Asura

Asuras are titans or demons from the mythology of Hinduism and Buddhism. They are opposed to Devas, which are more angelic residents of Mount Sumeru.

Overview
Asuras are otherwise equal to divine devas, except that they retain craving for mortal passions. Their cravings alter them, and asuras are often portrayed in giant humanoid form with three heads that each have three faces, and either four or six arms. Sometimes they also have more monstrous characteristics, such as snouts and fangs.

Personality
There are both good and evil asuras, although evil ones are more common and good asuras seem to be something that existed at one point in the history rather than present time. Later asuras are more or less slaves to their pleasures, and retain traces of their divinity in proportyion to how well they keep their impulses in check.

Typically, asuras are greedy, proud, hateful and lie just for the sake of dishonesty. Essentially they worship their own ego, and seek pleasure in everything they do. Yet any amount of pleasure is never enough, and they envy devas who seem to have it all sorted out.

Sometimes an asura who has fallen to the bottom of their cravings can be said to be Rakshasas.

History
Originally asuras were equal or almost equal to devas. The only difference was their greater tendency to indulge in whatever they found pleasurable. Asuras were overthrown from their heaven by devas a long time ago. This was easy for devas, as all of asura were drunk by the time. Their kin was thrown down from Mount Sumeru, and have wanted to regain their status ever since. However, it is difficult for asuras to organize because of their addictions to various passions.

As time has gone by, the asuras have devolved by reveling in their passions. Now and then a gathering of asuras do attack their former heaven, but gates of Mount Sumeru are also guarded by creatures such as Garudas and Nagas.