The Birth of Kartikeya

Long ago there was an asur named Tarakasur. After doing hard tapasya, he got a boon from Brahma ji that only a son of Shiv ji would be able to defeat him. He thought, "Shiv ji is always in meditation. He will never have a son." As soon as he got the boon, Tarakasur began troubling the devtas, and he took over heaven.

The devtas were very worried. When Shiv ji and Maa Parvati were married, hope rose in their hearts.

One day a very bright, shining divine light, called tej, came forth from Shiv ji. It was so hot and so bright that no one could hold it. Agni dev, the god of fire, picked it up, but even he could not bear its heat. He handed it over to Ganga ji. Ganga ji carried it along on her waves and left it in a beautiful forest of tall reeds. That forest is called Sharavan.

In that reed forest, a beautiful, glowing baby appeared. His face shone like the sun. Just then, the six Krittikas were passing by. The Krittikas are goddesses like the six stars in the sky. When they saw the baby, their hearts filled with a mother's love. Each one of them said, "I will feed him!"

Then the baby did something wonderful. He took on six faces, so that he could drink milk from all six mothers at the same time and no mother would feel sad. That is why he is called Shanmukh, "the one with six faces". Because the Krittikas raised him, he is called Kartikeya.

When Shiv ji and Maa Parvati came to know of this, they were overjoyed. They sent their ganas and brought the child to Kailash with great honour. Maa Parvati lifted him into her lap and held him close. Tears of love flowed from her eyes.

Kartikeya grew up very quickly. He was brave, wise and handsome. The devtas made him the commander of their army. The peacock became his vahan, and in his hand he holds a divine spear called the shakti. Kartikeya defeated Tarakasur and freed the devtas from his cruelty, and peace returned to heaven.

In South India, Kartikeya is lovingly worshipped as Murugan and Skanda.