When Banasur came to know about it, He arrested Aniruddha and had him tied with snakes. When Krishna knew it, he came with a huge army and attacked Banasura. This was Krishna's second visit to Assam, the first being when He came to abduct Rukmini, his wife. There was a severe battle. Banasura was a follower of Shiva. In this war Rudra fought with Krishna, Virabhadra with Pradyumna, Kopakarna and Kumbhada with Balarama, Banasur's son with Samba and nandishwar with Garuda. Shiva helped Banasura by spreading bacteria of fever in the army of Krishna, which made his army unable to fight. Krishna in turn created anti-bacteria to kill bacteria spread by Shiva. All soldiers of Krishna’s army got healed up and became ready to fight. The war continued for long without any conclusion. Krishna then approached Shiva and reminded him of his earlier commitment. Shiva advised Krishna to use Jambhastra on him which would lead Shiva to sleep and Krishna could defeat Banasura. This way Banasura was defeated. When Krishna defeated Siva in battle, he spared Bana's life on Shiva's request but cut off all but four of his arms. Shiva got compromised both. Krishna excused Bana. He married Usha with Aniruddha and brought them to dwaraka.

Banasura moved to Himalayas and devoted his life in worship of Shiva.

Banasura probably founded his capital at Sonitpur after this war.

Descendants of Banasura

Bana is a gotra of Jats found in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in India. Banas are descendants of King Banasura. Their capital was at Bayana in Bharatpur. Usha temple, at Bayana, was built during the reign of Raja Laxman Sen, by his wife in memory of Usha. There is mention of Bana Chieftains along with Pallavas and as feudatory of Cholas in Tamil Nadu.

Shonitapura

Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर) or simply Śoṇita is the name of an ancient town, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.15 (“The penance and reign of Tārakāsura”).—Accordingly, after Tāraka requested boons from Brahmā: “O excellent sage, thus requested by that demon, I granted him two boons and hastened back to my abode. Securing the excellent boon in accordance with his cherished desire, the demon was very glad and went to the town Śoṇita [i.e., śoṇitapura—śoṇitākhyapuraṃ]. That great demon was crowned the king of the three worlds with the permission of Śukra, the preceptor of the demons. [...]”.

Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर).—The capital city of Bāṇāsura. This city was protected by Śiva, Kārttikeya, Bhadrakālī, Agni and other divinities. In the battle between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Bāṇa, the former defeated all the sentries and entered the city through the northern gate. Within the fort, Bāṇa was defeated. Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Dākṣinātya Pāṭha, Chapter 38 mentions that Śrī Kṛṣṇa released Aniruddha and Uṣā from their prison.

Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर).—Built by Maya at the command of Bhaṇḍa; a city of Bāṇa; visit of Jarāsandha to: Aniruddha taken to; besieged by the Vṛṣṇis when Bāṇa had imprisoned Aniruddha, and Nārada reported it to them. Bāṇa's army beaten back into the city.

शोणितपुर

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ...1. शोणितपुर (AS, p.912): प्राचीन किंवदंती के अनुसार महाभारत में ऊषा-अनिरुद्ध उपाख्यान के संबंध में वर्णित ऊषा के पिता बाणासुर की राजधानी। कहा जाता है कि कृष्ण के पौत्र अनिरुद्ध ने ऊषा का हरण इसी स्थान पर किया था और यहीं उनका बाणासुर से युद्ध हुआ था। महाभारत, सभापर्व 38 में बाणासुर को शोणितपुर का राजा कहा गया है- 'तस्माल्लबध्वा वरान् बाणो दुर्लभान् स सुरैरपि, स शोणितपुरे राज्यं चकाराप्रतिमो बली।' इस पुरी का वर्णन उपरोक्त अध्याय में (दाक्षिणात्यपाठ) इस प्रकार है- 'अथासाद्य महाराज तत्पुरीं ददृशुश्च ते, ताम्रप्रकार संवीतां रूप्यद्वारैश्च शोभिताम्, हेमप्रासाद सम्बाधां मुक्तामणिविचित्रिताम उद्यानवनसम्पन्नं नृत्तगीतैश्च शोभिताम्। तोरणैः पक्षिभिः कीर्णा पुष्करिण्या च शोभिताम् तां पुरीं स्वर्गसंकाशां हृष्टपुष्ट जनाकुलाम्।'

विष्णुपुराण 5, 33, 11 में भी बाणासुर की राजधानी शोणितपुर में बताई गई है- 'तं शोणितपुरं नीतं श्रुत्वा विद्याविदग्धया।'

