One-line: buffalo demon who thinks a woman can never be the loophole that kills him.
First appears: Book 5, in Book 5 retelling.
Who they are: Mahishasura is the buffalo demon at the center of Book 5’s most famous battle. He wins protection from male killers, conquers heaven, and assumes no woman could matter. The gods’ defeat becomes the stage for the Goddess’s warrior form.
What they do that matters:
- Gets a boon that makes him vulnerable only to a woman.
- Drives the gods out of heaven.
- Is killed by the lion-riding Goddess.
Other names: Mahisha
Family / lineage (when relevant): Not central for first-time reading.