ARTICLE
BAKASURA: THE MAN, THE
MYTH, THE MONSTER
By Andrew Munro
Recently Bakasura got a facelift. No easy task for something with as monstrous a
head and as many gnashing teeth as him, but he got one nonetheless.
C
onsequently, some people
hero decides to eat all the food in
take the form of a giant bird to do
who were fans of Baka
the cart. To you and I, this might
so. No one knows why. Maybe he
in his previous state wonder why.
seem like nothing more than a
thought Isis looked rather dashing
The answer may or may not be
quick path to severe intestinal
with her feathers and decided
found in mythology. There are
distress at a most inopportune
to give that a try. Fortunately for
several tales of Bakasura from
time, but apparently we just don’t
humanity, but not so for Baka,
ancient legends, and while no two
have the stomach for demon
things didn’t go well for him. It’s
are alike they’re all clear on one
warfare, because the hero’s ploy
another lesson you can learn from
thing: His relentless hunger, his
worked. Firstly, Bakasura was
– don’t underestimate your foe.
gaping maw and his fondness for
weakened by the lack of food.
Bakasura simply swooped down,
chewing people up, bones and all.
His relentless, aching hunger
and seeing the bite sized morsel
In one story Bakasura is
is the source of his speed and
that was the child-god, decided
the name given to a demon that
strength, but without being
the easiest thing to do would be to
terrorises a small village.