For as many years as there are three and a half crore hairs on the human body, a wife who faithfully follows her husband is blessed to dwell in heaven. In this spirit of devotion, the virtuous pigeoness, having bowed reverently to the earth, the gods, the sacred Ganges, and the trees, comforted her offspring and spoke to the hunter who had played a pivotal role in her fate. She said, “Through your grace, O noble one, I have attained this blessing. Forgive me regarding my offspring, for I now go with my husband to heaven.” Having spoken thus, the noble bird entered the sacrificial fire, and as she stepped into the flames, cries of victory resounded all around. In the sky, a radiant palace appeared, shining with the brilliance of the sun. Upon this celestial abode, the divine couple—pigeon and pigeoness—were seen seated, resembling the gods themselves. Filled with joy, they spoke to the hunter, who stood in awe at the wondrous sight. They invited him, saying, “Come, let us go to the realm of the gods; you have been invited, O wise one. You are the guest who is the stairway to our heaven; salutations to you.” Seeing them ascend the splendid palace, the hunter, setting aside his bow and joining his hands in reverence, pleaded, “Do not abandon me, O greatly fortunate ones. Do not give anything to one who does not understand. I am your honored guest here; please tell me the means of atonement.” The divine couple replied, “Go to the Gautami river, may you fare well. Confess your sin to her. By bathing there, you will be freed from all sins. Freed from sin, when you bathe again in the Ganga, you will obtain the merit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice and become virtuous. In the sacred Gautami river, where Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Sambhu dwell, by bathing again, you will leave behind your impure body. Ascending the splendid palace, you will surely go to heaven.” Hearing their words, the hunter followed their instructions. He bathed in the Gautami and the Ganga, was freed from sin, and ascended the splendid palace, taking on a divine form. Wearing divine garlands and garments, honored by groups of apsaras, the pigeon, pigeoness, and hunter—all three, by the power of the Ganga—ascended to heaven together. From that moment, the sacred place became known as Kapota. There, bathing, giving, and honoring one’s ancestors are performed, and acts such as recitation and sacrifice carried out at Kapota lead to endless merit. Beyond Kapota lies Karttikeya’s supreme sacred place, known as Kaumara. Merely hearing its name brings prosperity and beauty. After the demon Taraka was slain and peace returned to heaven, Parvati affectionately spoke to her eldest son, Karttikeya. She said, “Enjoy pleasures as you wish throughout the three worlds, those dear to your heart, by my command, with a joyful mind and by your father's favor.” Thus addressed, Vishakha delighted in the company of the wives of the gods, and the goddesses themselves also enjoyed his presence. O Narada, as Karttikeya enjoyed the company of the goddesses, the gods dwelling in heaven found themselves unable to restrain him. They informed Parvati about the rites concerning her son, but even though she and the gods repeatedly tried to restrain him, Karttikeya, bearing great power, did not desist. He, six-faced and attached to women, did not obey; and out of fear of a curse, Parvati became frightened and began to reflect deeply. Moved by motherly affection and considering that the wives of the gods must be protected for the accomplishment of the gods’ purpose, she pondered again and again. Wherever Skanda took delight, Parvati herself assumed a similar form and acted accordingly. When Shaṇmukha summoned the wives of Indra and Varuna and gazed upon them, he saw the form of his mother in each. Turning away from her with reverence, he summoned another, but again saw his mother’s form and was overcome with shame. Thus, seeing Parvati’s form in many women and perceiving the world as filled with his mother, the son of Ganga became detached from pleasure. Realizing that his withdrawal was caused by his mother’s intervention, he thought, “If I am restrained now, I had already begun before.” He considered, “All this, caused by my mother, is now a source of ridicule for me.” Filled with great shame, he went to Gautami. He declared, “Let my mother hear my words: from now on, any woman named after my mother shall be regarded as equal to her by me.” Knowing this, Lord Shankara, together with Parvati, restrained their son and said, “This conduct must cease,” thus spoke the teacher. Then the lord of the gods, pleased and wondering what gift to bestow, joined his hands in reverence. Skanda spoke to his father, “I am already the commander of the gods, O lord of gods, and your son; enough of this, O revered one—what use have I for boons, worshipped by the gods? But if you wish to give, desiring the welfare of the worlds, I ask not for myself, O god—may you grant this: Let those who have committed great sins, who have approached their teacher’s wife, by merely bathing here, become cleansed of their sins. Let even animals, O lord of gods, attain the highest birth; let the deformed gain beauty by bathing here.” “So be it,” said Sambhu, delighted with his son’s words. From that time, the sacred place became known as Karttikeya’s. Bathing and giving there bestow the fruit of all sacrifices. And that which is known as Krittika’s holy place, after Karttikeya—by merely hearing of it, one obtains the fruit of drinking soma.