Karttikeya – The God of War

The god of war, and generalissimo of the armies of the gods, though called the younger son of Siva and Parvati, according to most of the legends, is their son only in the sense that they formed him. Brahma arranged for his birth in answer to the prayers of the gods for a competent leader of their forces. While Siva, the lord of the gods, was performing austerities, the other deities went to Brahma and asked for a general in the room of Siva, who, it seems, had formerly acted in that capacity. He said they whom thou didst formerly give as a leader of our armies, is now performing great austerities. Karttikya was outwitted by his brother Ganesa. As the two brothers fell in love with two ladies named Siddhi and Buddhi it was agreed that whoever first traveled round the world should have them. Ganesa proved by his logical talents and aptness at quotation that he had done this, and obtained the prize long before his brother returned from his weary pilgrimage, to the disquiet of both families. For sometime after their marriage, as there was no child born to them, the distressed and disappointed deities who had been anxiously expecting a deliverer, renewed their lament- tat ions and complaints. Siva emitted sparks of fire from his eyes, which, being thrown into the lake, became  six infants, who were nursed by the wives of the risis, who are seen in the sky as the Pleiades. When parvati saw these children she was transported with their beauty, and embraced all of them together so forcibly that their six bodies became one, while their six heads and twelve arms remained.