The Story of Kalidas(Kumarasambhava)
The Himalayan mountain range in the north of India is known as Nagadhiraj or Devatatma. Here we find the pine and birch forests in their full majesty. The lakes at high altitudes are full of lotus flowers. It is the storehouse of many kinds of medicinal herbs.
Meena was the spouse of Parvatraj, the king of the Himalays. They had two children-Mainak, son and Parvati, daughter. In her previous birth, Parvati was the virtuous consort of Mahadev. She grew up to be a maiden of captivating beauty. Her big eyes were as beautiful as the blue lotus. A smile always played on her lips, like a white flower coming out of a red bloom. She was an embodiment of beauty and virtue.
Once Narad saw Parvati and he predicted that she would be married to Mahadev. Parvatraj took Parvati to the abode of Mahadev. She stayed there and spent her time in his service.Once a throng of gods came to Brahma and sang hymns in his adoration. Brahma was pleased with them and wanted to know why they had come to him.
Brihspati thus spoke: "Tarakasur got a boon from you. He has started molesting us. All of us, Surya, Chandra and Pawan, remain at his beck and call. Even then he pesters us. Our spouses are "kept in confinement by him. Please protect us from his cruelty." Brahma told the gods that only the son of Mahadev could destroy the demon and they should bring about Mahadev's marriage with Parvati.
After the meeting was over, the gods returned to the heaven. Indra called Kamdev, the god of love, and asked him to arouse love for Parvati in the heart of Mahadev. In the spring, Kamadev with his spouse Rati departed for Mahadev's abode. Mahadev was sitting in virasan with his eyes closed in meditation. When he opened his eyes he saw Parvati and his heart was moved by her bewitching beauty. However, he controlled himself and pondered over the cause of his passion. When he raised his eyes, he noticed Kamdev standing there. This enraged him and he opened his third eye. There and then Kamdev was incinerated. Mahadev left that place. Parvati came back to her home. When Rati saw Kamadev burning to ashes, she fainted. When she came round, she thought of ending her life. At that time, a voice from the void said to her: "After some time you will be reunited with your husband. When Mahadev is pleased with Parvati's devotion and marries her, Kamdev will rise from the ashes." This message consoled Rati and she gave up the idea of ending her life.
Parvati made up her mind to please Mahadev by undertaking severe penance. Parvati's mother counselled her against such a course but could not shake Parvati's determination. Parvatraj allowed Parvati to do so.Parvati discarded her finery and wore sack cloth, she knotted her hair, took Rudraksha counting beads in her hand and began to sleep on the earth, without a bed using her arms as a pillow.
Thus began her penance. In summer she used to light fire around her and spend all her time in the centre of the fire in meditation. During rainy days, she drank only rain-water. In the shivering cold of the winter, she used to meditate sitting in the icy water. It was very hard to live on the fallen leaves of the trees, but Parvati even stopped eating them and began to observe complete fast.
One day, a holy man came there. He saw the austerities observed by Parvati and asked many questions about the aim of her penance. He said to Parvati, "You are the most beautiful creature in the three worlds. You belong to a noble family. You do not desire to go to the heaven. You only want a suitable spouse for yourself. Whom do you wish to marry that you subject yourself to such severe austerities?"
Parvati felt shy and did not reply. Her friend disclosed that Parvati was determined to marry Mahadev and none else; hence this penance.When the holy man heard it, he ridiculed Mahadev and said, "Mahadev who wears no clothes, lives in the cremation ground. Ghosts and goblins are his companions, what virtue do you see in him that you should bear such discomforts?"
When Parvati heard this, anger seized her. In a tone full of anger, she said, "Stop it. I do not want to hear anything more." No sooner did she say this, than she saw Mahadev standing there. The holy man had disappeared from the scene.
Mahadev said to Parvati, "Parvati, your true devotion has won my heart. I am now bounden to you." Parvati was extremely glad to hear it.Mahadev called the seven rishis. They came there with Arundhati. Mahadev sent them to Aushadhiprasth, the capital of the Himalayas. They asked ParvatraJ to get Parvati married to Mahadev. Everyone approved the proposal.
After three days, Mahadev and Parvati were married in royal splendour. Aushadhiprasth was agog with Joy. The fairies danced and staged dramas. The gods prayed to Mahadev to bring Kamdev to life again. Mahadev accepted their prayer and Kamadev was brought to life again.
Mahadev stayed with his in-laws for one month. Then he took leave of them and wient to the Gandhamadan mountain, visiting the Meru, the Kailash, the Malayanandanvan en-route.Here Mahadev and Parvati lived alone in quietude and no one could see them. The gods asked Agni to reach there by assuming the form of a pigeon. When Mahadev saw Agni in the form of a pigeon, he got very angry but immediately Agni appeared in his own form and begged Mahadev's forgiveness. Agni said to Mahadev, "All the gods are in wait for you, please let them have your darshan." Mahadev was pacified and ap┬м peared before the gods. After that he left for the Kailash.
In course of time, Parvati gave birth to Kartikeya, a son with six faces. Mahadev and Parvati rejoiced at the birth of Kartikeya and time swiftly passed on. He was a wonder of nature and on the sixth day after his birth, he became a full grown man, perfect in arts and learning and skilful in using weapons of war.
One day Indra and some gods quietly came to Mahadev in fear of Tarakasur. When Mahadev enquired about the cause of their fright, Indra narrated the tale of atrocities committed by Tarakasur on the gods. Mahadev was enraged on hearing about it and said to his son, 'Tarakasur is an enemy of the gods; go and kill him."
The gods were over-joyed on hearing it.Kartikeya paid obeisance to his parents and in the company of the gods, departed forthwith for the heaven. The gods hesitated at the gate of the heaven but Kartikeya told them not to be afraid and march on. They * followed Kartikeya and entered the heaven. They were glad to see the Akash-ganga once again after a long time. Ahead was the Nandanvan where Tarakasur had wrought havoc by cutting and uprooting the trees. Amravati, the city of the heaven, was in a very bad shape. Its garden had been despoiled and its palaces demolished. Kartikeya was furious at this wanton destruction. Indra took Kartikeya to his Vijayanta Palace where the spouses of the gods greeted and blessed Kartikeya.
Preparations for war began. Kumar Kartikeya rode on the Vajitvar chariot, Indra on Airavat elephant, Yamaraj on the black buffalo, Varun on a salamander, Pawan on the flying deer, Kubera on a palanquin and the eleven Rudras on bulls. Nairit, the demon, who was displeased with Tarakasur and had deserted him to join Kartikeya, rode on the shoulders of a frenzied goblin.
The heavenly beings watched with delight the march of the godly forces down the Sumeru mountain, in the din and bustle of the neighing horses, trumpeting elephants and rattling chariots.
From the opposite direction, Tarakasur advanced with his forces. Evil signs appeared. The earth was shaken by an earthquake. Big and deep cracks appeared on the earth. In the sky, crows and hawks hovered. Snakes crossed the routes of the marching armies. A big, black snake coiled itself round the Tarakasur's flag and his chariot caught fire, but he was not discouraged and kept on advancing. A fierce battle took place when both the armies came face to face. The blood of warriors flowed in a stream under the thick shower of arrows flying both ways. Battles were fought in the sky, on the earth and on water. Ultimately, after much destruction, Tarakasur was killed and his forces flew in disarray.
Thus ended the chapter of cruelty written by Tarakasur and the gods once again lived in peace, happiness and bliss.