शोणितपुर का अभिज्ञान कुछ विद्वानों ने असम की वर्तमान राजधानी गोहाटी से किया है। इसको प्राग्ज्योतिषपुर [p.913]: भी कहा जाता था।

श्रीमद्भागवत 10, 62, 4 में ऊषा-अनिरुद्ध की कथा के प्रसंग में शोणितपुर को बाणासुर की राजधानी बताया गया है- 'शोणिताख्ये पुरे रम्ये स राज्यमकरोत्पुरा, तस्य शंभोः प्रसादेन किंकरा इव तेऽमराः।' ऊषा की सखी सोते हुए अनिरुद्ध को द्वारिका से योग क्रिया द्वारा उठाकर शोणितपुर ले आई थी- 'तत्र सुप्तं सुपर्यंके प्राद्युम्निं योगमास्थिता गृहीत्वा शोणितपुरं सख्यै प्रियमदर्शयत्।' श्रीमद्भागवत 10, 62, 23

2. शोणितपुर (AS, p.913) = Sojat (सोजत)

3. शोणितपुर (AS, p.913) = इटारसी, म.प्र. से 30 मील दूर सोहागपुर रेल स्टेशन के निकट शोणितपुर स्थित है। स्थानीय जनश्रुति में इस स्थान को बाणासुर की राजधानी बताया जाता है। नर्मदा नदी ग्राम के निकट बहती है।

बयाना, जिला भरतपुर

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है .....बयाना, जिला भरतपुर, राज., (AS, p.607): इस स्थान का प्राचीन नाम 'बाणपुर' कहा जाता है। इसके अतिरिक्त, इसके अन्य नाम 'वाराणसी', 'श्रीप्रस्थ' या 'श्रीपुर' भी उपलब्ध हैं।

किंवदन्ती के अनुसार वाणपुर का सम्बन्ध बाणासुर तथा उसकी कन्या ऊषा से बताया जाता है। ऊखा मन्दिर ऊषा का ही स्मारक कहा जाता है। 956 ई. के एक अभिलेख में, जो ऊखा मन्दिर से प्राप्त हुआ था, यहाँ के राजा लक्ष्मण सेन का उल्लेख है। एक अन्य अभिलेख बाबर के समय का (934 हिजरी या 1527 ई.), जिससे इस वर्ष में [p.608]: बाबर का बयाना पर अधिकार सूचित होता है। अवश्य ही बाबर के हाथ में यह प्रदेश राणा संग्राम सिंह के कनवाहा के युद्ध (1527 ई.) में पराजित होने पर आया होगा। बाबर के सेनापति महमूद अली का महल भीतरवाड़ी में अब भग्नावस्था में है।

महमूद अली के प्रधानमंत्री अजब सिंह भांवरा थे, जो जाति के ब्राह्मण बताए जाते हैं। इनके नाम से बयाना में भांवरा गली प्रसिद्ध है। इस गली में अजब सिंह के बनवाए हुए चौका महल, गिदोरिया कूप तथा अनासागर बाबड़ी आज भी वर्तमान में हैं।

बयाना बहुत समय तक जाट रियासत भरतपुर की रिज़ामत (ज़िला) था। हाल ही में 1137 ई. (1194 वि. सं.) का एक अभिलेख पाल नरेशों के समय का मागरौल नामक ग्राम से प्राप्त हुआ है, जो इस प्रकार है— संवत् 1194 अगहन स्वस्ति श्री ठाकुर साहू राम कील माहड़ ग्राम भाँगसरुवास हर्डखे श्री देवहज श्री पाल लिखी मिति 3'।

यहाँ के पाल नरेशों में विजयपाल प्रसिद्ध है। इन्हीं के नाम से स्थापित विजय मंदिर गढ़ आज भी भग्नावस्था में यहाँ स्थित है. विजयपाल के पुत्र तिहिनपाल के तीन पुत्र थे, जो पाल भाई नाम से प्रसिद्ध हुए। 1243 विक्रम संवत=1186 ई. का एक अन्य हिन्दी अभिलेख भी यहाँ पर मिला है।

बाना जाटवंश

दलीप सिंह अहलावत के अनुसार बाना चन्द्रवंशी जाटवंश सुप्रसिद्ध नरेश बाणासुर के नाम से प्रचलित हुआ। बयाना, जो जिला भरतपुर में है, इस वंश के क्षत्रियों की राजधानी थी। यहां की राजकुमारी उषा का विवाह श्रीकृष्ण जी के पौत्र तथा प्रद्युम्न के पुत्र अनिरुद्ध से हुआ था। उषा का स्मृति मन्दिर बयाना में आज भी विद्यमान है। बाद में इस नगर पर वरिक² (जाटवंश) और फिर सिनसिनवारों (जाटों) का आधिपत्य स्थिर हुआ।

