Kumuda, Son of Śeṣa

Kumuda is a son of Śeṣa, the cosmic serpent also called Ādiśeṣa. He appears in the Kumāra Khaṇḍa of the Śiva Purāṇa. He lives in Pātāla, the world of the serpents.

After the death of Tārakāsura, Pralambāsura came out again and troubled Kumuda. Pralambāsura was a lieutenant of Tāraka who had survived the great battle. Kumuda went to Kārttikeya for protection. Kārttikeya slew Pralambāsura with his śakti (spear-like weapon), and Kumuda was free.

Appeal to Kārttikeya

Kārttikeya had slain Tārakāsura and then Bāṇāsura. Pralambāsura had been a lieutenant of Tāraka and had fled to Pātāla after the main battle. He now came out and began to oppress the serpent world.

Kumuda, son of Śeṣa the cosmic serpent, came before Kārttikeya and asked for protection. Kārttikeya heard him and slew Pralambāsura with his śakti. Kumuda paid his respects and went back to Pātāla, freed from the one who had tormented him.

The Śiva Purāṇa tells this in the Rudra Saṃhitā, Kumāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 11.

Another Kumuda

In the cosmography of the Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Kumuda is also the name of one of the four great elephants of the directions (dik-gajas) who hold up the world. This Kumuda holds up the west. He is a different being. The Kumuda of the Kumāra Khaṇḍa is a personal being, a son of Śeṣa, who lives in the serpent realm of Pātāla.

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Kumāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 11
• Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa (the elephant Kumuda, in its account of the world)