Tarakasura story | Kartikeya killing Tarakasura story | Lord Shiva and Parvati marriage

For some days Taraka (Tarakasura) ate nothing, for some more days he survived only on water, and on other days he ate only leaves.

Every day Taraka (Tarakasura) sliced off some flesh from his body and offered it to the fire as a token of his devotion.

All these hardships pleased Lord Sri Brahma Deva and he appeared before Taraka (Tarakasura).

“Enough is enough,” said Lord Sri Brahma Deva. “I am pleased at your devotion. What boon can I grant you?”

“I want to fight with the Devatas (Demigods),” replied Taraka (Tarakasura).

“The Devatas (Demigods) have been giving the demons a hard time and I intended to reverse the tide. Please grant me the boon that I may be invincible and immortal.”

“Immortality is not a boon that can be granted to any living being.” Said Lord Sri Brahma Deva.

“All living beings must die one or the other day. But if you want, set fairly difficult conditions for your death”, said Lord Sri Brahma Deva.

“In that case, please grant me the boon that I can only be killed by a seven year old child of the Lord Shiva,” requested Taraka (Tarakasura).

[This boon was asked by Taraka (Tarakasura), as he thought Lord Shiva will never marry and thus won’t be having any children in the future after the story of Goddess Sri Sati Devi.]

Lord Sri Brahma Deva gladly granted this boon to Taraka (Tarakasura).

The War Between the Devatas (Demigods) and the Demons 

Fortified with Lord Sri Brahma Deva’s boon, Taraka (Tarakasura) started to rule the demons and the underworlds.

After some years had passed and after Taraka (Tarakasura) had raised a strong army, he decided to attack Svarga Loka (Heaven) of Lord Sri Indra Deva.

A huge army of demons was accordingly raised. There were thousands of elephants, horses and chariots in the army.

Apart from Taraka (Tarakasura), the major generals in the army were: Jambha, Kujambha, Mahisha, Kunjara, Megha, Kalanemi, Nimi, Mathana, Jambhaka and Shumbha.

Diverse were the weapons that the demons armed themselves with.

The Devatas (Demigods) also prepared themselves for the war, having first appointed Lord Sri Yama Deva as their general (Army Chief).

Lord Sri Yama Deva, the Devata (Demigod) of Dharma, rode into battle on his mount Mahisha (A divine Buffalo).

Lord Sri Indra Deva had his chariot, driven by his charioteer (Sarathi) Matali (मातलि / mātali).

The fire-god Lord Sri Agni Deva rode on a Mesha (मेष / mēṣa) the goat and Lord Sri Varuna Deva, the lord of the oceans, rode a snake.

Amongst the other Devatas (Demigods) who were in the army were Lord Sri Chandra Deva, Lord Sri Surya Deva and Lord Sri Kubera, the Devata (Demigod) of prosperity and wealth.

The war was terrible to behold. The trumpeting of elephants, the neighing of horses and the beating of drums made a terrible racket.

Above all this, there was the noise of weapons clanging and bows twanging.

Chariots fought with Chariots, elephants with elephants, horses with horses and foot-soldiers with foot-soldiers.

The sky was thick with spears, maces, axes, swords, tridents, clubs, arrows flying around etc.

Dead bodies littered the battlefield and rivers of blood began to flow through the battlefield.

Lord Sri Yama Deva fought a fierce duel with a demon named Grasana and Lord Sri Kubera fought with Jambha.

Kujambha also fought with Lord Sri Kubera and put Lord Sri Kubera to flight.

The strong demon named Kalanemi fought with both Lord Sri Chandra Deva and Lord Sri Surya Deva.

The two Ashvini Kumaras (Two physicians of Devatas / Demigods) received a sound thrashing at Kalanemi’s hands.

(These Ashvini Kumaras take avatar as Nakula and Sahadeva during Mahabharata period and as Meinda and Vivida during Ramayana period.)

(Ashvini Kumaras original names are Nasatya and Dasra in their planet.)

