Chapter 71 - Installation of Skanda’s Śakti

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-3. Assenting “So be it”, those ladies carried out the behest of Śakra. They performed all his post-natal rites to be performed in the lying-in-chamber.

The next day, the boy gained the lustre akin to that of twelve suns. He was born with two arms and a single face.

As soon as the auspicious child was born he miserably cried. On hearing his cry, all the Kṛttikās came to him.

4. On seeing those mothers approaching, Mahāsena became anxious and one with six faces, twelve eyes and twelve arms.

5. With great affection, he embraced each of them separately with two arms and sucked the milk from the breast of each.

6. In the meantime Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva and all other Devas, Gandharvas, Apsarās came there along with Indra.

7. At that spot, great festivities were held without any restraint. The entire universe was filled with the sound of music and musical instruments.

8. Raṃbhā and other graceful maidens of Heaven-dwellers danced there. Gandharva chiefs such as Citrāṅgada and others sang.

9. Then all the Devas respectfully gave him the name Skanda because the seminal fluid was spilled on the ground.

10. Then the coronation of that boy as the commander-in-chief of the army of Devas was performed by Śaṃbhu himself.

11. A Śakti of miraculous appearance and unfailing forever was given to him by Vidhi (Brahmā) for gaining victory (of Devas) and the destruction of Daityas.

12. A Mayūra (peacock) was quickly given by the Three-eyed Lord as the boy's vehicle. Divine weapons were given by Mahendra and the noble-souled Viṣṇu.

13. Thereafter the desired missiles were given severally by all the Devas and the groups of mother goddesses who were delighted.

14. Then keeping him in the forefront as the leader of the armies, the chiefs of Suras and their soldiers went to the place where Tāraka was present.

15. On observing that Devas themselves had come for fighting, Tāraka was delighted. Hurriedly he came face to face with them.

16. A great battle ensued between Devas and Dānavas. With their eyes redened with anger, they set at nought the fear of death.

17. On seeing Tāraka far away in the battlefield, Skanda challenged him and hurled the Śakti towards him to kill him.

18. The terrible Śakti pierced the heart of the Daitya and fell down at the outskirts of Camatkārapura. It was besmeared with blood.

19-20. Tāraka was doomed. In an instant his life became extinct. Then all the groups of Devas became delighted. They eulogized the mighty Lord Kārttikeya with hymns of diverse kinds when Tāraka fell dead. Free from fear, they went quickly to heaven along with Indra.

21. Skanda took up that Śakti and fixed it there in the excellent city whereby Raktaśṛṅga became firm and steady.

The sages said:

22. That Raktaśṛṅga which was already motionless was rendered firm by him? At whose instance? O highly intelligent one, tell us in detail.

Sūta said:

23. There was a terrible earthquake once when Raktaśṛṅga swayed from its position violently.

24-25. The earthquake was due to the fall of that Daitya. Like the other excellent mountains, Raktaśṛṅga too swayed. Further all the mansions in Camatkārapura crumbled down. When the mountain swayed to and fro the Brāhmaṇas became distressed. Most of them lost all their possessions and became poor. Others became afflicted by loss of consciousness.

26-27. The Brāhmaṇas who survived rushed to Skanda angrily and said, “O sinner, what is this done by you foolishly? We are all ruined along with our sons, kinsmen and cattle-wealth. So due to our excess of misery, we will curse you.”

Skanda said:

28. This has been carried out by me for the welfare of all the worlds. The terrible Dānava has been killed. This could not have happened otherwise, O excellent Brāhmaṇas.

29-30. Be pleased therefore. Brāhmaṇas are always worthy of my honour. By resorting to Amṛta (Nectar) I shall resuscitate the dead Brāhmaṇas once again. There is no doubt about it. Similarly, with my Śakti I shall make the mountain very stable.

31. After saying thus, he took up the Śakti besmeared with blood and installed it on the top of Raktaśṛṅga.

32. Then he spoke joyously to the four deities viz. Āmbavṛddhā, Āmrā, Māhitthā and Camatkarī:

33-34. “This excellent mountain should be kept stable and motionless again by you all, so that this Raktaśṛṅga shall not move from its place even at the time of Pralaya. Let this excellent city be well-known forever after my name. All the Brāhmaṇas will adore you always.”

35. Delighted by the words of Skanda, they said: “Of course”. With the tips of tridents fixed in all directions, they steadied it further.

36. Then Skanda ardent in the devotion to Brāhmaṇas, took Amṛta and enlivened the dead excellent Brāhmaṇas.

37. The delighted Brāhmaṇas granted him the excellent boon. He said, “Let this excellent city become well known forever after my name. This is my desire.”

The sages said:

38. O most excellent one among Suras, this excellent city now called Camatkārapura will be known also by the name Skandapura after your name.

39. We shall erect an excellent mansion (temple) and shall offer worship to you as well as the four deities supported by you.

40. We shall evince respectful reverence in all our rites, O most excellent one among the chiefs of Suras, we shall always worship this Śakti of yours faithfully on the sixth lunar day.

Sūta said:

41. Promised thus by the Brāhmaṇas, the mighty Mahāsena stayed there itself at their instance after realizing that it was an excellent holy place.

42. If any one devoutly worships him with great emotional fervour on the sixth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Caitra, the Peacock-vehicled Lord will make him satisfied.

43. O Brāhmaṇas, a man who worships that Śakti with perfect faith with flowers etc., and then rubs his back against the Śakti shall never fall sick for a whole year.

44. Thus his Śakti was fixed there by the intelligent Skanda for the protection of Raktaśṛṅga and that city in particular.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

This day is called Skanda-Ṣaṣṭhī.

Other Purana Concepts:

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