Lord Shiva has more than seven children? Did you know?

Did you know?

Lord shiva has more than seven children...

Lord Shiva has more than seven children? ... No single person may be able to answer this ... but different people have different reply of this question ... Present count gives 8 Children of Lord Shiva .....

Present count gives 8 Children of Lord Shiva ... and it is the following - 1/ Ganesha 2/ Kartikay 3/ Ashok Sundari 4/ Ayyappan 5/ Andhaka 6/ Manasa - the Snake Goddess 7/ Goddess Jyoti 8/ Jalandhar

GANESHA -
Ganesha is popularly considered to be the son of Shiva and Parvati, the Puranic myths relate several different versions of his birth. These include versions in which he is created by Shiva, by Parvati, by Shiva and Parvati, or in a mysterious manner that is later discovered by Shiva and Parvati.

KARTIKAY -
Sati immolated herself in a pyre as her father King Daksha had insulted Shiva, her Lord. She was reborn as Parvathi or Uma, daughter of the King of Himalayas, Himavan. She then married her Lord Shiva. The Devas were under onslaught from the Asuras whose leader was Soorapadman. He had been granted boons that only Lord Shiva or his seed could kill him. Fearless he vanquished the Devas and made them his slaves. The Devas ran to Vishnu for help who told them that it was merely their fault for attending Daksha's yagna, without the presence of Lord Shiva. After this, they ran to Shiva for help. Shiva decided to take action against Soorapadman's increasing conceit. He frowned and his third eye- the eye of knowledge- started releasing sparks. These were six sparks in total. Agni had the responsibility to take them to Saravana Lake. As he was carrying them, the sparks were growing hotter and hotter that even the Lord of Fire could not withstand the heat. Soon after Murugan was born on a lotus in the Saravana Lake with six faces, giving him the name Arumukhan. Lord Shiva and Parvati visited and tears of joy started flowing as they witnessed the most handsome child. Shiva and Parvathi gave the responsibility of taking care of Muruga to the six Krittika sisters. Muruga grew up to be a handsome, intelligent, powerful, clever youth. All the Devas applauded at their saviour, who had finally come to release them from their woes. Murugan became the supreme general of the demi-gods, then escorted the devas and led the army of the devas to victory against the asuras.

Ashok Sundari
(Seen in the TV Serial Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, some people tell that there is a Gujrati Tale 'Gauri Vrat' to which she is usually linked by many people) ...The birth of Ashokasundari is recorded in the Padma Purana. In one of the variants about tale of Nahusha, Parvati once requested Shiva to take her to the most beautiful garden in the world. As per her wishes, Shiva took her to Nandanvana, where Parvati saw a tree known as Kalpavriksha. Parvati asked for a daughter from the wish fulfilling tree to get rid of her loneliness. Her wish was granted and Ashokasundari was born. Parvati gave her the boon that she will marry Nahusha of the lunar dynasty, who will be equal to Indra, the king of heaven. Once, Ashokasundari was roaming in Nandanvana with her maids, a rakshasa (demon) called Hunda saw her and fell in her love. However, the goddess rejected the advances of the demon and informed him about her destiny to marry Nahusha. Hunda disguised himself as a widow, whose husband was killed by him, and asked Ashokasundari to accompany her to her hermitage. The goddess went with the disguised demon and reached his palace. She came to know of his treachery and cursed him to be killed by Nahusha and escaped to her parents' abode Kailash. Hunda kidnaps the infant Nahusha from his palace, however he is rescued by a maid of Hunda and given under the sage Vashistha's care. After a few years Nahusha grows up and understands about his destiny to kill Hunda. Hunda abducts Ashokasundari and tells her that he had killed Nahusha. The goddess is consoled by a Kinnara couple who inform her of Nahusha's wellbeing and prophesize that she will mother a powerful son called Yayati and a hundred beautiful daughters. Nahusha comes to fight Hunda and defeats him after a fierce battle and rescues Ashokasundari, who he marries. Over course of time, in absence of Indra, Nahusha was temporarily made the reagent of heaven.

Ayyappan
(Found on Internet, Mentioned by Balaji Viswanathan and Amar Prabhu in the thread Mythology of India: What are some fascinating stories about Lord Shiva? ... The asura Mahishi was burning up with anger at the trick the gods had pulled on her brother, the asura king Mahishasura. As Mahishasura was blessed with invulnerability to all men, the gods had sent goddess Durga, to fight and kill him. Thus, Mahishi began performing a fearsome set of austerities, and pleased the creator god Brahma. She asked for the boon of invulnerability, but Brahma said it was not possible so Mahishi planned and asked invulnerability to all men except by the son of Shiva and Vishnu (Both are male & no possibility to give birth to any one). He granted her the boon of ruling the universe and being invulnerable except by the son of Shiva and Vishnu. Since such a person did not exist, she thought she was safe and began conquering and plundering the world. The gods implored Shiva and Vishnu to save them from this catastrophe. Vishnu found a possible solution to the problem. When Vishnu had taken on the Kurma Avatar, he also had to manifest himself as Mohini, the enchantress, to save the nectar of immortality (ambrosia or amrit) from the demons who were not willing to share it with the gods. If he became Mohini again, then the female Mohini and the male Shiva could have the divine child who would combine their powers and beat Mahishi. Some versions give a slightly more detailed version of the union of Shiva with Vishnu. One version tells that the asura Bhasmasura had so pleased Lord Shiva with his austerities that Shiva gave him a boon of anything he wished. So Bhasmasura asked for the ability to burn to ashes anything which he placed his hand over. No sooner had Shiva granted this, than Bhasmasura ran after the god, threatening to turn him to ashes. Shiva called to Lord Vishnu for help. He hide himself in a peepal tree as Bhasmasura ran here and there searching for the god. Vishnu became aware of the events, and decided that he would take the female form Mohini, "the Enchanting", and try to trump the asura's powers. When Bhasmasura saw Vishnu in this form, he was bewitched by her beauty. He earnestly tried to court her. So Vishnu instructed Bhasmasura to hold his hand over his head, and vow fidelity. With this act, Bhasmasura was reduced to ashes. Vishnu found Shiva and explained the whole affair to him. Shiva asked if he too could see Vishnu in this female form. When Vishnu appeared thus, Shiva was overcome with passion, and united with her. The two gods thus became "Harihara Murthi", that is a composite form of Shiva and Vishnu as one god. From this union, Lord Sree Dharma Sastha was born. He combined in himself the powers of Vishnu and Shiva. Lord Ayyappan is an incarnation of Lord Sree Dharma Sastha and Lord Ayyappan is a visible embodiment of their essential identity. Sri Ayyappa belongs to Pandya Royal Community. He was the head of a clan. It is believed Sri Ayyappa merged to sri dharma sastha. Lord Vishnu gifted the new-born deity with a little bejeweled bell necklace, so this god is called Manikandan. He is also Known as Dharma Shasthavu, Kerala Puthran.


