From davidgodman.org Krauncha was one of the lieutenants of the asura Taraka, who was the younger brother of Surapadma. Krauncha used to assume the form of a mountain, with many paths leading to it. When passers-by, particularly sadhus and sages, came near, Krauncha would kill them. The sage Agastya, who was travelling near the mountain, avoided the fate of the other sages by intuitively understanding ahead of time the danger of going near Krauncha. He cursed the asura, telling him that he would have to remain in the shape of the mountain until he was destroyed by the vel of Murugan. When Murugan led the deva army on his southward march to attack Surapadma, he encountered Krauncha en route and destroyed him with his vel. Krauncha represents the mount of karma that cannot be moved or destroyed by any force other than the vel, the jnana-sakti of the Lord. Surapadma represents the ego and the state of ignorance in general. Both have to be eradicated by the 'glance of grace'. ...