Sugriva

 Sugriva

Sugriva, one of Rama's key allies, is to be decorated uniformly as a straightforward and virtuous being. However, the picture that emerges of the Vanara king, first during his exile and then later, is much more real and flesh and blood, with plenty of virtue, but not a trace of innocence.

Familial relationships

Sugriva has a complicated family situation, much before his encounter with Rama. It seems that his relationship with Vali, before the battle with Mayavi, is friendly. His intentions in closing the tunnel, too, do not seem suspect. It makes sense that on receiving news of Vali's death, Kishkindha's ministers want to quickly install somebody as the king. After all, it is made clear in Ayodhya Kanda that kingless kingdoms are magnets for danger. Sugriva is an obvious choice - it is not clear whether Angada, Vali's son, was born or old enough at the time.

Relationships become tense with Vali's return. After Sugriva's exile, Vali takes his brother's wife, Ruma, as his own.

Astute ruler

During his exile, Sugriva wanders across four quarters of the earth, enough to offer the armies a virtual map to follow and chooses to settle close to Kishkindha in a region Vali cannot enter, due to a curse. It is clear then that Sugriva has a real head for policy and has excellent advisers, including Hanuman.

He is also careful, a trait possibly from his time on the run. This compels him to find out more about Rama and Lakshmana when he first sees them. His alliance with the princes is a good example of his shrewdness, at least in Valmiki's Ramayana. He is not willing to accept Rama's skill on his words alone.

There is also the complication of how much he knows of Ravana when Rama first asks him. Many commentators have tried to understand why Sugriva does not tell Rama what he knows, but it seems that it is too early in their friendship for him to give away all his cards. All this suggests that he has the qualities to run an effective kingdom.

It is also obvious from the way the Vanara armies rush to him that they respect and fear him as their ruler. It is as apparent in his treatment of them, indicating that he deserves their respect as their commander.

A true friend

Sugriva puts everything he has at Rama's disposal until they find Sita and achieve victory, marking him as a true friend. He is also able to comfort Rama at a time when he needs it the most, lecturing him ever so gently for his growing hopelessness, while filling him with self-confidence and trust in their victory. Being in a similar situation allows him to address Rama in a way that Lakshmana. finds it hard too.

He is willing to bring his smartness to bear on Rama's decisions as well, as is clear in his suggestion when Vibhishana seeks refuge.

Sugriva's flaws

Sugriva is not without complexity, however, and his greatest flaw, which angers even Rama, is that he forgets his alliance as soon as he gets his kingdom. His relationship with Taaraa is also a cause for censure, for Rama killed Vali for a parallel crime. It is natural, too, that he has a complex relationship with Vali's son, Angada. After all, Sugriva was instrumental in killing his father and marrying his mother. Indeed, it is Angada whom Valmiki utilizes to present an alternative narrative of Sugriva's actions, bringing into suspicion Angada's coronation as the crown prince.

 

 "The Emergency: A Nation's Dark Night"

*(A Poetic Chronicle of 1975-77) *

 

The Midnight Decree

 

June’s cruel night—no warning bell,

The stroke of the pen became a knell.

"Internal Disturbance," cold, austere,

Locked democracy’s doors in fear.

 

No court could question, no press could cry,

As whispers drowned beneath the sky.

Opponents vanished into cells,

While censored ink spun empty shells.

 

Where were the judges? Where the laws?

The silenced crowds with muffled cause?

Who checks the hand that wields the pen

When power forgets it governs men?

 

The reel may twist, the page may lie,

But time’s own script will testify—

No halo dims what midnight wrought,

No song erases truths unsought.

 

Final Stanza (The Lesson Unlearned)

Beware the hour when leaders say,

"I am the state—no other way."

For chains, though gilded, chafe the same,

And fire, once lit, forgets its name.

Sundra

Sham Misri

Washington USA

Vali's Death

 Vali's Death

Hidden amid the trees, Rama took aim and felled the fierce Vali. As the Vanara king lay dying, he accused the prince of not following the rules of dharma. He could not have been further from the truth.