The news that the Devatas (Demigods) were being slaughtered reached Lord Sri Vishnu and thus Lord Sri Vishnu joined the fight.

The demons immediately attacked Lord Sri Vishnu, but were no match for him.

One of Lord Sri Vishnu’s maces knocked Kalanemi unconscious. Lord Sri Vishnu’s chakra sliced off Grasana’s head.

Jambha did manage to knock Lord Sri Vishnu unconscious with a club.

(This was one of the drama / pastimes of Lord Sri Vishnu, as there is no one who can defeat Lord Sri Vishnu in the Multiverses.)

But Lord Sri Indra Deva slew Jambha with a divine weapon Vajrayudha (Vajra).

The trouble however was with Taraka (Tarakasura). When he came to fight, the Devatas (Demigods) had no option but to flee.

Those who did not flee were captured and imprisoned. The demon won a resounding victory.

Lord Sri Brahma Deva’s Advice to Devatas (Demigods)

Those of the Devatas (Demigods) who had survived the battle and were still free started to pray to Lord Sri Brahma Deva.

“What can I do for you?” asked Lord Sri Brahma Deva. Why are all of you looking so despondent?”

“You are the one who is responsible for our misfortune,” replied the Devatas (Demigods).

“You have granted Taraka (Tarakasura) a boon that has made him virtually invincible.”

“Armed with this boon, Taraka (Tarakasura) is oppressing the universe and has soundly thrashed us. What are we to do now?”

“There is no cause for such despondency,” said Lord Sri Brahma Deva.

“Taraka (Tarakasura) is not immortal. He will be slain by a seven year old child. Unfortunately that child has not yet been born.”

“That child will be the son of Lord Shiva. The problem is that Lord Shiva is unmarried.”

“Lord Shiva was earlier married to Goddess Sri Sati Devi, but Goddess Sri Sati Devi immolated herself at the time of a Daksha Prajapati yajna. She has now been reborn as Goddess Sri Parvati Devi.”

“The task at hand is to get Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi married. Their son will kill Taraka (Tarakasura).”

(Goddess Sri Parvati Devi’s father name is Parvata Raja (Himavan) and mother name is Mainavati (Menavati) Devi.)

It was necessary to make Lord Shiva fall in love with Goddess Sri Parvati Devi.

Lord Sri Mammatha or Madana or Kama Deva, the Devata (Demigod) of love, was sent by Lord Sri Indra Deva to Lord Shiva’s hermitage (ashrama), so that this might be achieved.

But because this disturbed Lord Shiva’s meditation, Lord Shiva immediately burnt down Lord Madana (Mammatha or Kama Deva) up.

Meanwhile, Goddess Sri Parvati Devi had begun to perform tapasya (tapas) (penance), so that she might have Lord Shiva as her consort (husband).

For one hundred years more, Goddess Sri Parvati Devi ate only one leaf a day.

And for the final hundred years, Goddess Sri Parvati Devi meditated fasting.

The seven great sages (Saptarishis) went and told Lord Shiva about Goddess Sri Parvati Devi’s tapasya (tapas) (penance) and Lord Shiva agreed to marry Goddess Sri Parvati Devi.

The marriage took place amidst a great deal of fanfare.

All the rivers and the mountains came to attend the ceremony.

So did the Rishis (Sages), the Devatas (Demigods), the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, the Yakshas, etc.

Lord Sri Brahma Deva himself acted as the priest for the marriage ceremony.

How Goddess Kali (काळि / kāḷi) became Goddess Gauri

On one particular occasion, Lord Shiva addressed Goddess Sri Parvati Devi as “Kali” (read as काळि / kāḷi).

The word Kali (काळि / kāḷi) means dark and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi thought that Lord Shiva referring to her dark complexion.

Goddess Sri Parvati Devi did not realize that Lord Shiva was merely trying to tease her a bit.

Greatly incensed at the imagined slight, Goddess Sri Parvarti Devi decided that she would meditate so that she might become fair.

Goddess Sri Parvati Devi wore clothing made of barks of trees and performed tapasya (tapas) (penance).

