The Birth that Terrified the Gods: How Garuda was Born?

 Once there was a powerful sage. His name was Rishi Kashyapa. His 2 wives are Kadru & Vinata. One day, he was pleased by his wives' hostages, and he offered them boons. Kadru wants that she should have 1000 sons. Kashyapa agreed. But, Vinata said I don’t need 1000 sons. I just only need 2 sons. But, those 2 sons will be more powerful than Kadru’s 1000 sons combined. Kashyapa agreed. Then, he left his hermitage.

Over time, Kadru received 1000 eggs. From that, 1000 children of snakes emerged. So, that’s why Kadru is considered the ‘Mother of All Snakes’. But Vinata’s 2 eggs remain intact. Over time, she became irritated. And, one day, accidentally, she broke one of the eggs to see what was inside. She saw a half-developed child. That child cursed Vinata, saying that she didn’t give him proper time to grow. She will have to wait for a long time to see her other child emerging from the other egg. After saying this, the child lifted off to the sky. That child was Arun Dev.

Over the period of time, one day, Kadru and Vinata both saw a divine Horse, Ucchaishrava. The seven-headed horse. They made a bet about its tail. Kadru said the horse’s tail was Black. Vinata said it was White. They also came to the conclusion that whoever loses the bet will become a slave to another. That night, Kadru told his 1000 snakes to wrap around the horse’s tail so it would appear black, so that she could win the bet. Some of the snakes refused to do that. Kadru cursed them, saying that they will get destroyed. That’s why they want Amrita, the Nectar, to become immortal. Likewise, the next morning, the snakes wrapped around Ucchaishrava’s tail so it appeared Black. That’s how Vinata lost the bet and became a slave to Kadru. In that time, the other egg broke. And, from that egg a child emerged. He was so powerful that the Devatas shivered. His name was Garuda, who later became the Mount of Lord Vishnu himself. He tried to free his mother, Vinata, from slavery, which is why told by the snakes he went in search of Amrita. But that’s a story for another day.

This is how the mighty Garuda was born. If you learn something new from this post, please UPVOTE it, and don’t forget to follow my space MINDVERSE.

Who was bhishma in his past birth?

 Bhīṣma was Dyau (Dyou) Vasu, one of the Aṣṭa Vasus, in his previous birth. The eight Vasus were cursed by sage Vasiṣṭha (Apava) for stealing his divine cow Nandinī.

Among them, Dyau was identified as the principal offender and was therefore sentenced to a prolonged human life, while the other seven Vasus were released shortly after birth.

Gaṅgā narrates to King Śantanu the story of the eight Vasus and their curse -

‘”In the evening, Varuna’s son returned to the hermitage with the fruit he had collected. He did not see the cow and her calf in that supreme wood. Then the one blessed with the power of austerities looked for her in the forest. But though he searched, the sage could not find her. Through his divine sight, he then found that she had been stolen by the vasus. His anger arose and he cursed the vasus. ‘Because the vasus have stolen my cow which yields sweet milk and has a handsome tail, there is no doubt that they will all be born as men.’ O bull among the Bharata lineage! Thus did the illustrious Apava, supreme among sages, curse the vasus in his anger. Having cursed them, the illustrious one returned to his austerities. O king! Thus, in his wrath, did the one blessed with the power of austerities curse the eight vasus. The rishi was immensely powerful and knew the nature of the brahman. As soon as they knew that they had been cursed by the rishi, the gods went to the hermitage of the great-souled one. O bull among kings! The vasus tried to pacify the rishi. O tiger among men! But they failed to obtain the grace of Apava, who was learned in all dharma and was supreme among rishis. The righteous sage said, ‘O Dhara! You and the other vasus have been cursed. But you will all be freed from your curse within a year. But Dyou is the one whose act has led to your being cursed by me. Because of his own deeds, he will have to live in the world of men for a long time. Though uttered in anger, my words cannot amount to a falsehood. However, the great-souled one will not have offspring in the world of men. He will be devoted to dharma and will be skilled in the usage of all weapons. He will be engaged in doing that which brings his father pleasure and he will forsake pleasure with women.’ Having addressed all the vasus in this way, the great rishi went away. And all the vasus then came to me together.