बाना जाटों का राज्य भारतवर्ष की पश्चिमी सीमा पर भी रहा है। जाट्स दी ऐनशन्ट् रूलर्ज पृ० 224 पर बी० एस० दहिया ने लिखा है कि “अहलावत व बाना जाट भारतीय सीमा पर शत्रु को रोकने वाले द्वारपाल थे।” (हवाला अलबुरुनीज् इण्डिया बाई सचाऊ पृ० 193)।

यह बाना वंश शुद्ध वैदिकधर्मी रहा। सिक्खों और मुसलमानों में इनकी सत्ता नहीं है। अजमेर के समीप व्यावर में, जिला बीकानेर में भदानार, कड़ियार, खाण्डा, जिला मेरठ में गिरधरपुर, चित्तौली, चंदौड़ी आदि गांव बाना जाटों के हैं।

बाना लोग बानगंगा (बयाना क्षेत्र) के किनारे से उठकर ईरान देश में गये। वहां जाकर बस्ती आबाद की जहां उनके नाम पर वहां की नदी का नाम बाना नदी पड़ गया³।

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1. जाटों का उत्कर्ष पृ० 330, लेखक योगेन्द्रपाल शास्त्री।

2. देखो तृतीय अध्याय वरिक वंश प्रकरण।

3. जाट इतिहास (उत्पत्ति और गौरव खण्ड) पृ० 150 लेखक ठा० देशराज।

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जाट वीरों का इतिहास: दलीप सिंह अहलावत, पृष्ठान्त-305

बानपुर

बानपुर टीकमगढ़ ज़िला, मध्य प्रदेश में स्थित एक ऐतिहासिक स्थान है। यह टीकमगढ़ से 4 मील की दूरी पर स्थित है। यहाँ पर जमडार और जामनेर नदियों का संगम स्थल है। यह माना जाता है कि पुराणों में प्रसिद्ध बाणासुर की राजधानी इसी स्थान पर स्थित थी। बाणासुर की कन्या ऊषा का विवाह श्रीकृष्ण के पौत्र अनिरुद्ध से हुआ था, जिसकी कथा श्रीमद्भागवत 10, 62 में है। बानपुर में मध्य कालीन बुंदेलखंड की वास्तुकला के उदाहरण कई सुंदर मंदिरों के अवशेषों के रूप में उपस्थित हैं।

जाटों का विदेशों में जाना

ठाकुर देशराज ने लिखा है .... उत्तरोत्तर संख्या वृद्धि के साथ ही वंश (कुल) वृद्धि भी होती गई और प्राचीन जातियां मे से एक-एक के सैंकड़ों वंश हो गए। साम्राज्य की लपेट से बचने के लिए कृष्ण ने इनके सामने भी यही प्रस्ताव रखा कि कुल राज्यों की बजाए ज्ञाति राज्य कायम का डालो। ....द्वारिका के जाट-राष्ट्र पर हम दो विपत्तियों का आक्रमण एक साथ देख कर प्रभास क्षेत्र में यादवों का आपसी महायुद्ध और द्वारिका का जल में डूब जाना। अतः स्वभावतः शेष बचे जाटों को दूसरी जगह तलाश करने के लिए बढ़ना पड़ा। .... बाना लोगों ने ईरान के देश में जाकर बस्ती आबाद की जहां उनके नाम पर ही उस नदी का नाम मशहूर हो गया जिसके कि किनारे वे जाकर बसे थे। भारत में बाणगंगा के किनारे से उठकर गए थे जहां पर कि आजकल बयाना आबाद है। उषा इन्हीं लोगों की पुत्री थी। कृष्ण से लड़ने के कारण भक्त लोगों ने बान लोगों के सरदार को बाणासुर कहा है किंतु बात ऐसी नहीं है। कंस, बान, दंतवक्र यह सब चंद्रवंशी थे असुर नहीं थे। कुछ लोग मानते हैं कि स्कैंडेनेविया को बान के लड़के स्कंद ने आबाद किया था।

See also

• Bana
• Bana Kingdom

References

• Krishna.com. Glossary
• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dhallapiccola
• Acharya Chandra Shekhar Shastri: Puranon ki Anmol Kahanian, 2006 ISBN 81-902258-6-3