Word

Madhu - Kaitabha

Sanskrit

मधु कैटभ

IAST

madhu kaiṭabha

In General

Madhu and Kaitabha are the first Asuric forces. When Brahma started creating the Universe they started destroying the creation of Brahma. Madhu and Kaitabha is always shown besides the Ananthasayana of Vishnu.

Purana

In the beginning there was no earth nor any other planet. There was only the Miky Ocean, the Palazhi. Mahavisnu slept over the water. From the navel of Mahavisnu the stalk of a lotus grew up and there was a lotus flower at the end of the stalk. Brahma was born in the lotus flower. Brahma stayed in the flower in deep meditation reciting the Vedas. Ear-wax flowed out from both the ears of Mahavisnu. From the ear-wax two Asuras Madhu and Kaitabha were born.

Madhu and Kaitabha learned Vagbija mantra and worshipped Devi for thousand years. They got the boon that they can have death only when they wished. Madhu Kaitabhas saw Brahma lying in the lotus flower reciting the four Vedas. They caught hold of all the Vedas and went to Patala, (the nether world) and hid themselves there. Brahma grew sad at the loss of the Vedas and followed Madhu-Kaitabhas, who began to attack Brahma. At this Brahma became terribly afraid of the Asuras and ran to Mahavisnu for help.

According to the request of Brahma, Mahavisnu fought with Madhu and Kaitabha. The fight went on for a long time and Visnu became tired of continuous fight. So, Visnu began to meditate on Devi, who said "It would never be possible for you to kill Madhu and Kaitabha because of my boon. They could be killed only by some tricks". Hearing these words Mahavisnu approached the Asuras and said to them. "I am much pleased with you. So you may ask for any boon." Hearing this they laughed and said that they were more powerful than Visnu and that he might ask of them any boon. Taking that opportunity Mahavisnu said "Oh ! powerful persons. I ask you to grant me this boon. Give me the boon to kill you." This request shook them. They gave the boon that they are willing to be killed at any place except water. Since everywhere it is water, they thought they will never die. Mahavisnu instantly raised his thighs which were enlarged to a great extent over the water as solid earth seeing which the Asuras enlarged their bodies to the extent of a thousand yojanas. But Mahavisnu enlarged his thighs further, caught hold of Madhu and Kaitabha, laid them on his thighs and cut off their heads with his discus. All the surface of the sea was covered with the medas (fat) of these Asuras. This medas of Madhu and Kaitabha collected itself into a lump and became the earth. So the earth got the name 'Medini'.