The two brothers, terrible and strong, advanced towards each other. Sugriva uprooted a sala tree and swung it at Vali, striking him like thunder upon a mountain. He retaliated, and the fierceness of his attack broke Sugriva's pride. At that moment, Rama shot an arrow at Vali's chest, and as it found its mark, he collapsed like a felled tree. Vali was like the moon, dislodged from the sky and no longer illuminating the earth. Even if he had fallen, Vali did not lose his splendour, as the necklace that Indra had bestowed upon him held it in place.

"Why did you kill me?"

Rama and Lakshmana walked up to the fallen Vali. He saw them and said, "You are known as one who is engaged in the welfare of people, firm in your vows. Taaraa told me of your alliance with Sugriva, but I was convinced that you would not kill me when I had been challenged by another.

Your adherence to dharma is well known. I now know that you are as vicious as a pit covered in twigs. I never harmed you or your realm.

Why kill me when I am faultless?" So, accusing Rama of abandoning the path of dharma, Vali fell silent.

The dharma in the act

And so, on Vali's deathbed began a debate on dharma, and Rama pointed out Vali's chief crime, for which he had to be punished

Rama said, "It is right to kill a man who acts with desire towards his daughter, sister, or younger brother's wife.

You acted this way towards Sugriva's wife, Ruma. Also, my love for Sugriva is the same as that for Lakshmana.

I gave him my word, how could I ignore that?" Vali eventually accepted Rama's words and, joining his hands in salutation, said, "Act towards Sugriva and my son, Angada, as you would towards Lakshmana and Bharata. Protect them. Instruct Sugriva so that his behavior with Taaraa is not harsh."

Rama consoled him as he said, "Having received your just punishment, you are devoid of blemishes and have established yourself in your natural state, which is in consonance with dharma."

Taaraa's grief

Taaraa heard that Rama had shot Vali, who lay dying, and rushed to be by his side.

She chastised his retinue who had fled fearing Rama's anger. She ignored their advice to consecrate Angada and said, "What do I have to do with the kingdom or with life when Vali, the tiger among Vanaras, leaves us? I will follow him as well." She sat beside her mighty husband and cradled his body. Sugriva, seeing Taaraa and Angada in such a state, mourned his dying brother as well. Taaraa lamented, "Your strength and valour remained undefeated in battle. Get up now, go to y well-appointed bed. Or is it that as a king you love the earth even more than myse that you do not abandon he even when I ask you to? Ho does my heart not split into thousand pieces?

"Angada, look at your father with care, for to see him shall become impossible. Sugriva, enjoy your kingdom without any agitation, for your enemy your brother, lies slain."

Hanuman consoled her, "The good or bad acts a being performs return to bear their fruit. And what is there to be grieved, and by whom, in this body that is as ephemeral as a bubble? The existence of all beings is impermanent.

Do not grieve, for Vali has attained the realm of those who are triumphant in dharma." He told her to take solace in her son who would soon be consecrated and said, "The Vanaras and these realms look upon you as their overlord."

Vali, whose breath was slowing, asked Sugriva to rule well and take care of Angada. He said,

"You are Angada's protector. Follow Taaraa's advice, and make sure you fulfil your promise to Rama."

He breathed his last and Taaraa lamented, "Look, royal glory does not abandon you even when your breath has ceased, even as the sun's rays do not abandon the great mountain as it sets."

Rama said, gently, "The departed soul does not attain peace and happiness through the pain of grief that the family experiences."

…

S-727 The Birth of the Ramayana and Its Composition

 S-727 The Birth of the Ramayana and Its Composition

Valmiki sat in solemn thought,
His heart with grief and anguish fraught.
Two birds, once singing, now lay still—
A hunter’s arrow struck to kill.

From trembling lips, a verse took flight,
A shloka born of sorrow’s might.
Then lo! A light divine drew near—
Brahma, the Creator, stood clear.

With folded hands, the sage bowed low,
Offered water, rice, and glow.
Yet still his mind, in turmoil deep,
Could not forget the lovebirds’ weep.

