कार्त्तिकेय m. m.N. of a son of
शिव and
पार्वती (popularly regarded as god of war, because he leads the
गणs or hosts of
शिव against the demon hosts See,
[RTL.] p.213;
accord. to one legend he was son of
शिव without the intervention of
पार्वती, the generative energy of
शिव being cast into the fire and then received by the Ganges, whence he is sometimes described as son of
अग्नि and
गङ्गा; when born he was fostered by the six
कृत्तिकाs
q.v. , and these offering their six breasts to the child he became six-headed; he is also called
कुमार,
स्कन्द, and
सुब्रह्मण्य; his
N. कार्त्तिकेय may be derived from his foster mothers or from the month
कार्त्तिक as the best for warfare: in the
[Mṛcch.] and elsewhere he is regarded as presiding over thieves),
[MBh. &c.]