Everything You need to know about Lord Kartikeya or Lord Murugan- Birth myths, Temples, Archaeological evidences, Six soul in one and much more!!!
You must be familiar with the son of Lord Shiva as Kartikeya, but do you know he is primary deity and widely devoted across the religions as 'Protector' or ' God of War'? There so many myths about him and distinctness of him in North India and South India. Let us see what are those, to know more about 'Most Handsome deity of Hindu Gods, Having Face like of Full Moon'.
Depiction
Lord Kartikeya was said to be one of the most beautiful looking and handsome looking and handsome gods. He is often described as exuding boyish charm, and yet, with a serious face. Often depicted as calm and serene character, face that resembled the radiance of full moon.
The iconography of Kartikeya varies greatly; He
is usually depicted as a young man, riding or possessing an Indian peacock,
called a Parwani, with arms sometimes worn with a rooster in his flag. Most
of the symbols show him with one head, but some show him with six heads and twelve hands-feet, indicating the legend surrounding his birth(which would be explained further).
The blue color of peacock represents infinity. Peacock is noted for its excessive pride - this is a negative traits - but here is a symbolically represents the pride that a seeker of Truth should have for Supreme Self. By being proud of Supreme Self, He/ She shunts out all other diversions and constantly medicates on the Supreme Being. In most images of Murugan, the peacock is shown clutching serpents ego and fleeting pleasures. The peacock keeps the serpents under control indicating the need to enjoy worldly pleasures through discrimination and by not overindulging in it. He doesn't leave the ego but knew how to control it. Thus, the peacock itself becomes a destroyer of harmful habits and conqueror or sensual desires
Weapon
His most powerful and famous weapon is Kundalini Shakti (a spear) which was gave by his mother Goddess Shakti or Parvati as a blessing for his son. In one hand, Kartikeya carries a spear, while he uses the other to bless all his devotees. The symbolism of Kartikeya thus point to the ways and means of reaching perfection in life.
Temples and Archaeological Evidences
According to Raman Varadara, Murugan or Kartikeya was originally a Tamil deity who was adopted by the North Indians. He was the god of war in Dravidian legends, and also became known elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent.
He is not only famously devoted in South India, but also in Shri Lanka, Malaysia, China and many other regions across the world. Murugan temples are mostly found as a primarily deity wherever communities of Tamil people live throughout the world, particularly in the states of Tamil Nadu, Shri Lanka, Mauritius, Indonesia, Singapore, South Africa and Reunion. Three richest and busiest temples in Tamil Nadu are dedicated to him.
The Kataragama temple dedicated to him attracts Sri Lankan Tamils, Sinhalese people and Vaida people. He is also found in other parts of India, sometimes as Skanda, but in a secondary role alongside Ganesha, Parvati and Shiva. Kartikeya is an ancient deity, dating back to the Vedic age.
Archaeological evidence from
the 1st century CE and earlier, where he is found with the Hindu god Agni
(fire), suggests that he was an important deity in early Hinduism. They are
found in many medieval temples across India, such as the Ellora caves and the
Elephant caves.
Vedic texts can be referred to as Kartikeya in the works of Panini (~500 BCE), in Patanjali's Mahabhashya and in Kautilya's Arthashastra. According to Fred Clothe, evidence suggests that the Kartikeya legend became widespread in northern India around 200 BCE or later.
The first clear evidence of Kartikeya's importance is found in Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata where his story is told. In addition to textual evidence, their importance is confirmed by archaeological, epigraphic and numismatic evidence of this period. They struck coins bearing the image of Skanda, and these coins predate the beginning of the era of the Kushan Empire. During the Kushan dynasty era, which included much of the northwest Indian subcontinent, more coins featuring Kartikeya were minted.
He is also found on ancient Indo-Scythian coins, where his various names are inscribed in Greek script. Kartikeya is mentioned in Shaiva Puranas and of these, Skanda Purana is the largest Mahapurana. The text is named after Skanda, The text has been an important historical record and influence on Hindu traditions relating to the war-god Skanda. The earliest text titled Skanda Purana probably existed by the 6th century CE, but the Skanda Purana that survives into the modern era exists in several versions.
