 |
| KARTIKEYA BEING WORSHIPPED
BY GODS |
Kartikeya honored all the gods who helped in the elimination
of the Rakshasas. He also released all the gods who had been imprisoned by Shurapadma. Whatever
treasure had been looted and brought from different places, was all sent back
to those places. With the help of the divine engineer Vishwakarma was rebuilt
all the buildings, gardens and cities destroyed and burnt by the Rakshasas. Kartikeya
seated Indra safely on the throne of Heaven. He also saw
to it that everyone lived in peace and happiness, following the path of virtue. Shiva praised the
valor of Kumara.
Kartikeya's knowledge was immense even more than Shiva and Brahma. A little incident
is often narrated in this regard.
Once in Kailasa Lord Shiva was in the divine assembly. All his angelic devotees
had gathered there. There was divine music and the sound of musical instruments
along with singing. Bhringi was dancing. Brahma, Indra and many others were all
there. Kartikeya stood in front of Shiva. Shiva merely raised his eyebrows to
stop the dance, looked at Kumara once and then at Brahma. The latter stood up.
Everyone was looking at him. Brahma said, "O lord, you asked me to start
the education of your son. And I accordingly in the early hours of the dawn tried
to teach him the sacred 'Omkara'. All at once he held my hand and asked, 'what
is the meaning of Om?' Even before learning to write, you should not ask for
the meaning," I said.
"Then, O lord Shiva, he scolded me and was about to beat me. He who killed
Tarakasura on the seventh month after his birth certainly will not care for me!
I was afraid and said I would explain the meaning. I explained the spiritual
significance of the word 'Om' in twelve thousand verses. Still he was not satisfied
and said, 'Brahmadeva, you don't know'. He is standing before you. You may yourself
explain the meaning of 'Omkara', which is the Pranava. I do not know more than
what I have already explained."
 |
| KARTIKEYA - THE PROTECTOR OF THE UNIVERSE |
Hearing Brahma's words, Shiva nodded his head admiring his son's intelligence.
He explained its significance in twelve lakh verses and then Kartikeya said, "Father,
it is wrong on my part to have said that Brahma did not know." Shiva understood
Kumara's sarcasm. He also felt a little angry that Kumara implied that he, Shiva,
was also ignorant. Yet affection and pride welled up in him because the son was
so intelligent. "Then how many meanings are there for this Pranava?" asked
Shiva. "Twelve crores", Kumara replied.
Shiva was wonder-struck at the wealth of knowledge Kumara possessed. With the
feeling that this wealth of knowledge should result in the welfare of the world,
he replied, "Beloved Kumara, take a birth on the earth, and by teaching
the significance of Omkara to the humans, help them become higher beings."
Kartikeya, as many believe, was born in a place called Shrikashi in Tamilnadu
with the name of Tirujnanasambandhi. He preached the pursuit of higher knowledge,
devotion to God and the path of virtue.
Among the boys who displayed extraordinary courage and heroism for the welfare
of the world, the very first one was Kartikeya. Even as a child he was an unparalleled
hero. He destroyed the wicked, protected the virtuous and upheld 'Dharma' or
the path of virtue. His learning was unequalled. He also brought into vogue the
performance of sacrifices without the killing of animals.
|
