A Daitya king and the grandson of Prahalad, he is mentioned in a number of texts and myths within Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. He is a part of the Dashavatar legend of the Hindu god, Vishnu. Within Buddhism, he appears as an audience to the Buddha’s sermons and in a dialogue with the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. He is also one of the pravtivasudevas (anti-heroes) in Jain mythology. He is a prominent and celebrated figure in the southern Indian regions of Kerala and Tulunadu, particularly during the festival of Onam.