‘“O king! They craved a boon from me. ‘O Ganga! As soon as each one of us is born, you should yourself throw us into the water.’ O supreme among kings! I agreed and acted accordingly, in order to free them from a life in the world of men, a consequence of the curse. O best of kings! O descendant of the Bharata lineage! O king! Dyou alone will have to live in the world of men for a long time, because of the rishi’s curse.”’

• 93, Sambhava Parva, Mahabharata

THE STORY OF SOMA SHARMA | PREVIOUS BIRTH OF PRAHLADA

 Prahlada, the legendary devotee of Lord Vishnu. But, you may ask why he was born as a Demon’s son, which was HIRANYAKASHIPU. But, there is a reason behind it.

Soma Sharma, a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, lived in a quite forest. He spend his entire life chanting Lord Vishnu's name. But, there are some rakshasas who distract Soma Sharma, on performing his Tapas. But, he remained indifferent. Then, when he was too old and at the time of leaving his body, he should think about Vishnu. But, at that time of leaving his body, he mistakenly thought of the Rakshasas beside him. And, he left his body. That's why on his next birth, he was born as a son of Hiranyakashipu.

Is birth of a child in Amavasya considered inauspicious or is it just a myth?

 Namaste,

Amavasya IN Jyotish:

Amavasya stands for together to dwell. The Day when the Sun and Moon are conjunct together at 0 -Zero Degree, it’s the day called Amavasya. Amavasya is the lunar Phase, the Tithi as per Vedic Jyotish, that is also known as New Moon. New Moon is the day when the new journey is going to start for the soul that comes to this Earth.

If you are born on Amavasya Tithi, that is considered your Vedic Birthday. Your birth Tithi is an essential aspect of the Panchang.

It marks the day you were born, carrying a specific emotion that is inherent in your soul. This can be interpreted in terms of the relationship between the emotions of the Sun (Shiva) and Moon (Parvati), as well as the water element (Represent Emotion) that you embody.

Amavasya is considered inauspicious, or is it just a myth?

If someone is born on the New Moon, the Amavasya, it signifies the Purification process that the soul will undergo in its experience, encompassing all Six Ripus (inner enemies).

This Purification word is used here because if a planet comes closer to the Sun, it is the Sun's responsibility, being the king, to guide the correct rules, ethics, and behavioural patterns to make their birth successful.

The Sun is the fire, the Shiva, the ultimate wisdom that never wants you to be in darkness. It will enlighten you through experiences with various Emotional Experiences.

What happens if someone is born on Amavasya?

The Prataydhi Devta, the higher form of Sun, is Shiva, and for the Moon, it is Parvati. When these energies come together, Shiva guides Parvati, the preceptor of the Moon in Vedic Jyotish, as Mother, who represents the consciousness of our soul.

The guidance of Shiva (the Sun), the King in astrology, gives the direction to perform the Tapasya/penance, which is not an easy journey, so the pain of Six Ripus and the experiences to control those with discipline by our Manas, the Moon, as Paravati, the higher consciousness, will experience the purification.

These are as follows:

• Mad & Matsrya: Get rid of excessive self-importance & Envy of others.
• Lobha: control the greed to attain the higher goal.
• Moha: Get rid of attachment to all achievements, which is hindering the attainment of the desired result, which is suitable for the higher goal of the soul.
• Krodh: overcoming the Anger to win the rivals,
• Kaam: through struggle in life, learn from having desires.

These Six Ripus will burn out through significant ups and downs if one is born on a New Moon.

People born on Aamvasya-New Moon are always in a questioning mood because they don’t find the answer. That answer will come when they start meditation, contemplate on those, and learn through the katha of Parvati’s life, reading good books, rather than focusing on mundane things or getting stuck in arguments that eventually cause loss of energy and affect their emotional health.

So, you were born on Amavasya New Moon. In that case, you have the energy of Parvati, but that Parvati is in the mood of questing for multiple things to attain the form of Mahakali, due to its close association with the Sun fire of Wisdom, the Shiva.

