Editing Asura (section)

==Etymology==

=== Traditional etymologies ===
Asura is a given name by Devas to other races collectively as ''Asura'' means'' not-sura'', where ''sura'' is another name for Devas.

The 5th century Buddhist philosopher, [[Buddhaghosa]] explains that their name derives from the myth of their defeat at the hands of the god [[Śakra (Buddhism)|Śakra]]. According to the story, the asura were dispossessed of their state in [[Trāyastriṃśa]] because they became drunk and were thrown down [[Mount Sumeru]]. After this incident, they vowed never to drink [[Sura (alcoholic drink)|sura]] again. In some Buddhist literature, they are sometimes referred to as ''pūrvadeva'' (Pāli: ''pubbadeva''), meaning "ancient gods."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Malalasekera |first1=G.P. |url=http://www.aimwell.org/DPPN/asura.html |title=Dictionary of Pali Proper Names |date=2007 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |isbn=978-81-208-3020-2 |chapter=Asurā}}</ref>

=== Modern theories ===
[[Monier-Williams]] traces the etymological roots of ''asura'' ({{Langx|sa|असुर|label=none}}) to ''asu'' ({{Langx|sa|असु|label=none}}), which means 'life of the spiritual world' or 'departed spirits'.<ref name="monier">Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary" Etymologically and Philologically Arranged to cognate Indo-European Languages, Motilal Banarsidass, page 121</ref>

In the oldest verses of the [[Samhita]] layer of Vedic texts, the ''Asuras'' are any spiritual, divine beings including those with good or bad intentions, and constructive or destructive inclinations or nature.<ref name="monier" /> In later verses of the Samhita layer of Vedic texts, Monier Williams states the ''Asuras'' are "evil spirits, demons and opponents of the gods". Asuras connote the chaos-creating evil, in [[Indo-Aryans#Religion|Indo-Iranian]] mythology about the battle between good and evil.<ref name="monier" />

According to Finnish Indologist [[Asko Parpola]], the word ''Asura'' was borrowed from [[Proto-Indo-Aryan language|Proto-Indo-Aryan]] into [[Proto-Uralic language|Proto-Uralic]] during an early period of contact, in the form *asera-, showing a meaning "lord, prince".<ref name="asko">Asko Parpola (2015), The Roots of Hinduism: The Early Aryans and the Indus Civilization, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0-19-022692-3}}, pages 114-116</ref>