Banasura was a great devotee of Shiva and as a result of a boon granted to him from the deity, had gained 1000 arms.

Intoxicated by his prowess, he observed to Shiva that he was the latter's equal, and that he had attempted to fight elephants, but the creatures had grown terrified of him.

Shiva, enraged by his words, spoke thus: 'Your flag will be broken, oh fool, when your pride is vanquished in a battle you have with someone like me.

Chitralekha, with her yogic powers and Anima Siddhi, shrunk Aniruddha to the size of a doll and brought him to Usha's palace.

Breaking her vow of chastity with him, she kept him hidden in her maiden quarters, and the lovers lost track of the days.

Catching wind of his daughter's activities, Banasura rushed to her chambers to find her playing dice with doll sized Aniruddha.

Even as the prince fended off the guards, Banasura subdued him with the mystical ropes of Varuna due to Aniruddha's shrunken state.

When the Yadu princes and their army besieged his kingdom with 12 akshauhinis, surrounding it completely, Banasura staged a fierce counterattack.

In a desperate attempt to save Banasura, Kothara, his mother, stood naked before Krishna with her hair dishevelled.

Obliging, Krishna replied that he had never intended to kill Banasura, since he was the son of Bali and the grandson of the devout Prahlada.

Banasura realised his mistake and bowed his head before Krishna, arranging for a chariot to seat Aniruddha and Usha for their wedding in Dvaraka.