The Lord smiled, knowing all along,
This grief would birth a sacred song.
"Fear not, O Sage, the verse you spun,
By my will, this grace was done.

Now weave the tale of Rama’s grace,
His deeds in time and boundless space.
No truth shall hide, no act untold,
All secrets bright, in verse unfold.

Your words shall shine, forever true,
As stars in skies of endless blue."
Then Brahma vanished wisdom stayed,
And Ramayana’s song was made.

 

The Golden Trident of Ananta Mountain

 Ananta Mountain

The Golden Trident of Ananta Mountain

Deep beneath the swirling waves of the Soft-Water Ocean, where the light of the sun could not reach, stood a mighty mountain—Ananta Mountain, shining like pure gold. At its peak stood a golden trident, glowing with divine power.

This was no ordinary mountain. It was the throne of Ananta, the great thousand-hooded serpent, who held the weight of the world upon his head. His coils stretched endlessly, and his eyes shimmered like twin moons.

One day, a curious young vanara named Vali (not to be confused with Sugreeva’s brother) heard tales of the golden trident. "If I bring it to Lord Rama," he thought, "it could help us defeat Ravana!"

With a brave heart, Vali journeyed east, crossing terrifying oceans where fire-breathing demons lurked beneath the waves. Finally, he reached Ananta Mountain.

As he climbed, the air hummed with energy. At the summit, the golden trident stood tall—its three prongs blazing like captured sunlight. But as Vali reached out, a deep voice rumbled:

"Who dares disturb my rest?"

Vali turned and gasped—Ananta himself loomed before him, his massive hoods swaying like storm clouds.

"Great Serpent," Vali bowed, "I seek this trident to help Lord Rama rescue Sita from the demon king!"

Ananta’s eyes softened. "Rama… the avatar of Vishnu." He nodded. "The trident is not mine to give—it belongs to Shiva. But if your heart is pure, touch it, and see."

Vali stretched out his hand—ZZZT! A surge of energy shot through him! Visions flashed—Rama’s victory, Ravana’s fall, and a future of peace.

When he awoke, the trident was gone. But in his palm lay a single golden scale from Ananta himself.

"Carry this," whispered the serpent. "When Rama needs strength, it shall shine for him."

And so, Vali raced back, his spirit alight with hope. For he knew—even the gods were on their side.

The End.

The Lord of the Fly-Jumpers

 The Lord of the Fly-Jumpers

Once upon a time, in the great land of Kishkindha, King Sugreeva, the mighty lord of the vanaras (monkey warriors), stood before Prince Rama, the tiger-hearted hero.

"My noble Rama," said Sugreeva, "my vanaras are ready! They can leap over oceans, lift mountains, and change their shapes at will. They will find your beloved Sita!"

Rama’s heart swelled with hope. "Then let us begin the search!"

Sugreeva turned to his bravest captain, Vinata. "Lead an army eastward! Cross rivers, climb mountains, and search for every forest and cave. Look for Sita and the demon king Ravana!"

Vinata bowed. "We shall not fail!"

And so, the vanaras leapt into action—jumping over sparkling rivers, swinging through golden trees, and even peeking into strange lands where fish-tailed creatures and shadow-eating monsters lived!

At last, they reached the great Milk Ocean, where a golden mountain touched the sky. But beyond it lay unknown realms—where even the sun and moon dared not go.

"Return in one month," ordered Sugreeva. "Find Sita or face my wrath!"

With courage in their hearts, the vanaras vowed: "We will bring Sita home!"

And so, their great adventure began.

Rama's Journey Continues

Rama's Journey Continues

Sita’s Capture & Jatayu’s Bravery
Sita faints after being kidnapped by Ravana. When she wakes up, she tries to escape and shouts for the animals to tell Rama. Ravana laughs at her anger. The brave bird Jatayu fights Ravana, warning him that Rama will destroy the demons if Sita isn’t freed. Sadly, Ravana cuts off Jatayu’s wing and flies away with Sita. Before dying, Jatayu tells Rama and Lakshmana what happened but can’t say where Ravana went.

Lesson: Jatayu kept his promise to protect Sita as best as he could, showing great courage.

