Subrahmanya (Skanda or Karttikeya), Son of Siva

Reference from Bhagavad-gita
1) Reason for birth
2) Birth of Subrahmanya
3) Coronation
4) Presents
5) Devasura war
6) Vow of celibacy
7) Marriage
8) Other information
Devasena
Kraunca
Kraunca mauntain

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Reference from Bhagavad-gita 10.24

senaninam aham skandah

Of generals I am Kartikeya (Skanda, son of Siva and Parvati)

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1) Reason for birth.

A son named Vajranga was born to Kasyapaprajapati by his wife Danu and he married a girl called Varangi. Vajranga performed penance to Brahma so that he might shed his asuric aspect. When he came out of his penance, Varangi was missing and he wandered about the forest in search of her. Finally he saw Varangi crying under a tree. When he asked her the reason for her weeping, she told him about harassments by Brahma during the thousand years when Vajranga was immersed in trance. Indra one day threw about the vessels used by her in worship, appearing before her in the guise of a monkey; on another occasion he threatened her in the form of a lion and on a third occasion he came disguised as a snake and bit on her legs. Very much grieved over the story Vajranga again took to penance with the grim determination to punish Indra and when Brahma appeared before him he prayed for the boon of a son who would surpass the Devas including Indrain prowess. Brahma granted him the boon. Varangi delivered a son twelve months after the boon. The child was christened Tarakasura.

Tarakasura, as a child, began practicing penance - and Brahma duly appeared before him and granted him the boon that if he were to die, he would die at the hands of a child only seven days old. Haughty over the boon Tarakasura very soon conquered the three worlds. The devas found no means to suppress the asura. Children would not be born to them and there was a reason for it. Once Siva and Parvati started the marital act and it did not come to a close even after a hundred divya-years, with the result that the world shook like anything. Frightened at this the Devas requested Siva to stop the act and he obliged them. Then he asked them who would bear the semen which had been discharged and they replied, "Let earth itself bear the semen. " Accordingly it was discharged on the earth. It filled and over-flowed forests and mountains. What next was the problem. Ultimately the Devas asked Agni (fire) to consume it. When Agni consumed and burnt it down absolutely, the ashes thereof formed into a white hill and it became a forest. Parvati did not at all relish the action of the devas and spoke to them thus: "You prevented my sexual intercourse entered into with the desire to have a son. Therefore, in future you will not have children by your wives. " Parvati cursed the earth also as follows: "You will become one of various forms and also a wife to many people. You, who prevented me from having a son, will not enjoy happiness from children. " (Valmiki Ramayana, Balakanda, Canto 36). Tarakasura could be killed only by a child not more than seven days old and the Devas realized that such a child could be begot only by Siva. It was the occasion when Siva was lamenting over the death of Sati and Parvati was doing penance to secure Siva as husband. None could stir Siva immersed in deep meditation and the Devas entrusted the responsibility for it to Kamadeva. Not only did Kama not succeed in the endeavor but also he got reduced to ashes by the fire from Siva's eyes. When Parvati's penance reached its climax Siva appeared before her and wedded her.

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2) Birth of Subrahmanya

Because of the power of Siva's semen consumed by Agni, his glow began getting diminished. Agni complained of it to the Devas who sent him over to Brahma. On his way to Brahma Agni met Gangadevi whom he told thus: "I can in no way bear this semen of Siva and if I get rid of it, it will burn the entire world. So, you please take charge of it so that you will have a noble son. Ganga's reply to this was simply to ask Agni to throw the semen into her waters and Agni did so. As the semen had remained with Agni for nearly 5000 years, his flesh, blood hair, eye etc. had become golden in color and hence Agni came to be called from that day onwards Hiranyaretas. Time passed by and the semen of Siva became a burden to Ganga. She complained about that to Brahma. Brahma asked her from whom she had received these men. Ganga detailed her story to him and concluded by saying that though it was 5000 years since Siva's semen was put into her, she did not. deliver yet. Then Brahma told her as follows: "You go to the Udaya mountain (where the sun rises). There is a forest there, a forest hundred crores of yojanas in extent, where Sara, a particular variety of grass (Saccharam munja Roxb) grows. You deposit the semen there and a male child will be born after 10, 000 years.