Birth Myths
According to Skanda Purana-
According to Skanda Purana, the unrighteous demon Tarakasur, had become very powerful due to the boon given by Lord Shiva. According to the boon, only Shiva's son could kill him. And that's why he was creating an outcry in the three worlds. That is why all the gods went to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu suggested him to go to Kailash and request Lord Shiva to have a son. When all the gods reached Kailash after listening to Vishnu, they came to know that Shiva and Mother Parvati had gone for seclusion in the Devdaru forest since their marriage. When the helpless and disheartened deities reached the Devdaru forest, they came to know that Shiva and Mother Parvati were residing in a cave in the forest. Lord of Fire decided to create disturbance in their work. When Lord of Fire (Agnidev) reached the entrance of the cave, he saw that Shiva Shakti was engrossed in cohabitation by being engrossed in sex, but both of them became alert after hearing the arrival of Lord of Fire (Agnidev). At the time of sexual intercourse, Goddess Parvati covered her beautiful face with a lotus flower in shame after seeing the other man close by. That form of the goddess became famous by the name of Lajja Gauri(depiction of Goddess Parvati as shy idol).
When Lord Shiva, who was engrossed in Kamkrida( sexual intercourse), saw Agnidev( God of Fire), he too had to give up sex and come before Agni dev. But in the meantime, the Shiva had unknowingly ejaculated. Agni dev accepted that unfailing semen taking the form of a pigeon and started carrying it to save it from Tarakasura. But the temperature of that semen was so high that even Agni Dev could not bear it. For this reason he handed over that unfailing semen to Goddess and River Ganga. When Goddess Ganga started carrying that divine part, then the water of Ganga started boiling due to her power.
Frightened Goddess Ganga brought that divine part into the Sharavan forest and established it, but while flowing in the Ganges water, that divine part was divided into six parts. Appearing on the banks of the Ganges River, they are seen by six of a group of seven brightest stars in the night sky called Krittikas in Hindu texts (called the Pleiades in Greek texts). Six beautiful and soft babies were born from those divine parts of the semen produced from the body of Lord Shiva. These six mothers all want to take care of him and the child Kartikeya. Goddess Parvati, through her tantric powers, merged these six little fetuses into one, embedding six beings in one single body, and Kartikeya was born. that's how our Lord Kartikeya has six heads, 12 feet and 12 hands, according to Skana Purana.
According to Kumarasambhavam -
In Kalidas's epic poem Kumarasambhava ("The Birth of the War God"); 5th century CE, as in most versions of the story, the gods wished the birth of Skanda(Kartikeya) to destro the demon Tarakasura, who was granted a boon that he could be killed only by the son of Lord Shiva. They sent Parvati to persuade him to marry Shiva. Shiva, however, was not attracted to Parvati until he was struck by an arrow from the bow of Kama(God of Sexual desires), which he immediately burned to ashes. After many year of abstinence, Shiva's seed was so strong that the gods, fearing the consequences, sent Agni dev (God of Fire), to disrupt Shiva's play with Goddess Parvati. Agni received the seed and dropped it in the Ganges, where Skanda was born. Kartikeya means "of the Krittakas".
This title is also associated with the birth. Appearing on the banks of the Ganges River, they are seen by six of a group of seven brightest stars in the night sky called Krittikas in Hindu texts. Six beautiful and soft babies were born from those divine parts of the semen produced from the body of Lord Shiva. These six mothers all want to take care of him and the child Kartikeya. Kartikeya ends the arguement by rising five more heads to have a total of six heads so that he can see all the six mothers, and giives them one to each nuse. The six Kritikayas are Shiva, Sambhuti, Preeti, Sannati, Anasuya and Ksama.
Mentioning in Other religions
Buddhism-
The oldest mention of this deity in Buddhist texts can be found in the Pali doctrines of the Janavasabha Sutta, where he is called Sanankumara. Here he is introduced as the deity of the rank Mahabrahma and a disciple of the Buddha.
According to Richard Gombrich, Skanda has been an important deity in Theravada Buddhism (ancient school of Buddhism) in countries such as Sri Lanka and Thailan. There are Buddhist Sinhala temples such as Katarangma dedicated to Skanda, who have historically been ordinated by Hindu priests.
The Mahaparinirvana Sutra mentions Kumar as one of the eighty gods.
Jainism-
According to Raman Varadara, Murugan or Kartikeya was originally a Tamil deity who was adopted by the North Indians. He was the god of war in Dravidian legends, and also became known else where in the Indian Subcontinent.
Names and their significance
Kartikeya was raised by Kritikas(Pleiades in Greek texts), that's why he's called Kartikeya (of the Kritikas). He rises rapidly as a philosopher-warrior, destroys evil in the form of the demon Taraka, the pursuit of moral life and teaches the theology of Shaivism.
