Kartikay

Hdeity infobox|

Caption = Kartikay slays the Asura Taraka
Name = Kartikay
Devanagari =
Sanskrit_Transliteration = Kartik
Pali_Transliteration =
Tamil_script =
Affiliation = Deva
God_of = War and Battle
Abode = Kailasa
Mantra =
Weapon = Sakti (Spear or Javelin)
Consort =
Mount = Peacock
Planet =

Kartikay, also know as Subhramanya, Kartik or Kartikkeya, is a central deity of the Hindu tradtion of India. He is greatly revered by shaivites as a son of Shiva. In Vaishnava, Advaita and Smarta traditions he is held as a manifestation of Brahman.

Kartikay is usually known as a god of war in Advaita, Smarta, Vaishnava and Shaiva traditions. His role in hindu thought is as a bestower of spiritual powers or "siddhis", gained through spiritual accomplishments. His role, as bestower of "siddhis" complements his brother, Ganesha's role as "Remover of Obstacles".

Traditionally Kartikay is the name of the god of war. In the Puranas the deity is identified as Kartikay or Kartikkeya. However in certain myths he is known by six different names to represent the fact that he has six heads. These are: Kartikay, Subramaniam, Skanda, Guha, Shadannana and Sanmukha.

Life

In Sanskrit Literature

In Sanskrit literature, Kartikay is the son of Shiva and Sati, who immolated herself at her father Daksha's feast. In some versions Parvati is his mother. Shiva retreated into many years of yogic meditation after the death of Sati. At this time the demon Taraka had been granted a boon of invulnerability to all but a son of Shiva, by Brahma, the creator god. As Shiva had retreated to a life of asceticism, Taraka assumed Shiva would never marry again, and rampaged across the Earth.

The reincarnation of Sati, Parvati (or sometimes Uma) was persuaded to be married to Shiva. Kama, the god of love and sexual desire fired a flower at Shiva in an attempt to cause Shiva to marry Parvati. Kama was obliterated by the light of Shiva's third eye.

However, Shiva was later persuaded to marry Parvati and have a son with her. Shiva then offered his seed to the god of fire, Agni. Agni was unable to bear the brightness and intensity of the heat and they were given for safekeeping to Ganga. The seeds then matured into six children who were raised by the Kartika or Pleiades. Parvati was then united with the children, whom she transformed into one child.

Kartikay was then sent out to do battle with the asura, Taraka, acommpanied by the devas. He later slew Taraka after seven battles in different sites across India. After his defeat of Taraka, Kartikay is said to have become the general of the gods and to have led them to victory on various occasions. He later earned the title of war god and general of the demi-gods.

In the Mahabharata

In the Mahabharata he was said to have been born by Shiva and Parvati to defeat the demon Mahisha, who later became the adversary of the goddess, Durga. He is also said to have been attacked by Indra who saw Kartikay as a threat to his position. Shiva, however, intervened and had Kartikay's life spared.

In the Puranas

The story of Kartikay in the Puranas follows the same order as in other Sanskrit literature. Sati is known as Dakshayani, and is said to be the granddaughter of Brahma, and Kama is known as Manmatha. However, Kartikay is said to have defeated Taraka as a young boy rather than as a youth.

Symbolism

Kartikay symbols are based on the weaponry he carries and his mount the peacock. He is sometimes depicted with many weapons including: a sword, a javelin, a mace, a discus and a bow although more usually he is depicted wielding a "sakti" or spear. This symbolises his purification of human ills.

His javelin is used to symbolise his far reaching protection, his discus symbolises his kinowledge of the truth, his mace represents his strength and his bow shows his ability to defeat all ills. His peacock mount symbolises his destruction of the ego.

His six heads represent the six siddhis bestowed upon yogis over the course of their spiritual development. This corresponds to his role as "Bestower of Siddhis".

Worship

Historically, Kartikeya enjoyed immense popularity in the Indian subcontinent. One of the major Puranas, the Skanda Purana is dedicated to him. In the Bhagavad-Gita (Ch.10, Verse 24), Krishna, while explaining his omnipresence, names the most perfect being, mortal or divine, in each of several categories. While doing so, he says: "Among generals, I am Skanda, the lord of war."

Kartikeya's presence in the religious and cultural sphere can be seen at least from the Gupta age. Two of the Gupta kings, Kumaragupta and Skandagupta, were named after him. He is seen in the Gupta sculptures and in the temples of Ellora and Elephanta. As the commander of the divine armies, he became the patron of the ruling classes. His youth, beauty and bravery was much celebrated in Sanskrit works like the Kathasaritsagara. Kalidasa made the birth of Kumara the subject of a lyrical epic, the Kumaarasambhavam.

In ancient India, Kartikeya was also regarded as the patron deity of thieves, as may be inferred from the "Mrichchakatikam," a Sanskrit play by Shudraka, and in the "Vetala-panchvimshati," a medieval collection of tales. This association is linked to the fact that Kartikeya had dug through the Krauncha mountain to kill the demon Taraka and his brothers (in the "Mrichchakatikam", Sarivilaka prays to him before tunnelling into the hero's house).

However, Kartikeya's popularity in north India receded from the Middle Ages onwards, and his worship is today virtually unknown. Reminders of former devotions to him include a temple at Achaleshwar, near Batala in Punjab, and another temple of Skanda atop the Parvati hill in Pune, Maharashtra. Another vestige of his former popularity can be seen in Bengal, where he is worshipped during the Durga Puja festivities alongside Durga.

References

"Mythology of India: Myths and Legends of India,Tibet and Sri Lanka" Rachel Storm, Anness Publishing Limited, Editor: Helen Sudell, ISBN-13 978-1-84476-322-1 ISBN-10 1-84476-322-1

[http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses/kartikay.htm]

[http://www.hindunet.org/god/Gods/kartikeya_subramania/index.htm]

ee also

*Skanda (Buddhism)
*Skanda Purana
*Kataragama
*Katirkamam (Hindu temple)
*Kukke Subramanya Temple
*Matrika
*Kali
*Murugan