The Rakshasas (The Demons) too felt the need to become immortal and one amongst them was Tarakasura. He performed severe penance to propitiate Lord Brahma and ask him to grant immortality. But lord Brahma granted him invincibility instead, with the exception of defeat from lord Shiva’s son Kumara.

Tarakasura knew about the demise of Dakshayani the erstwhile consort of Lord Shiva at her father Daksha’s Yagna and he also knew that Lord Shiva himself was in deep penance in the Himalayas. That Lord Shiva would again get married immediately and a son begot did not seem probable to Tarakasura and hence the prospect of his impending death at the hands of Kumara (Shiva’s son) did not frighten him. After receiving the boon of invincibility, Taraka became a tyrant causing trouble to one and all.

The Devas who had to bear the brunt of the newly acquired prowess of Taraka turned to Lord Vishnu for advice and protection. Lord Vishnu summoned Manmatha, and entrusted him with the dangerous task of breaking Lord Shiva’s penance and make him fall in love with Parvathi who was in the vicinity undertaking a severe penance to win over Lord Shiva. Manmatha arrived on the location and performed his task which eventually led him being reduced to ashes, when lord Shiva opened his third eye.

Lord Shiva after testing Parvathi’s love & devotion towards him in a few subtle ways married her. The birth of Kumara ensued and this led to the slaying of Tarakasura ending his tyranny.

Sutradhara: One who worships the God before and after the play.

Nati: Dancer who appears in the beginning to perform Aarati (worship with a pair of lamps) to Gods.

Taraka: The demon a tyrant who disturbed the humble people of the earth. He is the King of evil. He always wanted to annex the Kingdom of Gods.

Narada: The mediator between Gods and the Demons. He is the cause for the fights between Devas and Demons which favored the god and the good.

Indira: King of Heaven.

Rambha: The dancer in the court of Indra who tries to disturb the penance of Taraka.
Brahma: The four-headed God, who is the creator of the Universe.

Vishnu: The Protector and one among the Hindu trinity.

Shiva: One among the three supreme Gods the other two being Vishnu and Brahma. Shiva is the destroyer of evils.

Parvatha Raja: God and the King of the Mountains and father of Parvathi.

Parvathi: The wife of Lord Shiva.

Kumara: The son of Lord Shiva and Parvathi. Hero of the mythological episode, who kills Taraka.

Manmatha: The cupid who disturbs the penance of Lord Shiva. He is burnt into ashes when Shiva opens his third eye.
Saints: Sages who perform sacrifices by offering ghee to fire in the forest.