So, Tithi is just the Phase of mood you were born into and the Emotions of your Soul that will bring life changes as you learn and expect to come to Earth. This Journey from the Amavasya moon to become Kali and transform yourself to Parvati, the ultimate consciousness under the Divine guidance of Shiva, is not inauspicious; it’s the challenging task that you have been assigned, and you are capable and rewarded with the chance to learn directly through Shiva, the sun, because your Moon in your horoscope is in close association with the sun, so feel Blessed.

Remedial measures for Amavsya Born:

• In BPHS (Brihat Parashar Hora Shastra Vol 2), chapter 86, R. Santhanam, Remedial Measures for Birth on Amavasya suggests that the Sun and Moon idols should be worshipped in the South-West direction, where the energies of Rahu and Nirritti dwell, representing darkness. Deep diving into these two energies indicates a higher consciousness of Shiva and Parvati.
• Rishi always gives clues to help us find out, as they believe we know we are their good students and can confirm that with a depth of reading through our scriptures.
• So, be motivated if you were born on New Moon Amavasya and work on your learning, rather than wandering here and there.
• Practice self-reflection, manage your Six Ripu, and focus on improving yourself, especially if you are born on Aamvsya, the New Moon.
• Ask yourself and try to find the answer with extra effort because Shiva and Parvati’s energy is there with you in the form of the Sun and the Moon in close association.
• As per Vastu, try to keep the South-West Direction clear.

We should be aware of the fundamental principles of Vedic Jyotish, which provide guidance and insight to navigate our lives with clarity and confidence, rather than being entangled in ambiguity. Have the chance to learn from the many books provided in our culture.

The Birth Stories of Lord Ganesha, Kartikeya (Murugar), and Hanumanji in Hindu Mythology: A Detailed Analysis

Introduction

Hindu mythology is filled with rich narratives about divine births, each with its own unique purpose and cosmic significance. Among the most revered deities, Lord Ganesha, Kartikeya (also known as Murugar, Skanda, or Subramanya), and Hanumanji have distinct birth stories that highlight their divine missions. While all three are regarded as immensely powerful, their origins reflect different aspects of Dharma, devotion, and cosmic order. This analysis explores the differences in their birth stories, theological interpretations, and their significance in Hindu tradition.

1. The Birth Story of Lord Ganesha

A. Mythological Background

Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He is worshipped as the remover of obstacles (Vighnaharta), the patron of wisdom, and the deity of auspicious beginnings. The most popular versions of his birth story highlight themes of devotion, power, and transformation.

B. The Most Popular Birth Story

• Creation by Parvati: According to the most widely accepted story from the Puranas, Goddess Parvati created Ganesha from the turmeric paste she used during her bath. She molded a human figure and infused it with life, assigning him the duty of guarding her chamber.
• Encounter with Shiva: When Lord Shiva returned and attempted to enter Parvati’s chamber, Ganesha, unaware of his identity, stopped him. Enraged, Shiva severed Ganesha’s head with his trident.
• Restoration with an Elephant’s Head: Upon Parvati’s grief and insistence, Shiva resurrected Ganesha by replacing his head with that of an elephant, thereby granting him divine wisdom and power.
• Boon of Worship: Shiva and Parvati blessed him, declaring that he would be worshipped first in all rituals and ceremonies.

C. Symbolism and Significance

• Elephant Head: Represents wisdom, intelligence, and memory.
• Guardianship: His role as Parvati’s guard symbolizes duty and loyalty.
• Rebirth and Transformation: Ganesha’s story highlights the idea that divine intervention and transformation lead to greater wisdom and power.

2. The Birth Story of Kartikeya (Murugar, Skanda, Subramanya)

A. Mythological Background

Kartikeya, also known as Murugar in Tamil traditions, is the god of war and commander of the celestial armies. His birth is directly linked to the defeat of the demon Tarakasura, who had become invincible due to a boon that he could only be killed by Shiva’s son.

