This is an auspicious month called Karteeka. Deepotsava is
a common and sacred instance in all temples, mutts and religious institutions
as it is considered highly meritorious. Even in individual houses, Deepas are
invariably kept in front of the Tulsi Brindavan and the main threshold.
Karteeka is a word, according to Scriptures, derived out of Star Krittika. As
there are six deities representing this holy Star, who all fed breast milk to
Skanda, he came to be known as Kartikeya, a person brought up by six Krittikas.
Because these deities were six in number and each of them was yearning to
breast feed Skanda, he wore six faces and thus became ShaDAnana, where shat
means six and Anana means faces.
Background
The story of Kartikeya is mentioned in Skanda Purana,
Bhagavata, Mahabharata and other holy Texts.
Diti, one of the wives of Sage Kashya, wanted to avenge the
destruction of demons. Demons Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu were sons of Diti
from Sage Kashyapa and Sihmike, was her daughter. Diti also had several other
demons. Sihmike married a Danava called Viprachitti (Vishnu Purana). Later,
during the Great Churning of the Milky Ocean (Samudra Mathana), all the
children of Diti died. Dejected, distressed and depressed Diti then pleaded
with her husband Sage Kashyapa: “Oh great Sage, your own sons, the deities,
have become very strong. They have killed all my sons. Please provide me with a
son, who will be very brave, powerful, courageous and long-living. He should be
able to kill Indra.” Sage Kashyapa said “Be it so” (Tathastu). However, the
sage added: “You should be very pure. Wish you good luck. Do a tapas (penance)
to beget a son.”
Diti launched a severe penance at a place called Kushaplava
Kshetra. Indra came to know about the intention of Diti and joined her in
disguise, pretending to serve her. He was serving her with high dedication,
conviction, compassion and commitment. Diti, unaware of the intrinsic
intentions of Indra, once said “My child, there is no one to lend any sort of
support to you. I am doing penance only to clear this situation. You will soon
have a younger brother as my penance will soon be over.” Being fully aware of
what Diti had in her mind, Indra continued to serve without giving her a clue
about his intentions, albeit waiting for an opportunity to subvert the plans of
Diti. (To be contd…)
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