Kartik Mahatmya Adhyay 10: The Birth of Jalandhar

This is Adhyay 10 of the Kartik Mahatmya. King Prithu asks what became of the radiance of Lord Shiva, and Narad ji tells him. It became a child at the meeting of the Ganga and the sea. This chapter tells how the child was named Jalandhar, what Brahma ji foretold for him, and how he became king of the daityas with Vrinda as his wife.

Listen in the video: hear this chapter in Hindi on our YouTube channel. The full list is on the Kartik Mahatmya Katha page.

संक्षेप में: शिवजी का तेज गंगा-सागर संगम पर बालक बना। पढ़िए, उसका नाम जलंधर कैसे पड़ा, वह दैत्यराज कैसे बना और वृंदा से उसका विवाह कैसे हुआ। पूरा लेख हिंदी में पढ़ें →

The story

Narad ji said that the radiance took the form of a boy where the Ganga meets the sea. The boy cried so loudly that the whole world trembled. Even the guardians of the worlds were shaken. In fear, the devas and rishis went to Brahma ji for shelter and begged him to calm this great trouble.

Brahma ji came down from Satyalok to the seashore. The Ocean received him with respect and placed the child in his lap. Brahma ji asked whose child this was. The Ocean said he did not know. The boy had simply appeared at the confluence. He asked Brahma ji to perform the birth rites and to tell the child's future.

Just then the boy caught Brahma ji by the throat and began pulling again and again. The grip was so hard that tears ran from Brahma ji's eyes. He freed himself with both hands, and only with great effort. Then he said that since this child had made water flow from his eyes, his name would be Jalandhar.

Brahma ji then spoke of what lay ahead. The boy would become a young man as soon as he was born. He would know all the shastras and be a great warrior. He would rule the daityas, and no one except Lord Shiva could kill him. His wife would be devoted to her husband, fortunate, beautiful, sweet in speech and virtuous. And in the end he would return to the place he came from.

Brahma ji called Shukracharya, the guru of the daityas. Shukracharya crowned Jalandhar, and Brahma ji vanished. The Ocean was overjoyed. He took the child home and raised him with great love.

Later the Ocean sent for the asura Kalanemi, and Kalanemi's daughter Vrinda was given to Jalandhar in marriage with great celebration. Through the influence of Shukracharya, Jalandhar and Vrinda came to rule over the daityas. The narration adds that this same Vrinda becomes the basis of the story of Tulsi ji.

The teaching of this chapter

Power by itself is neither good nor bad. The way it is used decides whether it becomes a blessing or a danger. Jalandhar's birth shows this clearly. He came from the radiance of Shiva himself, yet that same force made the worlds tremble from his very first cry.

Frequently asked questions

Where was Jalandhar born?
According to this chapter, the radiance of Lord Shiva became a child at the meeting of the Ganga and the sea.

Why was he named Jalandhar?
The boy gripped Brahma ji's throat so hard that tears flowed from his eyes. Brahma ji named him for the water he had made flow.

What did Brahma ji foretell about him?
That he would be grown as soon as he was born, know all the shastras, be a great warrior and rule the daityas. No one but Lord Shiva could kill him, and in the end he would return to where he came from.

Who crowned Jalandhar?
Shukracharya, the guru of the daityas, crowned him at Brahma ji's call.

Who raised Jalandhar?
The Ocean took the child home and raised him with great love.

Who was Vrinda?
Vrinda was the daughter of the asura Kalanemi. The Ocean arranged her marriage to Jalandhar. Her story later leads to the story of Tulsi ji.

Previous chapter: Adhyay 9: Indra's Pride and Shiva's Grace