As directed by Brahma Ganga went to the Udaya mountain and deposited the foetus there through her mouth. By the power of Siva's semen all the trees and animals and birds in the forest became golden in color. When 10, 000 years were completed a child, as effluents the rising sun, was born and Subrahmanya was the child. The child cried in a thunderous voice and six divine Krttikas who came that way saw the child and taking pity on it vied with one another to breast-feed it. Since the child looked at the six Krttikas one after the other it developed six faces and since it was breast-fed by Krttikas it came to be named Karttikeya as well. Brahma informed Agni about the birth of the child and the latter, in great happiness, hastened to it on a fast goat. Ganga who met Agni on the way and asked him about his hurried trip was told about the birth of the child and between the two developed an argument about the ownership of the child. Mahavisnu who came that way just then listened to the above argument and directed them to Siva for settlement of their claims. Agni and Ganga asked Siva to which of them the child really belonged Siva then told Parvati "Fortunate, fortunate." Only after seeing the child could it be decided as to whose it was and so Siva, Parvati, Agni and Ganga proceeded together to the forest where they saw the child in the lap of the Krttikas. Siva then said "Let us see whom the child looks at before settling its parentage. " Understanding the ideas of the visitors the child, by its yogic power, assumed four bodies called Kumara, Visakha, Sakha and Naigameya. Kumara looked at Siva, Visakha at Parvati, Sakha at Ganga and Naigameya at Agni and all of them felt immensely happy. The Krttikas asked Siva whether Sanmukha (child with six faces) was his son to which Siva answered as follows: "Let him be your son under the name Karttikeya; Ganga's son under the name Kumara; Parvati's son under the name Skanda; my son under the name Guha and Agni's son with the name Mahasena and under the name Saravana 'Saravana's (the forest where it was born) son. He is a great yogi and will be known by these various names. As he possesses six faces he will become famous as 'Sanmukha' also.

After having spoken thus Siva thought of the Devas and under the leadership of Brahma and Visnu all the Devas appeared there. They looked at the child to their hearts' content and then told Siva thus: "Oh! Lord! You made Agni serve the purpose of Devas. Let us immediately start for Aujasa tirtha and crown Sanmukha at Sarasvati in Kuruksetra. Let him flourish as army-chief of Devas, Gandharvas and Kinnaras and let him kill the terrible Mahisasura and Tarakasura.

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3) Coronation

Brahma, Visnu, Siva and others reached Kuruksetra with the child to crown him (Subrahmanya)as army-chief. Siva and Visnu performed the consecration ceremony with holy water from the seven seas. Gandharvas, Rsis and others sang for joy and Apsaras danced. Parvati placed the child thus consecrated on her lap and kissed him repeatedly on the head.

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4) Presents

After Guha's consecration, the Devas presented the army-chief valorous armies. He was given by Siva four Pramathas, equal in prowess to Indra, called Ghantakarna, Lohitaksa, Nandisena and Kumudamali. Brahma and other Devas gave their own Pramathas to him. Brahma gave him the Pramatha called Sthanu and Visnu gave him three sets of Pramathas called Sankrama, Vikrama and Parakrama. Indra gave him Utkiesa and Pankaja; Sun (Surya)gave Dandakapinjalas; Moon gave Manivasumanis; the Asvins gave Vatsanandis etc. In short, important Devas, Matrs, Tirthas etc. gave Subrahmanya priceless presents too numerous to be named. Seeing the rush of presents the great Garuda presented his own son, the fast-going Peacock to Subrahmanya. Aruna gave his own son, the cock. Agni gave the Vel (three-pronged weapon, trident), Brhaspati the danda (club, stick) Ganga, the Kamandalu (water-pot of Sannyasis) Visnu the garland, Parvati clothes, Siva the locket and Indra the string of pearls.

