[Advaita-l] Brahma's son incarnates as Shiva's son - Sanatkumara-Skanda

[V Subrahmanian]

On Sat, May 2, 2020 at 11:26 PM venkata raman via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Arunachalam
> Namaskaram
>  Appears like what is being looked for:
>
> https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/11298/what-scriptures-describe-brahmas-son-sanatkumara-being-reborn-as-shivas-son-ka
>
> Arunachalam
> <https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/posts/11353/timeline>
>
> The 37th Chapter of the Mahatmya Kanda of the Tripura Rahasya details the
> story of Sanatkumara incarnating as Kartikeya.
>

Many thanks Sri Venkata Raman for sharing this story from the very text the
scholar mentioned.  Today, while listening to another discourse of this
very scholar, I was pleasantly surprised to hear this very story related by
him and what is more, he even cited the Shankara Bhashya passage I had
shared in my post.  Here is that very interesting discourse:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyOd4EESu8g

ஆழ்வார் நாயன்மார் சந்திப்பு - Dr Venkatesh
He cites Shankara's stotras, incidents, etc.

regards
subbu


>
> Lord Dattatreya relates the story of Lord Muruga to Parashurama, listening
> to which Parashurama asks Dattatreya:
>
> Kathamesha Mahabhagah Skandah Tam Asuresvaram|
> Jitavaan Shivavishnvendra-Durjeyamapi Samyuge|| (37.78)
>
> "O Lord, how was this greatly fortunate Skanda able to conquer the king of
> Asuras , who was undefeatable by even Shiva, Vishnu and Indra in battle?"
>
> To which Dattatreya replied that Lord Sanat-kumara, the son of Brahma was
> ever peaceful and content with himself. He dwelt on the Mountain named
> Rshabha. Once, Lord Brahma arrived to meet his son, and Sanatkumara related
> a dream he had seen, of a great battle between the devas and asuras.
>
> Yuddhamaseet Mahabhimam Asuranam Tatha Amaraih|
> Tatra Sarve Maya Yuddhe Nihataah Balavattaraah|| (37.85)
> Asuraas Tat Kathamidam *Nirhetukam* Abhut Vada|
>
> "O Father, I saw a dream, of a great war between the asuras and the devas.
> I saw myself slaying all the formidable asuras in the war. I want to know
> how such a *baseless* thing could happen!"
>
> Lord Brahma replied that in a past life, Sanatkumara had been a Brahmana,
> who having heard the account of the battle between Devas and Asuras, had
> vowed to defeat all the asuras and return prosperity to the devas, with the
> fire as his witness. But he attained his death before he could fulfil his
> vow, so instead of getting Moksha, he incarnated as Brahma's son
> Sanatkumara. Brahma also told him that whatever he had seen in the dream
> would actually take place.
>
> When Sanatkumara asked Brahma how this was possible, Brahma told him that
> Sanatkumara himself would decide how this would take place, and returned to
> Brahmaloka.
>
> As Sanatkumara meditated on this statement, Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati
> passed by his hermitage. Seeing his composed face, Parvati (who had not
> seen Sanatkumara before as she was newly married) asked Lord Shiva who he
> was. When Shiva told her about Sanatkumara, she expressed her wish to meet
> him.
>
> When both Mahadeva and Girija reached the hermitage, Sanatkumara didn't
> notice them. After waiting for a long time, Mahadeva decided to test
> Sanatkumara and flew into a rage. He scolded Sanatkumara saying that his
> conduct did not befit him, the son of Brahma. When Sanatkumara was
> addressed thus, he opened his eyes and said, "I won't be frightened by your
> curses, nor will I be excited by your boons. I have conquered both fear and
> excitement, thus you cannot make me react in any way, either ordinary or
> extra-ordinary."
>
> When he had replied thus, Mahadeva was pleased and asked him to seek a
> boon. Sanatkumara laughed and said,
>
> "Saadhayasva Mahadeva Esha Me Kaankshito Varah|| (37.118)
> Maayavinam Maheshaana Naaham Vepayitum Kshamah|
> Mahavaatair-Ivaakasham Bruhi Te Yadi Vaanchitam||(37.119)
>
> "O Great Lord, Mahadeva, I cannot be agitated by illusions or illusionists,
> just like hurricanes cannot disturb the sky. Therefore, I seek this boon
> that, if *you* have any wish, you may seek it from *me*."
>
> Upon hearing this, Mahadeva said 'Om' and continued,
>
> Yadi Dasyasi Me Kamam Prateeccha Mama Putrataam|| (37.120)
> "If you shall grant my wish, then become my son!"
>
> Sanatkumara smiled and said, "I shall become your son, but *only yours*,
> because Parvati Devi hasn't asked this boon of me!"
>
> Parvati immediately argued that since the wife was entitled to half of her
> husband's fortunes and misfortunes, she also was entitled to being his
> mother. Sanatkumara consented and said, "When Bhasmasura had sought the
> boon to turn anyone to ashes, and tired it on Shiva, he had disappeared,
> hearing about which you had become aggrieved and turned into a forest of
> reeds. I shall incarnate into *that body* of yours; hence you will be my
> mother."
>
> So saying, Lord Sanatkumara granted them leave, and was born as their son,
> in the lake (Poigai in Tamil), in the forest of reeds, Sharavanam. Thus he
> became Lord Muruga.
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