Kartikeya: Arjun’s brother–in-law!

Tags

Agni, arjun, Bhagavad Gita, celestial marriages, ganesha, indra, indrasena, Kartikeya, Krishn, Kritika, Mallikarjun temple, Murugan, Parvati, shiva, Skanda

• In Bhagwad Gita, Krishn says, ‘Amongst army commanders, I am Skanda.’ Chp 10, verse 24.

Who is Skanda, the war-God? He is aka Murugan and Kartikeya.

He was Shiva’s son and Ganesh’s bro.

He was Indra’s commander-in-chief. Also, he was Indra’s son-in-law!

Thus, Kartikeya was Arjun’s brother-in-law! While Indra and Shiva were in-laws!

• STORY: Indra’s daughter was named Indrasena.  Hence, Kartikeya is also called Indrasenapati, which has 2 connotations.

1] Husband of Indrasena   2] Commander-in-chief of Indra’s sena (army).

• As expected, there are VARIATIONS to the story.

As per Skanda Puran, Devasena (Indrasena) = daughter of Vishnu. Now that means Krishn (Vishnu) and Kartikeya, both being Arjun’s brothers-in-law are also father-in-law & son-in-law to each other! Phew!

• KARTIKEYA’S BIRTH: Shiva’s vital fluids (in alternate stories , Shiva’s 3rd eye sparks) were carried by Agni. He united them with 6 Kritikas, hence the name Kartikeya to the resultant son. Thus, Agni is also partially called as ‘Father of Kartikeya’.
• MALLIKARJUN TEMPLE:
• 

Myth has it that Kartikeya marched off to this place after a tiff with his parents. To console him, Shiva & Parvati followed him here. Hence the temple is called Mallikarjun { Mallika= Parvati, while ARJUNA= ANOTHER NAME OF SHIVA!}