![[kartikeya and indra with their army]](artwork/ganesha_kartikeya_indra.jpg) |
| KARTIKEYA AND INDRA MARCHING
TO ATTACK THE BOY |
Accompanied by many sages Brahma left on his mission. As they neared the boy
suddenly jumped forward and pulled Brahma's long beard and said laughingly, "that
should teach you a lesson." Brahma was caught unawares. He told the boy, "I
have not come to fight. I have come to make peace. Listen to me." In answer
the boy lifted his club menacingly and said, "Run. I shall never fail my
mother."
Meanwhile, the sages ran to Shiva and narrated the whole scene. Shiva pondered, "This
matter has gone too far. The boy must be destroyed." So thinking Shiva
sent for his son Kartikeya and Indra the king of the Devas and ordered, "Lead
your ganas and Devas to the war. Vanquish the impudent upstart." The Devas
led by Indra and the ganas by Kartikeya fell upon the boy from all directions.
The boy faced them valiantly and attacked them with his club.
![[parvati with her shaktis - durga and kali]](artwork/ganesha_shaktis.jpg) |
| PARVATI CREATED TWO SHAKTIS TO PROTECT HER BOY |
Parvati learned of all that had happened and was furious, "how dare they
harass my son…" Then and there she created the
two Shakti's, Kali and Durga and ordered, "Go and assist my son." Kali stood between the
boy and the enemy, opening her mouth wide; she swallowed their weapons and hurled
them back. Durga took the form of lightening and destroyed the enemy's weapons
before they could reach the boy. Between the two of them they did not let a single
weapon come anywhere near the boy's swinging club.
Indra and his Devas were completely routed. Even Kartikeya, who killed the invincible
Tarakasura was helpless. They held council and decided to
go back to Shiva. They said, "O Lord we have heard of many battles but, never have we seen or heard
of such a warrior." Their praise only infuriated Shiva, "I will have
to kill him with my own arms", and so saying Shiva thundered out followed
by all of them.
Unperturbed by the sight of Shiva, the boy attacked all the chief gods. One by
one they fell. Shiva was amazed at the sight. He thought, "The boy is invincible.
He can only be killed by cunning. I must watch for an opportunity." The
same thought had struck Vishnu too. He spoke to Shiva, "I shall use my powers
of delusion to fight him, if you permit me." Shiva replied, "You may.
That is the only way." But Kali and Durga divined their intentions and decided
to confer all their strength on the boy so that Vishnu's maya will prove ineffectual.
 |
| SHIVA CUT THE BOY'S HEAD
WITH HIS TRIDENT ATTACKING FROM BEHIND. |
With the added strength of the two Shakti's the boy swung his club at Vishnu.
Vishnu had to use all his energy to dodge it. Shiva saw his plight and charged
with the trident. But, with a single blow the boy dashed it to the ground. Shiva
then took up his bow the boy broke it with his club. Shiva was struck with wonder
and thought, "no wonder my ganas were helpless against this boy."
The next moment Vishnu stealthily crept up on the boy on his perch the Garuda.
The boy saw him and lifted his club to attack, but it was cut in two by Vishnu's
discus. The boy hurled the piece that was left in his hand, but Vishnu's mount
Garuda caught it and protected his master. Then as the boy picked up his staff
to hit Vishnu, Shiva came up from behind and cut off his
head with his trident.For a moment all on the scene stood still, their gazes on the valiant hero. Then
the Devas and the ganas became jubilant. But Shiva was troubled, "alas
what have I done? How shall I face Parvati? He was created by her and that made
him my son too."
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