.. kaartikeya skanda (hymn) ..

   

Hymn to kaartikeya or skanda The following stotra on ska.nda is from the rudra yaamala, an important work on tantra . It is a short stotra but also remarkably powerful . The stotra is credited with developing the praGYaa (intelligence) and has been given by skanda himself. praGYaavivardhana (increasing praGYaa) mantras are very important in the vedas and other later literature like the tantras . Why is the development of praGYaa given such importance? The answer is given in the vedas itself . In the trisuparNa mantra in the mahaanaaraayaNa upanishaad.h, the following mantras occur:

   !"$#&%$')( Brahman is attained through intelligence !0# 1!"$#2%$'3( Bliss is attained through intelligence   !"&45!6# 1 !"$#&%$')(

Brahman, which is verily bliss is attained through intelligence It should however be noted that the intelligence or medhaa which is referred to here is not the mundane intelligence which we refer to in our daily lives . This medhaa refers to the development of the buddhi such that the truth can be clearly seen . shrii ramaNa maharshhii gives an analogy to illustrate how the pure and clear buddhi perceives brahman . Brahman is hidden from the view of the unclear buddhi like dense clouds hiding the sun . The clear buddhi which has been obtained by intense saadhana, sees brahman like a person seeing the sun through a thin mist . Thus the jiivanmukta, is dierent from a person without a clear buddhi. Hence, development of buddhi is given prime importance in our tradition . The most famous examples is the gaayatri mantra, which is chanted during the daily sandhyaava.ndanam.h . Another one is the nitya karma for brahmachaaris, the samitaadaanam.h . There are various mantras given in the mahaanaaraayaNa upanishhad.h itself, the mantra invoking indra (yashchhandasaam etc) and the medhaa suuktam.h (addressed to sarasvatii and others). There are, of course many more such mantras in the vedas. However, the recitation of these mantras requires learning them from a guru and many of us are unable to get such an opportunity, especially in this modern age. But, the stotrams from puraaNaas and the tantras can be chanted by one and all,

with no exceptions. In thamiz tradition, skanda, or murukan as he is called, is considered the very embodiment of all good and it is held that he is eager to bestow GYaanaa to one and all . Thus, true to tradition, at the end of the stotram he says that anyone chanting his 28 names, even if he is unable to speak will become accomplished in speech, like Brihaspati . The person who considers this as mahaa mantra and chants them will attain mahaa praGYaa (great intelligence). Ramakrishnan.

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praGYaa vivardhana kaartikeya stotraM

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The sixteen names are not explained since they are easily understood . Some of the names refer to some legends associated with skanda. Skanda said: The person who reads my 28 names told here with concentration, in the morning, obtains equal status with Brihaspati in speech, even if he cannot speak. Further, the person who reads my names as maha mantras obtains great intelligence . There is no doubt about this.

Encoded and proofread by Rama Balasubramanian rbalasub@ecn.purdue.edu and Ravin Bhalekar ravibhalekar@hotmail.com Notes by Rama Balasubramanian.

Please send corrections to sanskrit@cheerful.com Last updated December 19, 2004