Story of Kartikeya – Indra succeeds in his mission

 Story of Kartikeya – Indra succeeds in his mission

Diti was carefully following the instructions of her husband Sage Kashyapa and Indra was patient enough to wait for the opportunity to ensure that Diti would not beget a son. However, the destiny always prevails. Once it so happened that Diti slept in the daytime, that too by stretching her legs on the pillow. Sleeping in daytime was the first sin and keeping the legs on the pillow was another. Indr seized the opportunity to enter the womb of Diti and slit it into seven parts with his Vajrayudha (thunderbolt). He came out and confessed to Diti: “Dear mother, today you were sleeping in an insane way. As you were so far following the norms strictly, I had no opportunity to accomplish my task. The womb, which would have delivered a son capable of defeating me in war, has been cut into seven pieces by me with the Vajrayudha. Please excuse me for what I have done.” Diti was more pragmatic and magnanimous. She said:

“It’s alright Indra. My womb has been cut because of my own fault and negligence. Let it be so. That was perhaps the destiny and I cannot forego destiny. Yet, the first of those seven pieces shall be roaming about in Brahmaloka, the second one in Indraloka, third one shall be popularly known as Devavayu and the remaining four shall be roaming about in four directions. All the seven persons shall be very strong and charming.” Meanwhile, the seven pieces of her womb were heard as crying aloud. Indra then told them “Marodee” (do not cry). Hearing the word of Indra, Diti said: “Oh Indra, from now on, let these seven persons be popular as Mruts.” In the Balakanda of Ramayana, it is further stated that each one of the seven pieces was again subdivided into seven pieces and thus emerged forty-nine distinct beings. (To be continued)

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