Meeting Hanuman & Sugreeva’s Story
Rama and Lakshmana enter Kishkindha, a kingdom of wise monkeys. Hanuman, a loyal monkey warrior, greets them in human form, recognizing Rama’s greatness. He introduces them to King Sugreeva, who shares his sad story: His brother Vali, a mighty but angry king, wrongly accused Sugreeva of betrayal and stole his throne and wife.

Lesson: Hanuman is wise and devoted, while Sugreeva is a good leader who was wronged by his brother.

 Rama’s Promise & The Arrow Test
Moved by Sugreeva’s story, Rama offers to help defeat Vali. Hanuman believes Rama is the god Vishnu in human form. To test Rama’s power, they ask him to shoot an arrow through seven trees—Rama does this easily, piercing through worlds and seas!

Lesson: Rama’s incredible strength proves he is a true hero, and he keeps his word to help those in need.

 

Mareecha

Mareecha, an old rakshasa, senses his life is ending and warns Ravana that his evil plans will bring doom to their kind. He describes Rama’s great strength, but Ravana, filled with rage, threatens him. Fearing for his life, Mareecha reluctantly agrees to help. Knowing he will die, he transforms into a magical golden deer to lure Sita away.

When Sita sees the dazzling deer, she begs Rama to catch it. Lakshmana suspects a trick, but Rama, wanting to please Sita, chases the deer deep into the forest. Too late, he realizes it’s a trap and shoots it. As Mareecha dies, he mimics Rama’s voice, crying for help.

Back at the cottage, Sita panics when she hears the cry and urges Lakshmana to go help. When he hesitates, she accuses him of disloyalty, hurting his feelings. Finally, Lakshmana leaves but warns Sita to stay safe with Jatayu, the eagle.

As soon as Lakshmana is gone, Ravana disguises himself as a holy man and approaches Sita. Though she is kind, she remains loyal to Rama. When Ravana reveals his true monstrous form, Sita bravely defies him. Unable to touch her due to a curse, Ravana lifts the very ground beneath her and carries her away in his flying chariot.

Sita’s courage shines even in danger, but Ravana’s wickedness has set a terrible fate in motion. Will Rama find her in time?

 

 

Ganapati (Ganesha)

The earliest reference to Ganapati is found in the Rig Veda (2.23.1) as Brahmanaspati, an aspect of Brihaspati or Vacaspati (literally the lord of Vak). The Brahmana and Aranyaka portions of the Veda contain praises to Ganapati. Atharva Seersha Upanishad, an Atharva Vedic Upanishad, is completely devoted to Ganapati. It establishes and explains the nature and philosophy of Ganapati, and the beeja and mula mantra.

शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् ।

प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥

śuklāmbaradharaṃ viṣṇuṃ śaśivarṇaṃ caturbhujam .

prasannavadanaṃ dhyāyet sarvavighnopaśāntaye

I meditate upon (Lord Ganesa), the one who wears a white garment, who is all-universal, who has a (bright) complexion like the moon, who has four hands, who has a cheerful face, for the removal of all obstacles.

I bow to you, the Lord with the face of an elephant (Gajanana), one who is served by the celestial attendants (Bhoota ganas) and other beings. The one who consumes the extract of Kapitha (wood apple)

You are the Lord (Ganapathi) among the celestial attendants (Ganas). We offer you sacrificial offerings. You are the wisest among the scholars. Your wisdom is known to be of the highest quality and uncompromising.

Ganapati, as the name suggests, is the lord of Ganas or divine hosts. He is the son of Uma and Siva, and the elder brother of Kumaraswamy. He is the elephant-faced God with moon adornment and snake garland. He rides over a mouse.

Ganapati is worshipped in different forms, four or eight-handed, white or reddish brown or golden in hue. In some forms, He is worshipped as a brahmacari, and in some forms, He has two consorts, Siddhi (the deity of success, accomplishment, achievement, completion) and Buddhi (the deity of wisdom).

In most of the forms, He is depicted as having one tusk. However, the word Ekadanta is explained in different ways. In one breakup of the word, as eka-dantam, it means having one danta or tusk. In another breakup, it is ekadam-tam, meaning The Only You.

