Demon Gaya possessed the greatest strength and exploit among Asuras. His height is remembered to be one hundred and twentyfive Yojanas. *According to Rajendr&lal Mitra, the story ofGayasura is an allegory of the vanquishing of Buddhism by Brahmanism ( Bodha-Gaya pp. 14-18). O. Malley thought it to be an amalgamation of Brahmanism and popular demonolatry which preceded Brahmanism (JASB LXXII. iii. 7, 1904). B.M. Barua regards, this as an invention to impress the sanctity of the GayS range of hills (Gayd and Buddha Gaya, 1934). I agree with B. M. Barua as, while editing the Karavira M&hdtmya, a Sthalapur&na of Kolhapur, I found similar creation of stories to justify and glorify some rites etc. of Mah&laksml (vide Intro, toKarartra-Mdhdtmya, pp. 19-29, Pub. Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 1980) . I find the same claim in the Sthala Purapas of Pandharpur, Tirupathi.