Kumara's Abhisheka

Brahma said

There he saw a splendid chariot, wonderful, lasting and lovely, made by Vishvakarma, huge, with a hundred wheels, thought-swift and charming. Parvati had sent it with fine attendants. Kartika, born of Paramesha's seed and full of supreme knowledge, climbed into it with a breaking heart. The Krittikas ran up, hair loose, afflicted and grieving, nearly maddened, and spoke.

The Krittikas said

Ocean of compassion, you are cruel to go and leave us; that is not dharma. A son must not forsake the mothers who raised him. Our love for you has only grown, and by dharma you are our son. What shall we do, and where shall we go?

Brahma said

They clasped Kartika to their breasts and said this, and in the pain of parting from their son they quickly lost their senses. Kumara calmed them with words of adhyatma. Sage, he climbed into the chariot with the attendants; many auspicious sights and sounds appeared, giving pleasure, and so he went to his father's house.

The chariot ran as fast as thought with Nandi on its right. At Kailasa Kumara stood with the Krittikas and the fine attendants by the foot of the everlasting nyagrodha tree, pleased, Shankara's son who delights in many pastimes. The gods, rishis, siddhas, charanas, Vishnu and Brahma announced his arrival, and Shiva, Hari, Brahma and the others, glad, went to see Gangeya. Conches, drums and trumpets sounded; the gods arranged great festivities; Virabhadra and the ganas themselves played about in many tones and rhythms; singers sang his qualities, and others cried "Victory" and "We bow to you." They went to see Shiva's fine son, born from the reeds. Parvati had had auspicious signs set along the royal road and the city decked with rubies and other jewels. She stood in front, leading Lakshmi and thirty other goddesses, and behind them came virtuous women with husbands and sons, with Rambha and other apsaras, smiling and well dressed, who sang and danced at Shivaa's bidding. Those who looked on Gangeya, so like Shankara, saw a great mass of light filling the three worlds, golden as molten metal around the boy. All at once they honoured Kumara, bright as the sun, bowing joyfully and saying lovingly "We bow to you," and as he came they crowded round him on his left and right. Vishnu, Shakra, I and all the gods lay flat before him like rods and ringed Kumara round.

Amid the festivities Shambhu and Girija arrived and saw their son with joy. The universe's one friend and supreme Bhavani rejoiced at the sight. Sarveshvara Paresha, serpents coiled round him and pramathas about him, was full of affection. Spear in hand, Skanda saw Shiva and Parvati, hurried down from the chariot, lowered his head and bowed. Shiva Shankara embraced Kumara and breathed the scent of his head. Parvati embraced Guha with respect and, overcome by love, fed him the milk that flowed from her breasts. The gods and their wives gladly waved lamps. Cries of "Victory" filled the earth and rose to the sky, rishis chanted the brahman, singers sang, and many instruments played before Kumara. Mahesha set radiant Kumara on his lap, and Bhavani's husband seemed prosperity itself, the best of fathers. At Shiva's command Kumara went to Shiva's house with his attendants, happy amid the great festivities and the gods, and the couple shone with him standing by them. Rishis and the best of the gods ringed and worshipped them. Rejoicing, Kumara played on Shiva's lap and, with his hands, squeezed Vasuki, who was wound round Shiva's neck. Seeing it, Bhagavan Shambhu pointed it out to Girija and laughed; in play he is the compassionate one, and he only glanced with kindly eyes. Bhagavan Mahesha and supreme Girija were greatly delighted, with a proud smile. Love choked his throat, and the universe's one friend, the single lord of the world, could say nothing.

Then Jagannatha Shambhu gladly did what the world's custom required. He seated Kartika on a lovely jewelled throne and bathed him with a hundred jewelled pots of water from all the tirthas, sanctified with Vedic mantras. Hari gave him a crown, a diadem and bracelets set with the finest jewels, his own Vaijayanti necklace and the chakra. Shiva gave his trident, Pinaka, battle axe, spear, the pashupata arrow, the weapon of destruction and supreme learning. I gave the sacred thread, the Vedas, the Vedas' mother, a kamandalu, the brahmastra and enemy-crushing learning. The lord of the gods gave an Indra among elephants and the vajra; the lord of waters a white umbrella and a gem necklace; Surya a thought-swift chariot and firm armour; Yama his staff; the store of nectar a pot full of nectar; Hutashana, lovingly, a great spear for his son; Nirriti his own weapon; the wind-god the vayavya weapon; Kubera a mace; and Isha, lovingly, a trident. All the gods gladly gave him many weapons and techniques. Kamadeva, rejoicing, lovingly gave Kama's weapon, a club and his own knowledge. The ocean of milk gave special gems and jewelled anklets, Himalaya divine ornaments and silks. Garuda gave his own son Chitrabarhana, and Aruna the strong cock Tamrachuda, who fights with his legs. Parvati, smiling, gladly gave him supreme prosperity and, very happy, eternal life. Lakshmi gave divine prosperity and a large lovely necklace, and Savitri all the knowledge for attaining siddhi. Sage, the other goddesses gathered there gave what was theirs, as did the women who had reared the infant. Great festivities took place, and all were pleased, Shiva and Shivaa most of all.

Meanwhile, sage, mighty Rudra Bharga said to Brahma and the other gods:

Shiva said

Hari, Vidhatri, all you gods, I am pleased in every way. Ask for the boon you want.

Brahma said

Hearing Shambhu, Vishnu and all the gods, their faces glad, said to the lord Pashupati: "Lord, Kumara will surely kill Taraka; that is why he of excellent conduct was born. So we should go, ready to kill Taraka. Command Kumara to kill him for our happiness." Full of compassion, the lord agreed and gave the gods his son so that Taraka might be killed. At Shiva's command the gods, Brahma and Vishnu leading, set Guha in front and together left the mountain. Once out of Kailasa, at Hari's order Tvashtri built a lovely wonderful city near the mountain, with a divine, very bright residence and an excellent throne for Guha. With the gods, wise Hari had the auspicious rites for Kartika's abhisheka performed with water from all the tirthas, arranged festivities lovingly and gathered every ornament and garment for him. Rejoicing, Hari gave him lordship over the universe, worshipped him with the gods and marked his forehead with a tilaka. All the gods and rishis bowed to Kartika affectionately and praised Shiva's eternal form with many hymns. On that fine throne Kartika shone brightly, and he took up the role of lord and protector of the universe.