His name, Ganapati, serves a different purpose. He is the lord of ‘Akshara’s, Ganas or the groups of alphabets.

The other major aspect of Ganapati is that of Vighnaraja, or the lord of vighnas or obstacles. He is the one who creates and frees people from obstacles.

Ganapati is worshipped before beginning anything auspicious/important in life, be it worship or journey or marriage or construction or war or study. Worshipping Ganapati is said to ensure there will be no obstacles in completing anything auspicious.

 

Ode to Ganapati (The Lord of Beginnings)

Oh Ganapati, Lord so wise and bright,
With moon’s soft glow and tusks so white.
Brahmanaspati, in Vedic lore,
You reign as wisdom’s boundless core.

Śuklāmbaradhara, pure and fair,
Four arms uplifted, beyond compare.
With a cheerful face, You bless the way,
And melt all vighnas (obstacles) away.

O Gajanana, with trunk so wide,
On a tiny mouse, You joyfully ride.
Kapitha’s essence, sweet and grand,
You taste with love, by Bhootas fanned.

Ekadanta, the One-Tusked Lord,
By Siddhi and Buddhi, ever adored.
The Vighnaraja, both fierce and kind,
You block or free as You’ve designed.

Before each start, we seek Your grace,
In yajna, war, or learning’s pace.
O Ganapati, with Akshara’s might,
Guard our path with sacred light!

Jai Ganesha! Your name we sing,
To You, all praises we humbly bring.
With folded hands, our hearts bow low,
Bless us, Lord, where’er we go!

5/22/2025

Sham S. Misri,

Seattle, Washington,

USA

Calendar-To find the day of week

 

 

Jatayu And Sampati

Sampati told the Vanaras that because of his divine origins, he had divine sight, and could see that they would be successful in their endeavour. Then, he told them how he came to be there.

A race to the sun

In ancient times, when Indra, the king of gods, killed the Asura Vritra (See box), the brothers Jatayu and Sampati decided. in a moment of pride, to test their valour.

They attempted to fly to the blazing sun, hotter than anything in existence. They ascended rapidly, but Jatayu got too close and was in great pain because of the rays of the sun. Out of love for his younger brother, Sampati flew ahead and shielded him from the fierce rays with his wings, which were burnt in the process. Both lost consciousness and fell to the earth.

The Vindhyas

Sampati fell from the sky and landed on top of a peak in the Vindhya mountains. He remained unconscious for six nights. When he finally came to, he could not understand where he was, as everything around him seemed unfamiliar. With great difficulty, looking at the mountains, rivers, and lakes, he realized that he was near the southern sea.

He remembered that Nishakara, a fierce ascetic, lived in that region, who knew him and his brother. Jatayu. The trees around his hermitage were never without fruits and the flowers remained fragrant.

Searching for the sage

In deep pain because of his wings, Sampati decided to seek his help and went in search of him. Nishakara, upon seeing him, said, Who are you, bird? And how did you get here? 1 knew two mighty brothers, the kings of vultures, but you seem difficult to recognise. It appears that you are the older of those brothers, Sampati ... but your wings seem burnt and your breath seems unsteady. Is this an affliction of some kind? Or did somebody punish you? What happened?"

Sampati replied, "Blessed one. I am wounded and my senses are agitated in embarrassment. I am exhausted and cannot speak." He told the sage what had happened and concluded, "I think my beloved brother Jatayu fell in Janasthana and I fell here, in the Vindhyas. Bereft of my kingdom, my brother, and my wings, I do not have it in me to live anymore. So saying, Sampati wept before the sage.

Nishakara's prophecy

The sage fell into silent contemplation and then said, "You shall have new wings, Sampati, and renewed strength and vigour. I have heard this and seen through my ascetic powers that a king shall be born in the Ikshvaku lineage called Dasharatha. He shall have a brilliant son called Rama, who will come to the forest with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. Ravarna, the invincible Rakshasa, will abduct his wife. The glorious Sita shall reject all luxuries offered to her. Even when Indra offers her food while in Ravana's realm, she will offer it to the ground, saying, "This is for Rama."