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5) Devasura war

The consecration of Subrahmanya as Commander-in-Chief of the army kindled a new hope and enthusiasm in the Devas. They challenged the Asuras for war and they took it up. The asura army entered the battle-field under the leadership of unrivalled warriors like Tarakasura, Mahisa, Bana, son of Mahabali, Taraka's sons, Tarakaksa. Kamalaksa, Vidyunmali etc. In the furious battle that ensued Subrahmanya killed Tarakasura. The other asura chiefs too were killed.

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6) Vow of celibacy

After the killing of Tarakasura Subrahmanya became the object of too much of petting by Parvati with the result that his life became unbridled and wayward. His lust was everyday on the increase and he committed even rape on Deva women, who were ultimately forced to complain about him to Parvati. Immediately she called Subrahmanya to her and showed her own image in all other women and he became so much repentant about his past actions that he took the vow before Parvati that in future he would look upon all women in the world as equal to her, his mother. (Brahmanda Purana 81).

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7) Marriage

See under Devasena. (Valmiki Ramayana, Canto 36; M. B. Vana Parva, Chapter 223; Anusasana Parva, Chapter 85; Skanda Purana, Sambhava kanda; Kathasaritsagara, Lavanakalambaka, Taranga 6; Uttara Ramayana Kamba Ramayana, Balakanda; Vamana Purana, Chapters 57-61; Bhavisya Purana).

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8) Other information

(i) On the occasion of the burning of the Khandava forest Subrahmanya went there carrying his weapon called 'Sakti' to fight Krsna and Arjuna. (Adi Parva, Chapter 226, Verse 33).

(ii) Skanda was born from the semen of Siva which fell into Agni. So he got the name Skanda. (Skand fall). (M. B. Vana Parva, Chapter 225, Verse 16).

(iii) He once cut asunder the Kraunca mountain. (For details see under Kraunca I).

(iv) Noticing the very great effulgence of Skanda, Indra feared loss of his place and immediately he clashed with the former. Indra's Vajra (thunderbolt) hit Skanda on his right and from the wound emerged a person wearing golden armour, divine ear-rings and holding the Vel in his hands and he was named Visakha. Frightened by his sight Indra sought refuge with Subrahmanya. (Vana Parva, Chapter 227).

(v) When he married Devasena his six mothers came and blessed him and his wife; he then told the mothers thus: "You live with my father, Siva. Until I become sixteen years of age I will be functioning as a spirit which kills children and the children killed by me will serve as your food. " As soon as he finished speaking, a terrible person just like Agni emerged from his body and it was called Raudragraha, which is known also by other names such as Skandapasmara, Sakunigraha, Putanagraha etc. This Graha is supposed to cause children's death. (Vana Parva, Chapter 230).

(vi) Subrahmanya once in the company of Rudradeva visited the holy place Bhadravata. (Vana Parva, Chapter 231, Verse 56).

(vii) Vayubhagavan assumed responsibility for his protection. (Vana Parva, Chapter 231, Verse 56).

(viii) He killed Mahisasura. (Vana Parva, Chapter231, Verse 96).

(ix) Synonyms or sacred names of Subrahmanya: Agneya, Skanda, Diptakirti, Anamaya, Mayuraketu, Dharmatman, Bhutesa, Mahisardana, Kamajit, Kamada, Kanta, Satyavak, Bhuvane vara, Sisusighra, Sucicanda, Diptavarna, Subhanana, Amogha, Anagha, Raudra, Priya, Gandranana, Prasantatman, Diptasakti, Bhadrakrt, Kutamohana, Sasth priya, Pavitra, Matrvatsala, Kanyabharta, Vibhakta, Svaheya, Revatisuta, Visakha, Prabhu, Neta, Naigameya, Suducara, Suvrata, Lalita, Balakridanakapriya, Khacari, Brahmacarin, Sura, Saravanodbhava, Visvamitrapriya, Devasenapriya, Vasudevapriya, Priyakrt etc. Those who repeat the above sacred names of Subrahmanya will attain fame, wealth and heaven. (VanaParva, Chapter 232).

