[Advaita-l] 'Kaumaaram' - Already in the Valmiki Ramayana !!

[V Subrahmanian]

'Kaumaaram' - Already in the Valmiki Ramayana !!

Kaumaaram is one of the Six foremost paths of bhakti sadhana to reach the
Supreme. The others are 'Vaishnavam, Shaivam, Shaaktam, Gaanapatyam and
Sauram'.  There is a belief among aastikas that the six schools were
nurtured by Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada.

In the BaalakaaNDa of the Valmiki Ramayanam there is the description of
Gangaa's origin, etc. and the birth of Kumaara, Subrahmanya, owing to the
prayers of the Deva-s.  Skanda is anointed as the 'Deva (sura)
senaganapati'.  In the 37th sarga at the end, Vishvamitra, relating the
entire story to the young Rama and Lakshmana, concludes by saying:

https://www.valmiki.iitk.ac.in/commentaries?field_commnetary_tid=14&field_kanda_tid=1&language=dv&field_sarga_value=37


भक्तश्च यः कार्तिकेये काकुत्स्थ भुवि मानवः ।

आयुष्मान् पुत्रपौत्रैश्च स्कन्दसालोक्यतां व्रजेत् ।। 1.37.33 ।।

इत्यार्षे श्रीरामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे सप्तत्रिंशः सर्गः ।।
37 ।।

https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga37/bala_37_frame.htm
"He who is a devotee of Kartikeyaa, oh, Rama of Kakutstha, he thrives with
longevity, also with sons, grandsons on this humanly earth in his mortal
life, and on its conclusion *he becomes one with Skanda on journeying to
Skanda's abode.* [1-37-32]

The commentary 'BhUShaNa'  of Sri Govindaraja says:

अथ प्रसङ्गात्तद्भक्तिफलमाह--भक्तश्चेति । सलोक एव सालोक्यम् । स्वार्थे ष्यञ्
। तस्य भावः सालोक्यता, स्कन्दसमानलोकत्वमित्यर्थः ।। 1.37.33 ।।

इति श्रीगोविन्दराजविरचिते श्रीरामायणभूषणे मणिमञ्जीराख्याने
बालकाण्डव्याख्याने सप्तत्रिंशः सर्गः ।। 37 ।।

Since the story is related by Vishvamitra, authored here by Valmiki, is
only a retelling of an even ancient event of Ganga's origin, etc. So, the
Skaandam has existed from time immemorial.

Om Tat Sat