The gods try hard to stop Rudra from releasing his seed after one hundred and seven years of love-making. But when the gods wanted that Uma should give birth to Siva’s son, why did they strive to stop Siva from releasing his seed? Because they were scared that when Uma gives birth to a son after the gestation period he will be so powerful that nobody will be able to tolerate his might and radiance, much less to see him since they had already seen the blinding blaze of Virabhadra born of the sweat of Rudra. So they decided that the son of Siva and Uma should not be born.
So they went to Siva for he alone was able to control the unthinkable power that would be released. Having no other safe haven, they fell at Siva’s feet and said "We bow to you. The world will not be able to support your semen, as it would be equal in brilliance to innumerable Virabhadras. The very thought paralyses our minds”.
Then what should be done? The gods advise Siva to perform the Brahma tapas along with Uma. What is the use of the Brahma tapas and why should Siva perform it? Because he might be able to secure his seed. In the beginning of conception we have an embryo. The semen remains over all parts of the body and soul. “Hold your mercurial semen within the sahaja eight-fold yoga” said the gods. But then the question arises about the effect of holding the semen through sahaja yoga in the body? The answer is it will save the world. It is said that the semen, of the Brahman is held within the Aditya mandala (in the constellation of the Sun) and it saves the worlds. If it is released, like Siva’s semen the worlds will be destroyed.Hence ‘Na alokam kartumarhasi’. So Siva accepted their plea. All the gods are his limbs and if the limbs are destroyed and he will become a branchless trunk (Sthanu). So, he said “All right! I shall hold my seed and so shall Uma. The gods and earth can be happy now. Uma will hold her seed in the fire". It is said in the Vedas that the menstrual flow in the women is a form of Agni. Siva will hold his seed in water. If their seed falls on the earth, it will burn the entire world and even the gods. "Therefore, to protect them, we shall hold our seed." But stirred by long love the semen will drop from its place .It is in the form of moisture and infallible and the best one capable of giving birth to a son who will be able to fulfil gods' requirement. Who will be able to hold it? Saying this Siva released his seed with which the entire earth along with all its mountains and forests became filled.
In order to protect the seed, the gods appointed Agni. One of the reasons is that Agni is said to be the lord of the earth (Prthivya adhipatih). Further, he was holding the seed of Uma. So Agni was advised to enter the semen of Rudra along with Vayu. That tejas (glow) became like a white mountain and later by the effect of that place became a thicket of reeds which was divine and which looked like Agni and Aditya. That tejas was born as Kartikeya.
Due to Agni holding it for some time and then releasing it, the gods become very happy because Rudra had withheld the original seed in order to protect the world and released the dried up seed for the cause of the gods. The gods and seers then worshipped Uma and Siva. But Uma did not accept their veneration. “Since you have deprived me of bearing a son by Siva, you shall not beget sons from your wives. You did not want me to give birth to my husband’s son, like other people but instead did the injustice that the gods wanted you to do. Therefore, you will be the wife of many and still never give birth to a legitimate son."
Siva was unable to take back the curse nor could he see the gods so crestfallen. So he prepared to leave for the west to perform the austerities. He went west of the Himalayas and on the northern side of the mountain on a peak performed penance with Uma. Viswamitra told Rama the story of Uma in detail.
Story of Uma 1.36.8-28
The gods try hard to stop Rudra from releasing his seed after one hundred and seven years of love-making. But when the gods wanted that Uma should give birth to Siva’s son, why did they strive to stop Siva from releasing his seed? Because they were scared that when Uma gives birth to a son after the gestation period he will be so powerful that nobody will be able to tolerate his might and radiance, much less to see him since they had already seen the blinding blaze of Virabhadra born of the sweat of Rudra. So they decided that the son of Siva and Uma should not be born.
So they went to Siva for he alone was able to control the unthinkable power that would be released. Having no other safe haven, they fell at Siva’s feet and said "We bow to you. The world will not be able to support your semen, as it would be equal in brilliance to innumerable Virabhadras. The very thought paralyses our minds”.
Then what should be done? The gods advise Siva to perform the Brahma tapas along with Uma. What is the use of the Brahma tapas and why should Siva perform it? Because he might be able to secure his seed. In the beginning of conception we have an embryo. The semen remains over all parts of the body and soul. “Hold your mercurial semen within the sahaja eight-fold yoga” said the gods. But then the question arises about the effect of holding the semen through sahaja yoga in the body? The answer is it will save the world. It is said that the semen, of the Brahman is held within the Aditya mandala (in the constellation of the Sun) and it saves the worlds. If it is released, like Siva’s semen the worlds will be destroyed.Hence ‘Na alokam kartumarhasi’. So Siva accepted their plea. All the gods are his limbs and if the limbs are destroyed and he will become a branchless trunk (Sthanu). So, he said “All right! I shall hold my seed and so shall Uma. The gods and earth can be happy now. Uma will hold her seed in the fire". It is said in the Vedas that the menstrual flow in the women is a form of Agni. Siva will hold his seed in water. If their seed falls on the earth, it will burn the entire world and even the gods. "Therefore, to protect them, we shall hold our seed." But stirred by long love the semen will drop from its place .It is in the form of moisture and infallible and the best one capable of giving birth to a son who will be able to fulfil gods' requirement. Who will be able to hold it? Saying this Siva released his seed with which the entire earth along with all its mountains and forests became filled.
In order to protect the seed, the gods appointed Agni. One of the reasons is that Agni is said to be the lord of the earth (Prthivya adhipatih). Further, he was holding the seed of Uma. So Agni was advised to enter the semen of Rudra along with Vayu. That tejas (glow) became like a white mountain and later by the effect of that place became a thicket of reeds which was divine and which looked like Agni and Aditya. That tejas was born as Kartikeya.
Due to Agni holding it for some time and then releasing it, the gods become very happy because Rudra had withheld the original seed in order to protect the world and released the dried up seed for the cause of the gods. The gods and seers then worshipped Uma and Siva. But Uma did not accept their veneration. “Since you have deprived me of bearing a son by Siva, you shall not beget sons from your wives. You did not want me to give birth to my husband’s son, like other people but instead did the injustice that the gods wanted you to do. Therefore, you will be the wife of many and still never give birth to a legitimate son."
Siva was unable to take back the curse nor could he see the gods so crestfallen. So he prepared to leave for the west to perform the austerities. He went west of the Himalayas and on the northern side of the mountain on a peak performed penance with Uma. Viswamitra told Rama the story of Uma in detail.