B. The Birth Story

• Divine Spark from Shiva: After intense penance, Lord Shiva released his divine energy, which took the form of six fiery sparks.
• Nurtured by the Six Krittika Stars: These sparks fell into the sacred lake Saravana and were nurtured by six celestial nymphs (Krittikas), leading to the emergence of six individual babies.
• Union into One Being: Goddess Parvati lovingly embraced all six babies, merging them into a single form with six heads (Shanmukha or Arumugam in Tamil traditions).
• Defeat of Tarakasura: Once he attained youth, Kartikeya was given command of the divine armies and led them to victory over Tarakasura, fulfilling the prophecy.

C. Symbolism and Significance

• Six Heads: Represent six virtues—valor, wisdom, strength, patience, fame, and prosperity.
• Divine Warrior: As the commander of the celestial forces, he embodies strength, courage, and righteousness.
• Union of Shiva and Parvati: His birth highlights the combined divine energies needed to restore cosmic order.

3. The Birth Story of Hanumanji

A. Mythological Background

Hanumanji, one of the greatest devotees of Lord Rama, is an incarnation of Shiva and the son of the wind god, Vayu. His birth is associated with unwavering devotion, immense strength, and divine service.

B. The Birth Story

• Blessing from Shiva: Lord Shiva, wishing to serve Lord Vishnu in his Rama avatar, decided to be born as Hanuman.
• Divine Conception: Anjana, an apsara cursed to be born as a Vanara (monkey), prayed for a child. Pleased with her devotion, Vayu (the wind god) delivered divine prasad from Shiva, leading to Hanuman’s birth.
• Strength and Playfulness: As a child, Hanuman displayed incredible strength and once mistook the sun for a fruit, attempting to grab it. Indra struck him with his vajra (thunderbolt), which left a permanent mark on his chin but also granted him divine boons from various gods.
• Devotion to Rama: Later, upon encountering Lord Rama, Hanuman pledged his eternal service and became the epitome of Bhakti (devotion).

C. Symbolism and Significance

• Embodiment of Bhakti: Hanuman represents selfless devotion and surrender to the divine.
• Supernatural Strength: His divine lineage makes him one of the most powerful beings in Hindu mythology.
• Intelligence and Wisdom: Despite being a warrior, Hanuman is also associated with knowledge and intellect.

4. Comparative Analysis of Their Birth Stories

Aspect

Lord Ganesha

Kartikeya (Murugar)

Hanumanji

Parents

Parvati (creation), later accepted by Shiva

Born from Shiva’s divine sparks, nurtured by Krittikas, son of Parvati

Anjana (mother), divine intervention of Vayu and Shiva

Purpose of Birth

To remove obstacles, bestow wisdom

To defeat Tarakasura and restore cosmic order

To serve Lord Rama and exemplify devotion

Symbolism

Intelligence, transformation, leadership

Warrior spirit, cosmic balance

Strength, devotion, and divine service

Divine Connection

Blessings from Shiva and Parvati

Created from Shiva’s energy, nurtured by celestial mothers

Incarnation of Shiva, son of Vayu

Mythological Role

First deity to be worshipped in all rituals

Supreme commander of divine forces

Unparalleled devotee of Rama, protector of Dharma

5. Theological Interpretations and Philosophical Meanings

A. Ganesha: The Cosmic Gatekeeper

Ganesha represents the principle of removing ignorance and obstacles in spiritual and material pursuits. His birth story emphasizes that wisdom is born out of struggle and transformation.

B. Kartikeya: The Divine Warrior

Kartikeya’s birth highlights the necessity of divine intervention in times of crisis. His story reinforces the importance of discipline, courage, and strategic thinking in overcoming challenges.

C. Hanuman: The Ultimate Devotee

Hanuman’s birth signifies selfless service and devotion to a higher cause. His unwavering dedication to Lord Rama makes him the ideal symbol of Bhakti Yoga.

Conclusion

While Lord Ganesha, Kartikeya, and Hanumanji have different origins, their birth stories share common themes of divine purpose, transformation, and duty. Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, Kartikeya is the warrior who restores order, and Hanuman is the embodiment of devotion and strength. Each deity’s unique characteristics offer valuable lessons to devotees, guiding them toward wisdom, discipline, and unwavering faith in the divine. Their stories continue to inspire millions, reinforcing the timeless values of Hindu philosophy and spirituality.