Mahisha-Asura

Mahisha-Asura is one of the epic demons of Hinduisim and is found in the Markandeya Purana a sacred Hindo text. His basic form is of a buffalo, but he is a champion shape-shifter and has been seen as a lion, elephant, human and amazingly has becmome a million multiples of himself. This instantaneous cloning once creatved a nearly invincible army which set all the gods into hiding for a while.

Mahisha-Asura was born of mother buffalo (mahisha) and father demon (asura). The water buffalo, known for its great lust, stupidity, laziness, and mud-bathing indolance gave Mahisha his attributes, and his father unusually malevolent gave him his disposistion. The buffalo is also seen as a symbol of Death.