Nivatakavacha

In Hindu mythology, the Nivatakavachas निवतकवच are a celestial race of Asura demons, living deep under the oceans. Their name is Sanskrit for "of practical application - layer - garment" or similar.

They are extremely powerful in magic and mysticism and warfare, have powerful weapons, and perpetrate evil, but also are glorious and legendary beings. The Devas under Indra cannot overcome them despite repeated battles.

In the Ramayana, they strike an alliance with Ravana, after Ravana is unable to defeat them.

They are finally vanquished and destroyed entirely by Arjuna, the hero of the epic Mahabharata, who is asked to do so by his father Indra.

Modern theories

Some proponents of ancient astronaut theories (taking note of their name, as nir-vata-kavacha निर्वतकवच, can be translated with various meanings including "no-air-garment") theorized that this referred to aliens in spacesuits. ^[1].

See Also

• Daityas
• Danavas
• Kalakeyas
• List of Asuras

References

1. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://us.share.geocities.com/rigvedsamhita/amazingsciencesparttwo.htm&date=2009-10-25+04:39:59 (text search for "The Nivata-kavachas")

• The Ramayana
• The Mahabharata, translated by Kamala Subramaniam, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Press, 1977.