We need to stretch our minds, to understand Kartikeya, the disciple. Kartikeya as mythology tells us was born off the sparks that emerged from Shiva’s third eye. The heat of the spark was so immense that even Agni, i.e., fire, could not handle them and therefore with the help of Vayu, i.e., wind, were carried to be delivered to Ganga, i.e., water. Ganga also could not bear the heat and deposited these sparks into a pond of reed, i.e., earth and these sparks who developed as six beings/babies were nursed by kritikas, i.e., ether. Finally embraced by Parvati, these six beings/babies were fused into a single body. The purpose of his being born was to kill the demon Taraksur. The story of the competition between Ganesh and Kartikeya, as to who would be the fastest to circle around the universe is one we all are familiar with.
Kartikeya’s birth just reiterates the fact that the physical body is made of the above mentioned five elements and it is the soul (Parvati’s embrace is representative of the soul) – the divine spark – that gives the physical body of every human being the impetus to live on this physical plane. Having been born from Shiva’s third eye (the third eye is generally associated with enlightenment) Kartikeya’s birth can be viewed as the birth of an enlightened soul. It can also be viewed as a disciple being enlightened under tutelage of the Guru. Enlightenment is akin to a new birth for the disciple.
Now we are told that there were six beings/babies who were fused into one body by Parvati’s embrace. This six into one fusion can be interpreted in various ways. It symbolizes the rebirth of the same soul who has carried forward his spiritual journey from one birth to another and the birth as Kartikeya is the culmination of his spiritual journey. We can also understand this as the Guru accepting (Kartikeya), the seeker, as his disciple – for the knowledge gained over many lifetimes, resides within the disciple awaiting the touch of the Guru. This fusion is the realization by Kartikeya, the disciple that the various doctrines and paths ultimately lead you to the One, the Divine. A disciple like Kartikeya is one who firmly resides in the belief of oneness of mankind and the Divine.
The transfer of the sparks from fire to air to water to earth and finally to ether is as much representative of the perseverance on the part of the disciple in his search for a Guru, as it is of the penance and hardships that the disciple undergoes in his search for the one who can lead him to the Ultimate. It is symbolic of the mastery of the disciple over the elements of his physical body of which the physical world too, is made up of. Such a disciple is not a slave to the wants and needs of his body.
We are told that the purpose of Kartikeya taking birth was to kill the demon Tarakasur. Tarakasur, stands for both the ills that prevail in the world as well as ignorance that man has fallen into, having lost the knowledge of the divine laws. The birth of an enlightened soul is always meant for the upliftment of mankind. In the case of a disciple like Kartikeya we find a person/disciple who actively participates in the affairs of the world – a prime example of being in the world but not of the world. Such a disciple is a karma yogi – enlightened by the grace of his master. An enlightened disciple, like Kartikeya, works selflessly for the benefit of mankind, easing not only the physical burdens of life but also disseminating knowledge about the divine.
The competition between Kartikeya and Ganesh highlights the difference between a karma yogi and bhakti yogi. Once the competition is announced, Kartikeya takes immediate action. He mounts his vehicle and takes off to circle around the universe. A disciple who is a karma yogi is a true believer of action speaking louder than words. His devotion is expressed, and service to the Guru is rendered through his carrying out the instructions of his Guru to the tee. On the other hand, Ganesh, a bhakti yogi, for whom his Guru and Guru Ma are the be all and end all, of his life, circled Shiva and Parvati. Ganesh was declared the winner of the competition.
After his loss in the competition to Ganesh, Kartikeya leaves Kailash. His loss is not a loss as we understand the word. It symbolizes, the handing over of the mantel to another. A disciple like Kartikeya is an enlightened soul, who just needs the touch of his Guru to reawaken the knowledge within him. Such a soul bears a very heavy responsibility of serving mankind. Kartikeya’s fight with the likes of Tarakasur represents his work for the benefit of mankind.
Kartikeya’s circumambulation of the universe is the culmination of his work in the world for this lifetime. Being aware that these are his final actions, Shiva (the Guru) and Parvati (Guru Ma) award the fruit of knowledge to Ganesh, i.e., bless him with enlightenment. Kartikeya, leaving Kailash is symbolic of the mantel of working for the benefit of mankind being handed over to another disciple, i.e., Ganesh. Kartikeya, the disciple who having worked out his karma’s in this realm, leaves to carry on his work in another realm. It could be equally symbolic of withdrawing from the public eye but working behind the scenes to facilitate the worldly affairs. Yet again the departure from Kailash could represent complete withdrawal from the worldly affairs, to contemplate on the divine in seclusion.