In the summer Goddess Sri Parvati Devi prayed inside a raging fire and in the winter she prayed under the water.

Sometimes, Goddess Sri Parvati Devi ate only roots and fruits. At other times, she fasted completely.

Prior to leaving for her tapasya (tapas) (penance), Goddess Sri Parvati Devi had instructed Nandi (Mount of Lord Shiva) that he was to stand guard at Lord Shiva’s door and permit no other woman to enter.

There was a demon named Adi. This demon had performed a lot of tapasya (tapas) (penance) and had manage to please Lord Sri Brahma Deva.

When Lord Sri Brahma Deva agreed to grant demon Adi a boon. Demon Adi asked for the boon of immortality.

Lord Sri Brahma Deva naturally refused this boon of the demon Adi.

Lord Sri Brahma Deva however granted demon Adi the boon that the demon would die only when he changed his form twice, not otherwise.

Demon Adi happened to come to Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi’s house and discovered Nandi standing guard at the door.

Wondering what there was to be guarded, demon Adi adopted the form of a snake and slithered in.

Nandi did not notice the snake (Demon Adi), but this was Demon Adi’s first transformation.

Inside the house, Demon Adi encountered Lord Shiva and thought that he would play a trick on Lord Shiva. Then Demon Adi adopted Goddess Sri Parvati Devi’s form.

This was his second transformation. In the form of Goddess Sri Parvati Devi, Demon Adi went up to Lord Shiva and greeted him.

Initially, Lord Shiva did not realize that this was not the original Goddess Sri Parvati Devi Devi. Lord Shiva greeted the Demon Adi and said:

“Darling, I am delighted that you have returned. I can see that your rage has cooled down.”

But in a little while Lord Shiva realized that this was not the original Goddess Sri Parvati Devi. Lord Shiva slew the Demon Adi.

Meanwhile, the original Goddess Sri Parvati Devi was continuing with her tapasya (tapas) (penance) and pleased Lord Sri Brahma Deva with her prayers.

Lord Sri Brahma Deva granted Goddess Sri Parvati Devi the boon that she would become fair.

Since the word ‘Gauri‘ means fair in Sanskrit, Goddess Sri Parvati Devi was thereafter known as ‘Gauri Devi‘.

A Goddess named Kaushiki emerged out of Goddess Sri Parvati Devi’s cells, thus named because the word Kosha means cell in Sanskrit.

The darkness of Goddess Sri Parvati Devi’s complexion entered Goddess Sri Kaushiki Devi’s body.

Lord Sri Brahma Deva instructed the Goddess Sri Kaushiki Devi to go and live in the Vindhya mountains.

Thus Goddess Sri Kaushiki is therefore also known as ‘Vindhyavasini‘.

(Here Vindhyavasini = Vindhya + Vasini = Vindhya Mountains + She who lives = Vindhyavasini is someone who lives in the Vindhya mountains and thus the name.)

(According to the Markandeya Purana, Kaushiki emerged from Parvati’s cells when Parvati was engaged in fighting the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha.)

Lord Sri Kartikeya and Taraka (Tarakasura)

Lord Sri Kartikeya or Lord Sri Skanda was born after some time of Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi’s marriage.

The boy shone with the radiance of a thousand suns and had six (shan) faces (anana / mukha).

Lord Sri Kartikeya was therefore also known as Shatanana (शतानन / ಶತಾನನ / śatānana) or Shanmukha (षण्मुख / ṣaṇmukha). These both the names has the same meaning that is, six faced or six heads.

(Some other Puranas like the Brahmavaivarata Purana state that Skanda got lost when he was small and was brought up by the Goddesses known as Krittikas.)

[That is how he acquired the name of Kartikeya. The Krittikas (6 in number) were Goddesses, also identified as stars (the Pleiades).]

The Devatas (Demigods) armed Lord Sri Kartikeya with diverse weapons and appointed him as their general.

Devatas (Demigods) requested Lord Sri Kartikeya to kill the demon Taraka (Tarakasura) and arrangements were made for the battle.