(x) In the Devasura war he killed important leaders of the asuras like Mahisa, Tripada and Hradodara. (Salya Parva, Chapter 46, Verse 90).

(xi) He defeated Banasura and killed the sons of Tarakasura. (Salya Parva, Chapter 46, Verse 90).

(xii) Siva consecrated him as lord (Srestharaja) of the Bhutas. (Santi Parva, Chapter 122, Verse 32).

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Devasena

Daksa's daughter and wife of Subrahmanya and a woman of rare beauty and purity. Daityasena and Devasena, daughters of Daksa, used to enjoy themselves at Manasa saras. One day Kesi, the asura saw them and craved for their love. Daityasena agreed to become his wife, but Devasena refused, and she prayed for the help of Indra, who happened to come there at the moment. Indra and Kesi fought with each other. Kesi used the club against Indra, who broke it into two with his vajrayudha. Then Kesi hurled a mountain at Indra, who cut it also. Frightened to death Kesi then ran away with Daityasena to safety, and Devasena expressed her desire to Indra to have one who could defeat the Devas, Danavas and Yaksas as her husband. But, Indra could not find such a one in the whole universe. Indra told Brahma about it. The Devas put their heads together and brought forth Subrahmanya from Siva to be her husband. In the war between the Devas and the asuras Devasena helped Subrahmanya, and the asuras were completely destroyed. (Vana Parva, Chapters 223, 224).

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Kraunca I

An Asura. In Vamana Purana, Chapter 57 it is mentioned that this Asura was killed by Subrahmanya.

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Kraunca II

A mountain. There is a story about this mountain. Long ago there lived an Asura named Kraunca. He was leading a wicked life and was haughty and arrogant. Once Agastya went to Kailasa and worshipped Siva. Kaveridevi also was standing close by, worshipping Siva. God Siva appeared before Agastya and told him that he might ask for any boon. He requested for the power to push down Vindhya by kicking and to establish a holy Tirtha (bath) on the earth. Siva granted the boons. For making the tirtha Siva turned Kaveri into a river and placed her in the water-pot of Agastya. As Agastya was returning from Kailasa with Kaveri in his water-pot, Kraunca the Asura took the shape of a mountain and hindered his way. The Asura caused a heavy rain too. Agastya wandered through the forest without finding the path for days. At last he realized the cause. He took a few drops of water from his waterpot and with chanting of Mantras and meditation threw the drops at the Asura with the curse that he would stand there for ever as a mountain. He said that he would be liberated from the curse when pierced by the arrow of Subrahmanya, the son of Siva. From that day onwards Kraunca the Asura had been standing there as a mountain. That mountain was called 'The mountain of Kraufica.' (Skanda Purana, Asura Kanda).

There is another statement in Harivarnsa, Chapter 18, that the mountain Kraunca was the son of the mountain Mainaka, the son of Mena. Subrahmanya fought a terrible battle with the Asuras. Many died. Banasura, the son of Mahabali, fled from the battlefield and hid himself inside the mountain Kraunca. Subrahmanya cleft the mountain into two with the arrow given by Agni (Fire-god). Thus Krauncasura was liberated from the curse. (M.B. Salya Parva, Chapter 46). In 'Meghaduta' Kalidasa mentions about the cleavage in the mountain Kraufica. In Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapter 225, Stanza 33, mention is made that through this cleavage swans and vultures fly to Maha-meru. (For the story of how Parasurama cleft the Kraunca mountain see under Parasurama).

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