Karthikeya element directly means – Guru element.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (pioneer of Art of Living, spiritual guru). In the Indian spiritual tradition, deities are seen not merely as mythological characters, but as symbols of deeper philosophical and spiritual elements. If the relationship between Lord Shiva and his son Kartikeya is also understood from this perspective, then it becomes not just a father-son story, but an esoteric explanation of consciousness, energy and Guru element.
Lord Shiva has been called Panchanan. Having five faces. These five faces represent the Panchamahabhutas: earth, water, fire, air and sky. When these five elements unite with the sixth element, Chaitanya Shakti, then Kartikeya is born. This is the reason why Kartikeya was called Shadanan – the one with six faces. Chaitanya Shakti gives life and direction to these five elements. Thus Kartikeya is not just a deity, but a symbol of the confluence of the five elements and consciousness.
We can also understand this truth through Yoga and Kundalini. Kundalini Shakti is the energy which remains dormant at the base of our spine. Seven major chakras are considered in the human body. When this energy successively crosses the six chakras rising from bottom to top and gets stabilized in the Ajna Chakra, then the Guru element arises. Ajna Chakra, located between the eyebrows, is the center of wisdom, perception and direction. This is the place where the Karthikeya element blossoms.
From this point of view, Kartikeya is a living symbol of Guru element. Shiva is the indirect divinity, while Kartikeya is the direct one. With Kundalini Shakti, will power, knowledge power and action power appear. In fact, will power and action power are parts of knowledge power. These are said to be the divine powers of Kartikeya in the form of Valli and Devayani (Devasena).
Kartikeya has been called the embodiment of knowledge. Therefore the direct meaning of Kartikeya element is – Guru element. Guru is the one who awakens the consciousness sleeping within. Which gives direction. Which leads from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge.
Shiva is one of the Trimurti 'Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh' and is considered to be associated with the letter 'M' of Om. Om is the fundamental sound of creation, which contains the entire universe. There is a very mysterious and beautiful story related to this Om in the Puranas, which further clarifies the glory of Guru Tattva. It is said that Shiva sent the child Kartikeya to Brahma for education.
Kartikeya asked Brahma, “Please tell me the meaning of Om.” Brahma said, “First learn the alphabet, then ask the meaning of Om.” But Karthikeya remained firm. He said, “I want to know first the truth which contains everything.” Brahma was knowledgeable about letters, but he could not explain the experiential meaning of Om.
Then Kartikeya returned to Shiva. When Shiva asked him the reason, Kartikeya posed the same question to Shiva, “What is the meaning of Om?” Shiva smiled and said, “I don’t know either.” Then Kartikeya said, “If you want, I can tell you the meaning of Om, but for this you will have to give me the status of Guru.” Guru's position is high. Without any hesitation, Shiva made the child Kartikeya sit on his shoulders. Then Kartikeya told the secret of Pranav Mantra in Shiva's ear that the entire creation, Trimurti and Shiva himself are included in Om.
This story gives us a deep message. A Guru is not made by age, position or external identity, a Guru is one who has awakened the awareness of truth within him. And a disciple is one who can bend to learn, even if he is Mahadev himself. Therefore Guru Tattva and Kartikeya Tattva are considered the same.
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