But Taraka's wickedness did not subside. He was proud that there was none to
restrain him. The gods continued to be troubled by him,
and continued to be in fear. Brahma told them, "There is only one way in which you can escape the
trouble of Tarakasura. Only the son of Parameshwara (Shiva) can kill him. So
Shiva must marry Parvati. You must so manage that Parameshwara sees Parvati and
marries her."
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| KRITTIKAS NOURISHING KARTIKEYA |
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| THE DEVAS WORSHIPPING THE SON OF SHIVA AND PARVATI
- KARTIKEYA |
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| KARTIKEYA DECLARED AS THE COMMANDER OF THE ARMY
OF GODS AND PRESENTED WITH VARIOUS WEAPONS |
The gods succeeded in the difficult task. They so managed
that Shiva set his eyes upon Parvati and was pleased with
the penance and devotion of Parvati. He married her. In course of time, on the
sixth day of first half of the month of Margashira, Parvati gave birth to a son. Even at birth Kartikeya
had the divine weapons of Shakti, Shoola and Mahastra in his hands. Hearing of
his birth, the
Krittika gods came and fondled him. They nourished him with their breast- feeding.
Kartikeya was after all the son of Shiva. So it did not take long for him to
become strong and powerful. His body developed rugged strength in a few days.
There was a remarkable brightness about him. His intelligence was immense. Valor
and virtue were combined in him. All knowledge and the power of expression came
to him very soon. Everyone who saw him felt a thrill and a delight. There was
festival everyday in Kailasa, the abode of Shiva and Parvati. The Devas came
to worship him and offer their prayers to him.
God Brahma himself performed the early rituals like Jatakarma to Kumara. Shiva
and Parvati blessed Kumara saying that he should kill the wicked and protect
Dharma and righteousness. Shiva made Kumara sit on a throne studded with gems,
and, anointing him with the sacred waters of holy rivers declared him the commander
of the army of gods.
On that occasion the different deities and gods made gifts of various powerful
weapons and mystic powers to Kartikeya. The Sun God presented
him with a chariot,
which had the speed of thought. Yama, the Lord of
the Netherworld, gave
him DANDA.
Agni the Fire God gave him the
MAHASHAKTI and Aruna gave Kartikeya the KUKKUTA bird
symbolizing the eternity of time. The Kukkuta or the cock became Kartikeya's
pennant also. And he rode on the peacock.
Shiva sent Kartikeya with all other gods to kill Tarakasura. They all started
from Kailasa. Meanwhile, the divine architect TVASHTA had built a city near the
silver mountain RAJATADRI for Kartikeya. The city had in it a palace, which contained
a big assembly hall and a throne in it. Mahavishnu made Kartikeya sit on that
throne and in a grand festival declared him the master of the entire universe.
Kumara now became the Protector of the Universe.
A huge army of the gods was formed under the command of Kartikeya for the elimination
of Tarakasura. The war cries of the soldiers and the thundering sounds of drums
and other instruments echoed from all directions. Before declaring war, it is
an accepted convention to send messages asking to the enemy to follow moral principles
and come to terms for peace. Likewise, Indra sent a messenger
to Tarakasura. The messenger told Tarakasura, "You have done great injustice to the world.
Indra, the Lord of all three worlds, is coming now to kill you. If you have a
love of life, then make your peace with him. Or else, you must get ready to face
the war." Taraka's anger knew no bounds. "Fool, get out of my presence," scolded
Taraka and made him run away.
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