But before the LPL officially gets underway, Parvati has still some scores to settle with the Krittikas. She points out to Mahadev that Skanda is wearing the
yagnopavita- the sacred thread. Mahadev absentmindedly ruffles Skanda's hair and murmurs...yagnopavita...that's a good boy. Don;t forget to do your sandhyavandanam,
This was not the response Parvati was expecting. She is highly miffed and points out how could the Krittkas have conducted Kartikeya's upanayam without his parents.
Shiva concurs ...yes...how could they have...
Highly irritated at Shiva's nonchalance, Parvati insists the he summon the Krittikas and question them. The Krittikas zoom down from their celestial world and appear on Kailash.
With Parvati prompting him, Shiva question them who gave the right to them to conduct such an important ceremony for their son in his parents' absence. The krittikas are confused- till Parvati points to the yagnopavita dangling from Skanda's shoulder.
"Oh that " says the Krittika-in-Chief and they all burdt into laughter. "You know, Kartikeya is very fond of watching Ramayan ...Mahabharata, etc and wanted to dress up like a mytho character. So we just went to Gandharva Chitrasen's shop and borrowed an outfit. This 'yagnopavita' came as a part of the costume.
Shiva too bursts out laughing but seeing the look on Parvati's face stops.
Highly relieved, Parvati wants to now conduct Skanda's upanayam properly.
Shiva agrees, thinking that it will keep Parvati happy for a few days.
A date is soon fixed and invitations sent out. The upanayanam would be in the morning and in the evening would be the Grand Launch of the LPL.
Parvati is busy with the preparations most important among which was deciding which saree to wear.
The D-Day dawns and Kailash is decked beautifully. The guests start arriving- Indra and Sachi, Surya dev with Chaya and Samjya and their four kids, Varuna, Mr and Mrs. Brahma, Mr and Mrs Vishnu , etc.
After a hearty breakfast of idili, dosa, pongal and kesari , evryone began assembling near the mandap. The ladies congregated together and began what they were best at- comparing clothes, jewelery and accessories. Indra and others were busy conjecturing the outcome of the LPL and how Tarakasur could be thwarted. The kids were running amok.
Meanwhile the Ganas, who had found the breakfast, too simple and staid and found the proceedings too boring disappeared to have a bhang party by themselves.
Hardly anyone paid attention to what was going on in the mandap where Guru Brihaspati was struggling. Agni, excited to see his son being invested with the sacred thread was crackling merrily from the havan kund. The smoke from the fire was causing Brihaspati's eyes to burn. It was already hot and Surya Dev's presence did not help matters. Brihaspati ws getting irritated.. He just wanted to finish the ritual and walk off from there.
With one hand rubbing his watering eyes, Brihaspati looked around for Shiva. Agni leapt higher still from the havan kund and Brihaspati could hardly keep his eyes open. Through his half open eyes he peered around and looked for Shiva. He spotted the long coarse hair and the glint of silver on the head. Eyes tight shut Brihaspati grabbed him and pulled him towards Skanda nd throwing a silken cloth over the two of them instructed Shiva to whisper the Gayatri Mantra into Skanda's ears.
A relieved Brihaspati quickly walked away from the fire and mingled with the guests. Meanwhile A group of Ganas walked in intoxicated and among them Mahadev himself.
Brihaspati was stunned. If this was Mahadev then who was in the mandap initiating Skanda into the secrets of Gayatri Mantra ?
The answer did not take long to come. Skanda threw off the cloth covering him and prostrated full length to the person in front of him. That person too had tears in his eyes as he hugged Skanda.
Indra gasped " Tarakasur- you're here too?"
Edited by varaali - 12 years ago
Cricket
Indian Mythology