He added, "Vanaras will come to this region as Rama's messengers, and you will tell them about Sita. Don't go anywhere. But where can you go in this state anyway?

Await the right moment, and this great destiny shall be yours. You will be helping the princes, the gods and Indra himself. I would have liked to see Rama too, but I do not want to wait for that long and will cast off my body soon."

The truth in the prophecy

Sampati finished telling his story and then looked at the Vanaras. He said that he had waited for this moment for 100 years. He told them how, every time he slipped into deep depression, wondering about the purpose of his life, he remembered the wise sage's words.

As the Vanaras watched, Sampati's wings grew back and red feathers reappeared.

Overjoyed, he said, "I can feel the strength of my youth. My wings have returned as well. This tells me that you will be successful in your objective," he said. "Now, go find Sita."

 

The Camels – Clumsy Animals

"The Ship of the Desert"

Clumsy and slow, yet steadfast and wise,
Across the scorching sands it strides—
A living vessel, sun-baked, lean,
The desert’s lord, its patient queen.

No hoof, but padded, soft and wide,
It treads where brittle dunes abide.
No storm of sand, no furnace air
Can halt its march through wastelands bare.

For Abraham, a wealth untold,
For Job, three thousand—priceless gold.
Through Sheba’s pomp, through caravans,
It bore the dreams of desert clans.

And as it walked, the poets sang—
Of battles fierce, of love’s sweet pang,
Of dark-eyed maids and cooling streams,
Of phantom oases in their dreams.

The rhythm swayed with every stride,
The verses matched the beast’s slow glide.
Then faster songs would lift its head,
And drive it forth where silence fled.

No water is stored in secret cells,
No magic hump where liquid dwells—
Just flesh and fat, endurance true,
And salt to drink when journeys are through.

Oh clumsy beast, so strange, so grand,
You shaped the fate of sealess land.
Without your strength, without your tread,
The desert’s songs would all lie dead.

Below, I give a brief historical and biological account. Story:

To the big populations of the East, the camel has for centuries been meat and drink, dress, war steed and baggage animal, the one animated vessel capable of carrying man and his wares across an ocean of sun-scorched sand. The camel has been called the ship of the desert.

We cannot date the domestication of the camel. It runs back to prehistoric times. A papyrus more than thirty-three centuries old mentions this priceless beast. Heat and harsh land in the Middle East, cold lands more bitter and barren in the Far East have made the camel necessary to human life in those regions.

The Old Testament scenes always have camels in the background. These beasts were wealth to Abraham. Job was the "greatest man of the East" because, in addition to sheep and oxen, he had three thousand camels,

All the great Bible journeys, the Queen of Sheba's gorgeous cavalcade to Jerusalem and the long journeys from all parts of the Holy Land; the convoys bringing merchandise to the Mediterranean ports for distribution throughout the West were carried out by camel labor. And there is this romantic fact to be added, that the first fruits of Arab literary genius are camel songs. As they made their long, monotonous journeys across the burning deserts. The old poetic sons of space composed verselets, keeping time with the footfalls of the beasts they rode.

They sang songs of dark-eyed maidens and streams tinkling clear in dreamland oases; fierce rhymes of battle and of contests for wells. The meter was fixed by the tread of the camels, and the beasts marched better in time to their masters' voices than in silence. With a quickening of the songs, they raised their heads, lengthened their stride, and hastened their speed; and new rhythms, more complex lines, and couplets grew to match the new pace. And so Arabic literature, or at least Arabic poetry, grew in the desert, beaten out beneath the burning sky by men swaying and swinging to the lurching gait of the marching camel on old caravan routes.

The secret of the camel's unique value lies, as we all know, in the fact that these animals are so footed that they do not sink, as a hard-hoofed mammal sinks into the sand. They walk on it as a reindeer walks on snow, upon a well-padded foot that spreads under the animal's weight.

How a camel can march for days without drinking is amazing.

