Gayāsura
/ɡəˈjɑː.sʊ.rə/noun
A powerful demon in Hindu mythology whose body became the sacred pilgrimage site of Gaya after being subdued by Vishnu.
Did you know?According to Hindu tradition, Gayāsura’s body became the sacred ground of Gaya, with Vishnu’s footprint believed to remain impressed in the earth.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-Iranian
PII
*asuras
“A powerful or divine being; the precise original sense is debated.”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
asura
“A powerful supernatural being, later increasingly associated with an opponent of the gods.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Gayāsura
“The name of a formidable asura, or demon-like supernatural being.”
Medieval Hindu tradition
Sanskrit
Gayāsura
“The demon whose body was subdued by Vishnu and became the sacred land of Gaya.”
Modern English
English
Gayāsura
“A proper name used in English-language discussions of Hindu mythology and the sacred geography of Gaya.”
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