From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ilvala (Sanskrit: इल्वल) and Vatapi were asuras, the rulers of Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, was named after asura king Vatapi. According to the Mahābhārata, Vatapi ruled the area along with his brother Ilvala. Legend has it that both asuras were vanquished by the sage Agasthya. Ilvala and his brother Vatapi hated brahmanas implacably. Ilvala would invite a brahman to a feast at which he would serve the meat of the goat into which his brother had turned he. After the brahmin had partaken of the feast he would call his brother out who would rend his way back to life, tearing the belly of the guest.
