Asuras: Cultural Interpretations, Historical Evolution, and Religious Transformation

This study explores the historical evolution and cultural interpretations of the term “Asura” across Vedic, post-Vedic, and Indo-Iranian traditions. By examining early Vedic literature, Puranic mythology, and comparative Indo-Iranian religious concepts, the paper analyzes how the meaning of Asura transformed from a title of divine authority to a category of mythological adversaries in later traditions.