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| TARAKA ATTACKING WITH
'SHAKTI' |
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| KARTIKEYA SLAYING TARAKA |
Kartikeya replied, "Listen, Taraka. True, am young. But my valor is not
young. Can darkness persist before even the morning sun? A small spark can destroy
the vast forest. The mysterious and spiritual sound 'OM' is just one letter,
but its significance is immense. The quality of heroes is to fight on the battlefield
with weapons. But you are talking like a mad man. Stop your
prattle."
The two then engaged in a terrible fight. Both now took
up the 'Shakti' weapon.The boy divine, fell down once with Taraka's ferocious blow. But he rose at once
and like an angry lion attacked Taraka, bringing him flat on the ground. When
Taraka got up again, all the gods trembled in fear.
When again they began the fight, the very air was stilled. The sun became dull
and the earth had tremors. Even the mountain gods like Himavanta, who had come
to see Kartikeya in action, were afraid. But Kumara gave them courage. He offered
his obeisance to his parents, Shiva and Parvati, in his mind and as everyone
was gazing, he lifted the trident transferring all strength and power to his
little hands and hit Taraka on the chest with it. Blood spread out like a stream,
the demon's chest getting split. Taraka, the powerful Rakshasa,
of whom all were in fear, fell down dead. Now the gods were in high spirits. With renewed courage
they killed many of the Rakshasas. Some Rakshasas fled, and some others begged
to be spared.
The gods in joy brought down a rain of flowers. Learning that Kumara had killed
Taraka, Shiva went there with Parvati, and both blessed and caressed the son.
There was divine music and the sages chanted Vedic hymns in blessing.
![[kartikeya hurling the shakti]](artwork/kartikeya_attack.jpg) |
| KARTIKEYA HURLING THE
'SHAKTI' AND DESTROYING PRALAMBA THE ASURA |
Kartikeya later came to know
that KRAUNCHA and BANASURA, two Rakshasa followers
of Taraka, who had both, run away after the war, were troubling
people near the mountains. From where he was, Kartikeya
shot arrows and killed them. Another demon PRALAMBA was teasing Adishesha's son
Kumuda, who prayed to Kartikeya in
his pain. Kartikeya meditated on Shiva and sent his 'Shakti' weapon. The invincible
weapon killed PRALAMBA, destroyed his army also and returned to Kartikeya.
Thus Kartikeya destroyed the wicked Rakshasas who troubled the world. All good
people admired and worshipped him. He helped the gods to remain in their place
happily. Then he returned to his city near Kailasa.
Though the gods were freed from a lot of harassment with the death of Taraka,
their happiness and peace were short lived. There was another
Rakshasa, SHURAPADMA, as strong as Taraka. He lived in the city called VEERAMAHENDRA. He had married
PADMAKOMALA, the daughter of Vishwakarma, the architect of the gods. He had sons
by name BHANUKOPA, AGNIMUKHA, HIRANYAKA, VAJRABAHU and others who were all valiant
and wicked. He had brought for them brides from among the Devas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas,
Siddhas, Vidyadharas, humans and Nagas. Now torture by Shurapadma and his clan
began. The sage Narada thought that Kartikeya, who had killed the wicked Taraka,
should destroy Shurapadma too.
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