Skand is a sanskrit word means attacker. Kartikeya was named as Skand as he is the chief warriors who killed demons.
Subramaya because Sage Vishvamithra was the one who gave him the name in the naming ceremony that followed after his birth. Brahman is the formless God that is the basis of all existence. Since that formless phenomenon took a form with the beauty of Goddess Parvathi and with the strength and virtues of Lord Shiva, it was prefixed with 'Su' and called Subrahmanya.
Story of name 'Swaminathan'
Once Kartikeya asked Lord Brahma to explain the meaning of 'Om'. Brahma explained to Him but He was not satisfied. Later, when asked by Lord Shiva. He explained the whole episode. Lord Shiva told that He must learn from Lord Brahma, as He is the supreme creator.
To this Kartikeya replied, ‘Then you tell me, what is the meaning of Om?’
Hearing this, Lord Shiva smiled and said, ‘Even I don’t know.’
Kartikeya then said, ‘Then I will tell you because I know the meaning of Om.’ “But, I can’t tell you like this. You have to give me the place of the Guru. Only if you put me on the pedestal of the Guru can I tell you’, said Kartikeya.
Lord Shiva: (Thinking to himself) ‘Guru means he has to be in a higher position or platform.'
Lord Shiva lifted the young Kartikeya on to His shoulders. And then in the ear of Lord Shiva, Lord Kartikeya explained the meaning of the Pranava Mantra (Om).
Goddess Parvati was elated and overcame with joy. ‘You have become a Guru (Swami) to my Lord (Natha)!
Saying this she addressed her son as Swaminatha.
Leaving for South India
According to ancient texts, once the sage Narad Muni went to Kailash with a fruit, both Ganesh and Kartikeya had a debate about the fruit, due to which a competition (three rounds of the earth) was organized.
According to which the winner would get the fruit. While Murugan started the journey from his vehicle Peacock, while Ganesha ate the fruit after circling his mother and father, on which Murugan got angry and left Kailash towards South India.
Murugan in North-South India and her wife
The legends of Kartikeya vary by region. For example, in northern and western Indian traditions Kartikeya or Skanda is unmarried, although in Sanskrit texts Devasena is mentioned as his wife. Although in Tamil legends he has two wives, Devayanai (identified with Devasena) and Valli. Several major events in Murugan's life occur during his youth, And the legends associated with his birth are popular in Tamil Nadu. This has encouraged the worship of Murugan as the child-god, which is similar to the worship of the child Krishna in northern India. Karttikeya's youth, beauty and bravery were very famous in Sanskrit works like Kathasaritasagar. Kalidasa made the birth of Kumar the subject of a lyrical epic, Kumarasambhava.
Amritavalli and Saundaravalli were two daughters of Vishnu, born from his eyes. They developed an undying love for Skanda and performed severe austerities to obtain him as a husband. At Skanda’s instructions, Amritavalli incarnated as Devanai, a young girl under the guardianship of Lord Indra in Swarga (God of Heavens). Saundaravalli took the form of Valli, a lass under the protection of Nambiraja, a hunter near Kanchipuram. After the war with Surapadman was over, the devas (gods) were overjoyed. Skanda acceded to Indra’s prayer to accept Devanai as his consort. The divine wedding was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Tirupparankundram near Madurai in the presence of Parvathi and Shiva. He then proceeded to Tiruttani near Chennai, where Valli was looking after barley fields. After a series of sportive love-pranks, in which His brother Ganesha also lent a helping hand, He married Valli.
Which brings the most confusing question-
Are Kartikeya and Ayyappa the same?
No. Both are different. Ayyappa is a bachelor and Karthikeya is worshipped with his two wives- Devyani and Valli.
Kartikeya and Sage Agastya
One good thing he did was to assist Agastya, as Agastya brought spirituality to the south. Wherever Agastya found resistance, Kartikeya went to war. It was Agastya who taught him the art of warfare, and it was Agastya who also turned this anger into a means for enlightenment. Kartikeya finally found his rest in a place called Subramanya. He became disgusted with battle because he saw that even if you fight for a thousand years, this kind of action is not going to change the world. One solution will breed another ten problems. So, he gave up all violence and, for the last time, washed his sword in what is today called “Ghati Subramanya” in Karnataka. He sat there in meditation for some time, and then moved up the mountain that is today named “Kumara Parvat.”
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR READING!!
I never knew so much about him, but quite long though impressive. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
ReplyDeleteI am indeed glad you liked it.
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