Kartikeya Temple, Pehowa
Kartikeya Temple, Pehowa, Kurukshetra, Haryana
Kartikeya Temple is a Hindu temple in Pehowa township of the North Indian state of Haryana is one of the oldest Karthikeya temple in North India. Kartikeya is a popular Hindu deity in India and is worshiped across the length and breadth of the country. Like most Hindu deities, He is known by many other names, including Murugan, Senthil, Saravaṇa, Arumugam or Shanmukha (meaning ‘one with six faces’), Kumāra (meaning ‘child or son’), Guha, Skanda (meaning ‘that which is spilled or oozed, namely seed’ in Sanskrit).[1]
The Kushanas, who governed from what is today Peshawar, and the Yaudheyas, a republican clan in the Punjab, stuck coins bearing the image of Skanda. The deity was venerated also by the Ikshvakus, an Andhra dynasty, and the Guptas.[2]
Legend
The Skanda Purana narrates that Shiva first wed Sati, the granddaughter of Brahma, and the daughter of Daksha. Daksha never liked Shiva, who symbolizing destruction and detachment, begs for food, dances in a graveyard smeared with ashes, and has no possessions, not even good clothes for himself. Daksha publicly insulted Shiva in a Yagna ceremony, and Sati immolated Herself in anger over this treatment of Her husband. The Yagna was destroyed by the ganas of Shiva led by Virabhadra. Shiva was an ascetic and his earlier marriage was conducted with great difficulty; his remarriage was out of the question. Hence Taraka believed that his boon of being killed by Shiva’s son alone would give him invincibility.
The Devas manage to get Shiva remarried to Parvati by having Kama, the God of love awaken him from his penance, incurring his wrath in the process. Shiva hands over his effulgence of the third eye used to destroy Kama to Agni, as he alone is capable of handling it until it becomes the desired offspring. But even Agni, tortured by its heat, hands it over to Ganga who in turn deposits it in a lake in a forest of reeds (shara). The child is finally born in this forest (vana) with six faces – eesanam, sathpurusham, vamadevam, agoram, sathyojatham and adhomugam. He is first spotted and cared for by six women representing the Pleiades – Kritika in Sanskrit. He thus gets named Karttikeya. As a young lad, he destroyed Taraka. He is also known as Kumara (Sanskrit for youth).
Location of the temple
This famous temple is situated in the center of Pehowa in Kurukshetra district of Haryana. Pehowa is at a distance of 200 kilometers from Delhi and 60 kilometers from Karnal. It is also very close to the state of Punjab as it lies on the border of the two states, Haryana and Punjab.
About the Temple:Kartikeya Temple in Pehowa town of Haryana is an ancient temple which dates back to the 5th century B.C. Kartikeya is a Hindu deity and is worshiped widely across the country. He is known by many other names, such as Arumugam, Senthil, Saravaṇa or Shanmukha ( ‘one with six faces’), Kumāra (meaning ‘child or son’), Guha, Skanda (meaning ‘that which is spilled, namely seed’ in Sanskrit). Lord Kartikeya was also worshiped by the Ikshvakus, an Andhra dynasty, and the Guptas. The temple has two rock blocks and a marble image of Lord Kartikeya flanked by two oil lamps. The oil is offered to the stone blocks, the marble image, and the lamps. The temple would be at least 4500 years old.
Temple View
Temple History and Temple Legend:As per the Skanda Purana Lord Shiva wed Sati who was the grand-daughter of Lord Brahma and the daughter of king Daksha. He never liked Lord Shiva. Daksha insulted Lord Shiva during a Yagna ceremony. Hence, Sati immolated herself in anger over the insult of her husband. When Lord Shiva came to know about this incidence he got angry. The Yagna was destroyed by the gana army of Lord Shiva led by Virabhadra. Meanwhile, Demon Taraka believed that his boon of being killed by Lord Shiva’s son would give him invincibility as Lord Shiva will not get married again. Hence, devtas manage to get Lord Shiva remarried to Goddess Parvati with the help of The Kama, the God of love who awake Lord Shiva from his penance, incurring his wrath in the process. Lord Shiva handed over the radiance of his third eye to Agni, as he believed that Agni alone was able of handling it until it becomes the desired offspring. Agni, tortured by its heat, handed it over to Goddess Ganga who in turn put it in a lake amidst a forest of reeds. The child was finally born in this forest with six faces. He was first spotted and cared by six women representing the Pleiades – Kritika. He thus got named Karttikeya. As a young lad, he killed demon Taraka. Lord Kartikeya is also known as Kumar.
Temple Idol
According to another legend, Lord Krishna asked Yudhishthira to light two lamps for the 18 lakh warriors who died in the Mahabharata battle. These lamps flank the temple and it is believed that they have been continuously lit since then.
The temple of Lord Kartikeya stands at the site where Lord Kartikay removed his skin and left it with Goddess Parvati as he had doubt that his mother helped Ganesha to complete the Trilok parikrama. After giving up his skin he came to Pehowa temple and said that no women can enter in this temple.
Temple Rituals:This temple celebrates Brahmachari form of Lord Kartikeya. Hence, women are strictly forbidden in this temple. The devotees observe strict rules during Chaturmas.
How To Reach:
By Air: Chandigarh and Delhi airports are the nearby airports to access the temple.
By Rail: Kurukshetra railway station is the closest railhead.
By Road: Pehowa has good road connectivity. State-owned buses and private buses are available to reach this temple.
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