Andhakāsura (Andhakasura) is a powerful Asura, who was slain by Rudraśiva (Rudrasiva). In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), the whole legend of Andhakāsura cannot be found. To describe a terrible battle between two powerful warriors, the allusion to the battle between Andhakāsura and Mahādeva (Mahadeva) has been mentioned several times — ‘pureva tramvakāndhakau, maheśvara ivāndhakam‘, ‘yathāndhake pratinihate haraṃ surāḥ’, ‘yathā rudreṇa cāndhakaḥ’

The legend of the slaying of Andhakāsura has been described in details in Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana). Once Andhakāsura tried to abduct goddess Pārvatī (Parvati), and as a result he had a terrible fight with Mahādeva. This battle took place in Āvantyadeśa (Avantyadesa), in the forest called Mahākāla (Mahakala). Mahādeva cast Pāśupata (Pasupata) astra at Andhaka, but Andhaka was not killed. But from the blood issued out of his body, many other Andhakāsura(s) were created. To ensure that the blood of Andhakāsura might not touch the earth, he created innumerable Mātṛkā(s) from his own body. These Mātṛkā(s) (Matrika; an order of lesser female deities) got exhausted by drinking the blood from Andhaka’s body, but he was not dead.

Then Nṛsiṃhadeva (Nrisimhadeva) created a goddess called Śuṣkarevatī (Sushkarevati). She started drinking the blood of Andhakāsura, and so his body became out of blood. Then Mahādeva killed the Andhakāsura and his associates. At the time of death, Andhaka offered obesience to Mahādeva. Being pleased, Mahādeva placed him among his associates. He had two sons called Āḍi (Adi) and Vaka.

In other Purāṇa(s) (Purana), the legend of Andhakāsura is described in further details. He was the son of Hiraṇyākṣa (Hiranyaksha), son of Kaśyapa (Kasyapa). Initially Andhakāsura was blind. However, his eyesight came back within the lifetime of Hiraṇyākṣa. Prahlāda (Prahlada), the king of demons, left the responsibility of ruling the demons at the hand of Andhaka, and went away to Vadarikāśrama for tapasyā (tapasya).