Kārttikeya Abhisheka at Sthāṇu Tīrtha

The consecration (abhisheka) of Kārttikeya as commander (senāpati) of the deva armies is one of the great sacred events of Sthāṇu Tīrtha on the river Sarasvatī. Kārttikeya is also called Skanda and Kumārasvāmī. The Śalya Parva of the Mahābhārata tells it at length while Balarāma is on his journey to the tīrthas of the Sarasvatī.

The devas, ṛshis, siddhas, sādhyas, nāgas, gandharvas, rivers, mountains and the earth-devī gathered here. They consecrated Kārttikeya with the holy water of the Sarasvatī in golden kalaśas (water pots).

Who Kārttikeya is

The Śalya Parva speaks of Kārttikeya in many ways. Some call him Sanatkumāra, born of Brahmā. Some call him the son of Maheśvara. Some say he is the son of Agni. Others call him the son of Umā (Umā-tanaya), the darling of the Kṛttikās (Kārttika-putra), or the beloved child of Gaṅgā. The text says he has one form, two forms and four forms, and that the yogīśvaras (masters of yoga) describe him in many ways.

All agree that he is the great warrior who destroys the armies of the dānavas and asuras. His titles include Tārakāntaka (slayer of Tāraka) and Daityakulasarvasaṃhāraka (destroyer of all the daitya clans).

The assembly

The abhisheka at Sthāṇu Tīrtha was a gathering of the whole creation. The Śalya Parva lists those who came.

  • The devas: Indra, the Ādityas, the Viśvedevas, the Maruts, the Sādhyas, the Aśvins, Agni, Varuṇa and the whole host of devas.
  • Kāla (Time), Yama, Mṛtyu (Death) and Yama’s attendants.
  • Brahmā, Brahmā’s other forms, and the Prajāpatis. They all took part with joy, and Kaśyapa most of all.
  • Ṛshis, siddhas, cāraṇas, yakshas, rākshasas, piśācas, gandharvas and apsarases.
  • The rivers, seas and lakes, who came in bodily form.
  • The mountains Himavat, Vindhya and Meru.
  • The earth-devī, all the directions, trees, herbs, stars, nakshatras, planets, months and fortnights.
  • The Vedas in bodily form, Gāyatrī, and all the measures of time.
  • Uccaiḥśravas the horse, Airāvata the elephant and Vāsuki the king of serpents.
  • Kāla, the sun Aruṇa, and Garuḍa.

The gathering was so vast that the text says it is not possible to name everyone one by one.

The abhisheka

The devas performed the abhisheka with sacred things carried in golden kalaśas filled with the holy water of the Sarasvatī. They followed the example of how Brahmā had once consecrated Varuṇa as the lord of the waters (jala-adhipati). Each deva and great power brought gifts and followers for Kārttikeya.

  • Pārvatī gave the attendants Unmāda, Śaṅkukarṇa and Pushpadanta.
  • Vāsuki, king of serpents, gave two nāgas, Jaya and Mahājaya.
  • Himavat gave the attendants Suvarcas and Ativarcas.
  • Meru gave Kāñcana and Meghamālī, and also Sthira and Atishṭhira.
  • Vindhya gave Uccaṅgu and Atiśṛṅga, who are skilled in fighting with mountain stones.
  • The ocean gave Saṃgraha and Vigraha, who carry the gadā (mace).
  • The Sādhyas, Rudras, Vasus, pitṛ-devas, seas, rivers and great mountains all gave troops and attendants. They carried spears, bows, paṭṭiśas (broad-bladed spears) and many other weapons.

The assembled warriors wore armour of many kinds and carried their weapons. They shone with a splendour beyond this world.

After the abhisheka

After the main daitya forces had been slain, Kārttikeya gave out the wealth and bounty of the tīrtha to the remaining asura chiefs. In this way Daityakulasarvasaṃhāraka, the destroyer of the daitya clans, took his place as commander of the deva armies at Sthāṇu Tīrtha.

This tīrtha is also called Taijasamanda. It is also the place where, in the first Kṛtayuga, the devas consecrated Varuṇa as the lord of the waters (jala-adhipati). The Śalya Parva tells that account at the same holy place.

Balarāma at Sthāṇu Tīrtha

Balarāma came to this king of tīrthas (tīrtha-rāja) on his pilgrimage. Vaiśampāyana told him the whole account of Kārttikeya’s abhisheka. After he heard it, Balarāma bathed in the waters of the tīrtha and made offerings to Kārttikeya (Skanda). He gave rich gifts of gold, garments and ornaments to brāhmaṇas. He spent the night at the tīrtha. The next morning he touched the water once more and left for the tīrthas nearby.

Sources

  • Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapters 43–46