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KRITIKAS EPISODE
Yet one more! Another fantastic legend narrates that once Agni appeared before Siva and Parvathi,
when they were consorting. The sudden appearance of Agni made Siva discharge his seed abruptly.
Angry Parvathi asked Agni to bear that seed. He humbly accepted, in fear of severe consequences, but
he could not bear it longer. He threw it into the River Ganges and the later transferred it to the six
Kritikas, who were bathing in the Ganges. They gave birth to children, each
one. All the six were combined into one with six heads and twelve arms but with one neck
and one belly. Later his peerless career crowned him with the generalship of celestial army along
with Devendra's daughter as wife.
So he was called Karthikeya, Shadanana, Agnibhu etc.
He was also called Saravanabhava due to the fact of the seed of Siva thrown into the
forest of Sara of reeds, where he was born according to another story. Whatever may be
his origin, he was undoubtedly the most courageous among the celestials, and with his help alone
Devendra killed Taraka, Surapadma, Mahisha etc. Moreover, he is represented as a
Kumara of great beauty and immense attraction. He is the Prince charming among gods.
He accepted the cock to adorn his banner and Mayura as his mount, the two forms of Surapadma at the
time of his death at his hands.
There are several other myths and legends finding coveted places in the scriptures.
They bring out the glory of this War Lord, but strange to find that his worship or popularity
is little known in the North India; rather he is not given wide publicity as found in the South, especially
Tamil Nadu, which if termed Muruga Nadu, justifiers selection.
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