In addition to that, they can march for several days through the desert without drinking, though it is not true that a camel can support a huge burden through the wilds for two or three weeks at a time without any chance of drinking. The camel is as fond of water as a thirsty human being, and it has no special way to store up the water. As in other animals, water is stored in the tissues all over the body and is used as needed. After some days in the desert without water, the camel is parched and shrunken. At the first oasis it is given salt to eat, for salt helps the body tissues to store water; then the shrunken beast drinks its fill and plumps out again amazingly.

It was once thought that the peculiar cells in the first two compartments of the camel's stomach were used to store water, but the water contained in the stomach is not enough to do much good in the desert.

The hump on the camel's back is almost all fat. When this fat is used up by the body, water is produced by as much as ten gallons in a large camel. In addition, the animal's body draws upon that reservoir of fatty nourishment for the energy that it needs when food is scarce or lacking.

Sham S. Misri

 

The Birth of Kartikeya[Shiva's Son]

For a thousand years, Shiva and Parvati lived in wedded bliss, undisturbed by the world and engrossed in each other.

At last, the union of Purusha and Prakriti created a golden embryo, the Hiranyagarbha. * It fell through the sky, blazing hot.

The devas, who had been anxiously awaiting such an event, were dismayed. If it falls unchecked, it will shatter the earth!

Quick. Agni, only you can hold it.

Agni swooped down and caught the fiery egg.

It is burning hot!

It scorched him so badly that he set it down quickly on the icy slopes of the Himalayas.

Not able to bear the burden, the mighty mountain flung the embryo into a thicket of Sara Reeds on the bank of the Ganga.

Ganga sheltered the embryo in her crystal, cool waters till one day, a beautiful, golden-skinned baby boy was born.

What a strong and beautiful boy! Surely, he is of noble birth.

*Hiranya-golden, garsha= womb.

The idea of a golden egg from which sprang all life is used often in Hindu mythology and philosophy. It can mean the creation of life, or the first human, or the cosmos itself.

Six astral mothers called the Krittika’s came to bathe in the river.

Look, a baby! He is mine!

He is mine! I saw him first!

No, he will be my son.

Suddenly, the baby had six heads, instead of one, so that all the mothers could care for him.

The Krittika’s took the baby up into the stars, deep into the constellation Taurus, hidden from prying eyes

They dressed him in fine clothes, nourished him, and sang songs to amuse him.

My turn to sing to him today.

He shines like the brightest star in the Milky Way.

Parvati too longed for her child.

O Shiva, I ache to hold my child in my arms.

Shiva summoned the devas.

Where is the Hiranyagarbha? Our child must be born now.

A search began for Parvati and Mahadeva's child.

I set the Hiranyagarbha down here in the snow, but it is not here!

It was too fiery for me to bear! I flung it into the Ganga.

They found Ganga weeping, also searching for her child.

He was hidden in the Sara Reeds, but has disappeared!

Soma, the moon, provided the answer.

Shiva's son is being cared for by the six Krittikas. They love him as their child.

Shiva sent his ganas, led by Nandi, to bring his son home. They found a handsome, laughing boy, glowing with divine energy.

Child, you are the son of Shiva, the auspicious lord, and Parvati, the eternal, divine mother. They long to meet you and have sent me to fetch you.

The boy bowed to Nandi. Greetings, o venerable Nandineshwara. I will come with you at once, as I must honour my birth parents....

But the noble Krittika’s are also my mother's, as they have sheltered and nourished me. They shall accompany me too.

Nandi proudly carried the youth to Kailasha. All the denizens of the heavens gathered to welcome the splendid son of Shiva.

Conches rang, and there were showers of vermilion and flowers.

The young boy bowed to his parents and sought their blessings.

Rise, my son.

Parvati embraced her child with tears of joy in her eyes.

How I have longed to see you!

As my son, he will be known as Guha, as the son of Uma. He is Skanda, as the son of Agni; he is Agneya, as the son of the Krittikas; he is Kartikeya, as the son of Ganga; he is Kumara. *

Brahmarashi Vishwamitra performed the solemn thread ceremony and installed Kartikeya upon a throne.