Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.915

c7.915

In those days, Devendra who was defeated by Tārakāsura, decided to give up war and was living in Mahāmeru. The Devas and the sages used to go to Subrahmaṇya for protection. When Devendra knew it, he became angry and went to war with Subrahmaṇya. Subrahmaṇya was wounded on the face with Indra’s weapon. From the wound two sons named Śākha and Viśākha were born to Subrahmaṇya. With their help Subrahmaṇya encountered Indra again. At this stage Śiva appeared and informed Indra that Subrahmaṇya had been born with a mission to kill Tārakāsura and to restore Indra’s kingdom to him. It was then that Indra recognized Subrahmaṇya. He begged pardon of Subrahmaṇya and expressed his desire to instal him as his military commander. When he tried to perform the ceremony of installation by sprinkling the holy water on Subrahmaṇya’s head, the water refused to come out of the pot. Śiva told Indra that it was because he had tried to perform the installation before propitiating Gaṇapati. Indra then offered worship to Vighneśvara (Gaṇapati) and the ceremony went off without any hitch. Subrahmaṇya who thus became Indra’s commander, killed Tārakāsura, shortly afterwards. (Kathāsaritsāgara, Lāvaṇakalambaka, 6th Taraṅga).