Andhaka
The story goes like this. While in the mount Mandhar, a baby was born to Parvati and Shiva. Shiva was in a meditating posture and Parvati closed his eyes mischievously from behind. The boy appeared out of Parvati and Shiva’s sweat. Shiva explains to Parvati that since his eyes were closed, the baby was born blind and was called Andhaka (the dark/blind). Since he posed devilish qualities he was called Andhakasur (the blind demon). Hiranyaksh, a troublesome demon did intense penance to please Lord Shiva. Hiranyaksh wanted a son who posses immense powers to rule the world. Shiva refused to grant such a boon. Instead he offered Andhaka to Hiranyaksh saying that Andhaka posses all the qualities he was looking for, and to treat him as his son. Andhaka wanted more power and did intense penance to please Lord Brahma. Among many things, the boons he asked for included extraordinary vision and immortality. Everything was granted except the immortality. Instead, Lord Brahma asked him to choose when he could die. Andhakasur asked for a boon that he would die only when he aspires for a woman who he should never aspire for. With time Andhakasur turned more materialistic and less interested in austerities. By this time he has already conquered the world and the heaven. On a pleasure trip he along with his companions lands up in Mount Mandhar where Lord Shiva and Parvati lives. His companions tells of a sage and his beautiful wife. Andhaka sends his companions to bring her along. Shiva explains to them that they are Andhaka’s parents. The companions mistook it for a ploy and compels Andhaka for a fight. Shiva and Parvati will soon play a horrible role in the battlefield in many different forms. The next morning, Shiva and Parvati's army reached the battlefield with Andhaka's army also vice-versa. Andhaka wants Parvati to be his. Shiva assigns his demon-warrior form Veerbhadra to kill half of Andhaka's army. Veerbhadra managed to kill half of Andhaka's army, but did not manage to kill Andhaka. When Andhaka was bleeding from his hands, arms, legs feet or hands, a new clone of Andhaka appears, Veerbhadra tries again, but failed, Parvati gets outraged to see Andhaka and his clones, so does Lord Shiva, Parvati calls upon the eight Mother Goddesses from her, namely as Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Indrani, Varahi, Narasinghi and Chamundai to help Veerbhadra in the battlefield. The eight Mother Goddessses killed the rest Andhaka's army, then they came together, all lined up in the skies watched the battle. Parvati took the form of Goddess Bhadrakali to help Veerbhadra. He slashed Andhaka's clones while Bhadrakali collected their blood and drank it, she also slashed Andhaka's clones too. After Andhaka was defeated, he pleads forgiveness from Lord Shiva and Parvati. After Veerbhadra went back into Lord Shiva's body, so did the eight Mother Goddesses after Bhadrakali returned as Parvati, they went back into her body as well. Andhaka was defeated, he pleads forgiveness from Lord Shiva and Parvati. He was forgiven and became one of the men of Shiva.

Manasa - the Snake Goddess

Also known as 'Nagini,' the female serpentine avatar or 'Vishahara,' the goddess who annihilates poison, Manasa, in the Hindu mythology, is believed to be the daughter of sage Kasyapa and Kadru, the sister of the serpent-king Sesha. She is the sister of Vasuki, king of Nagas and wife of sage Jagatkaru. A simplified version of the myth regards Manasa as the daughter of Lord Shiva. Legends have it that she was rejected by her father Shiva and husband Jagatk?ru, and hated by her stepmother, Chandi, who scooped out one of Manasa's eyes. So, she appears to be foul-tempered, and benevolent only towards her devotees.

Goddess Jyoti

According to the Taittiriya Upanishad 2.1, the five great elements (pañchamahabhutas) -- earth, water, fire, air and space -- emanate from Brahman. These five elements, together with the omnipresent cosmic consciousness of Brahman, constitute all created things and beings in the universe. In Hindu mythology, this creative process is symbolized by the family of Lord Shiva. The members of this divine family are Lord Shiva, His spouse the Divine Mother, their two sons Ganesha and Skanda, and their daughter Jyoti.

Jalandhara

(sometimes Jallandhar or Calantaran) is a figure in Hindu mythology. Jalandhara was the king of the asuras. Jalandhar was an able ruler and under his leadership the asuras defeated the devas. He himself was not an asura but was born out of the union of the lightning from Shiva’s third eye and the Ocean. According to Padma Purana, the city of Jalandhar is named after him.