Kartik Mahatmya Adhyay 15 and 16: The Story of Kirtimukh

This page covers Adhyay 15 and 16 of the Kartik Mahatmya. Adhyay 15 tells of Jalandhar's envoy Rahu at Kailash and of the fearsome being who became Kirtimukh. Adhyay 16 tells how Jalandhar took his army to Kailash, how the war began, and how the anger of Rudra brought forth Kritya.

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 के सामने प्रकट सिंहमुखी पुरुष ने उनके कहने पर अपने ही हाथ-पैर खा लिए और कीर्तिमुख कहलाया। फिर जलंधर ने कैलाश पर चढ़ाई की। पूरा लेख हिंदी में पढ़ें →

The story

After Narad ji left, Jalandhar called his envoy Rahu and sent him to Kailash. Rahu carried a bold and insulting message, asking Shiva ji to give up Mata Parvati. At Kailash, Nandi stopped him at the door. But Rahu in his pride forced his way into the assembly, seated himself before Shiva ji and delivered the message.

As soon as he finished, a terrible being rose out of the earth in front of Shiva ji. He had a face like a lion and a dreadful hunger. He ran at Rahu to eat him. Rahu fled but was caught, and he begged Lord Shiva for shelter. Shiva ji never abandons one who comes to him for shelter, and he told the being to let Rahu go.

The being said that he was very hungry and asked what he should eat. Shiva ji told him to eat his own hands and feet. Without a moment's thought, he obeyed. He kept eating until only his face was left. Shiva ji was deeply pleased by this obedience. He made him his dearest gana and gave him the name Kirtimukh. Since then Kirtimukh has stayed at Shiva ji's door, and his face is still carved at the doorways of temples.

Adhyay 16 begins with Rahu, now set free and known as Barbar, telling Jalandhar all that had happened. Jalandhar set out for Kailash with Kalanemi, Shumbh, Nishumbh and an army of crores of daityas. Bad omens came on the way. Clouds gathered and the crown fell from his head. In his pride he did not stop.

Meanwhile the devas pointed out to Shiva ji that Lord Vishnu was living in Jalandhar's house. Shiva ji asked Vishnu ji about it. Vishnu ji said that Jalandhar was a part of Shiva himself and the brother of Lakshmi, so he had not killed him. Shiva ji smiled and said that then he would kill him himself.

Jalandhar reached Kailash and roared. Shiva ji sent Nandi and his ganas, with Ganesh ji and Kartikeya beside them, and a fierce battle broke out. Guru Shukracharya kept bringing the dead daityas back to life. Hearing this, Rudra blazed with anger, and a terrible Kritya came out of his mouth. She destroyed the daityas, seized their guru, hid him inside herself and vanished.

Without their guru the daityas lost heart. Shumbh, Nishumbh and Kalanemi gathered them again, and Nandi, Ganesh ji and Kartikeya launched another fierce attack.

The teaching of this chapter

The story of Kirtimukh is about complete obedience and surrender, which the katha says bring a devotee closest to the Lord. Jalandhar shows the other side. Pride ignores even plain warnings, and his fallen crown did not make him stop.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Kirtimukh?
He was the terrible lion-faced being who rose from the earth before Shiva ji. After he obeyed Shiva ji's word, he became his dear gana and received this name.

Why did he eat his own hands and feet?
Shiva ji had told him to release Rahu. When he asked what he should eat in his hunger, Shiva ji told him to eat his own hands and feet, and he obeyed at once.

Why is Kirtimukh's face seen at temple doors?
Only his face remained, and the katha says he has stayed at Shiva ji's door ever since. His face is carved at the doorways of temples.

Why was Rahu spared?
When he was caught he begged Lord Shiva for shelter, and Shiva ji never abandons one who comes to him for shelter.

What omens did Jalandhar ignore?
Clouds gathered and the crown fell from his head, but in his pride he carried on to Kailash.

What did Kritya do?
Born of Rudra's anger, she destroyed the daityas, hid Shukracharya inside herself and vanished, so the fallen could no longer be revived by him.

Previous chapter: Adhyay 14: Narad Ji and the Missing Jewel