In a sloka in Vedanta Desika’s Yadavabhyudaya, Yoga Maya says to Kamsa, “I am the maya of the One who killed Madhu and Kaitabha.” This reference to Madhu and Kaitabha here, by Desika, is a masterstroke, said V.S. It reminds us of the Lord’s Hayagriva avatara and Durga’s role during that avatara. Hayagriva avatara is described in the Santi Parva of Mahabharata, and also in Devi Bhagavatam. They were able to do something so daring, because they had the protection of Yoga Maya (Durga). It is to remind us of this important avatara that Desika’s sloka has Durga mentioning the two asuras.

Source: The Hindu June 28, 2021 16:18 UTC