When Taraka (Tarakasura) saw Lord Sri Kartikeya he said, “What is a boy like you doing in a battlefield? Go and play with a ball instead.”

A battlefield is not the place for idle talk,” replied Lord Sri Kartikeya. “Show me your prowess instead.”

At these words, Taraka (Tarakasura) flung a club at Lord Sri Kartikeya. But Lord Sri Kartikeya easily repelled the club with a vajra.

The demon Taraka (Tarakasura) next hurled an axe, but Lord Sri Kartikeya effortlessly caught the axe in his hand.

Lord Sri Kartikeya then struck the demon Taraka (Tarakasura) with a club of his own.

This angered Taraka (Tarakasura) so much that the demon King showered all sorts of weapons on Lord Sri Kartikeya.

But the boy Lord Sri Kartikeya repelled all of these and started to kill demons with his own weapons.

Many demons fled in dismay. As for Taraka (Tarakasura) himself, Lord Sri Kartikeya’s spear pierced him in the chest and killed him instantly.

Thus it was that Lord Sri Brahma Deva’s boon became true.

Lord Sri Kartikeya’s sorrow

While the Devatas (Demigods) hailed the glory of Lord Sri Kartikeya for having killed Taraka (Tarakasura), Lord Sri Kartikeya himself was saddened by his act.

Lord Sri Kartikeya told the Devatas (Demigods) (Deities) as given below:

‘I (Lord Sri Kartikeya) regret for having killed Taraka (Tarakasura), because he was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Is there any way to atone for my sin?’

Lord Sri Vishnu consoled Lord Sri Kartikeya as given below:

‘Killing a wicked person, who nourishes himself on the blood of innocent people, is not a sinful deed.’

‘But, still, if you feel guilty then there is no better way to atone for your sin than worshipping Lord Shiva.’

‘Install Shiva Lingas and worship them with deep devotion.’

Thus, Lord Sri Kartikeya instructed Vishnukarma to make three divine Shiva Lingas.

Later on Lord Sri Kartikeya installed these Shiva Lingas at three different places and worshipped them with appropriate rituals.

In course of time these three holy places came to be known as Pratigyeshwara, Kapaleshwara and Kumareshwara.

Lord Sri Kartikeya, while worshipping at Kapaleshwara sprinkled holy water on the Shiva Linga and prayed so that Taraka’s (Tarakasura) soul rested in peace.

Lord Sri Kartikeya also offered sesame (tila / til) seeds to Lord Sr Kapaleshwara and prayed as given below:

‘May my offerings made in the form of sesame (tila / til tarpana) seeds reach Taraka (Tarakasura), the descendant of Maharisi Kashyapa.’

This way, Lord Sri Kartikeya was absolved of his sins of killing the demon King Taraka (Tarakasura).

Killing of Pralamba (Pralambasura)

A demon named Pralamba (Pralambasura) had escaped unharmed in the battle fought between the Devatas (Demigods( (Deities) and Demons, where the Taraka (Tarakasura) was killed by Lord Sri Skanda (Kartikeya).

As the Devatas (Demigods) (Deities) were busy installing Shiva Lingas at different places, Pralamba (Pralambasura) started to torment their families in their absence.

The Devatas (Demigods) (Deities) got this information from Kumuda who appeared at the time when the Devatas (Demigods) (Deities) were digging up a reservoir near ‘Siddheshwar (Siddheshwara)‘ temple.

All the Devatas (Demigods) (Deities) requested Lord Sri Kartikeya to do something.

Thus Lord Sri Kartikeya released his fiery weapon, ‘Shakti‘ in the direction of Pralamba (Pralambasura).

The mighty weapon Shakti pierced the heart of earth and went right up to Patala Loka where Pralamba (Pralambasura) lived with the surviving demons.

All the demons were killed within few moments. A long tunnel had been created as the impact of Shakti’s penetration of the earth.

This tunnel was later on filled up with the water of Patala Ganga and became famous as ‘Siddha-koopa’ (A huge hole on ground).

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