Taraka

In Hindu mythology, an extremely powerful demon, who endures such severe
physical asceticism (tapas) that he
receives a boon that he can be killed
only by a son of the god Shiva. This
boon seems to make Taraka invulnerable because at the time, Shiva is lost in
meditation and is still grieving for his
dead wife Sati. For a long time Taraka
grows more powerful and more arrogant
until he is eventually able to defeat the
gods in battle and exile them from heaven.
In their despair the gods turn to the god
of love, Kama, and beg him to shoot
Shiva with an arrow of desire so that he
689
Taraka
will marry the goddess Parvati, and thus
make it possible to bring about Taraka’s
death. Shiva, however, destroys Kama
before he can shoot, burning him to ash
with a stream of fire from his third eye.
Shiva later marries Parvati, and their
son, Skanda, kills Taraka in battle.