 When the demon king Hiraṇyākṣa performed penance to please Shiva in order to beget a child, Shiva gifted the boy to him and named him Andhaka due to his blindness.After Hiraṇyākṣa's death by Vishnu, Andhaka became the new king, but was not regarded as an Asura since he was born of the Devas.Disowned by majority of his clan, he performed a severe penance to please Brahmā.