Freed from all sin by bathing in the sacred waters of the Ganga, you will attain the merit equal to performing the great Ashvamedha sacrifice and become truly virtuous. If you then immerse yourself once more in the holy Gautami river—a place sanctified by the presence of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Sambhu—you will cast off your impure mortal body. Ascending a resplendent celestial palace, you will surely reach heaven itself. Hearing these words, the hunter did exactly as instructed. He climbed the splendid palace and was transformed, taking on a divine form. Adorned with heavenly garlands and garments, and honored by groups of celestial apsaras, the pigeon, the pigeoness, and the hunter—by the power of the Ganga—all three ascended together to heaven. From that time, this sacred place became known as Kapota. There, bathing, making offerings, and honoring one’s ancestors are performed, and all acts of recitation, sacrifice, and similar rites carried out there lead to endless merit. Now, Karttikeya is the supreme sacred place, known as Kaumara. Simply hearing its name brings prosperity and beauty. After the demon Taraka was slain and peace returned to the heavens, Parvati lovingly spoke to her eldest son, Karttikeya: “Enjoy all pleasures, dear to your heart, throughout the three worlds, by my command, with a joyful mind and your father’s blessing.” Delighted by his mother’s words, Vishakha (Karttikeya) enjoyed the company of the wives of the gods, and the goddesses too found joy. O Narada, as Karttikeya delighted in the company of the goddesses, the gods in heaven found themselves unable to restrain him. They reported the matter to Parvati, informing her of the rites concerning her son. Though both his mother and the gods repeatedly tried to restrain him, Karttikeya, strong in power, did not desist. Six-faced, attached to women, he did not obey; Parvati, fearful of a curse, became deeply troubled. Out of motherly affection, and considering that the wives of the gods must be long protected for the fulfillment of divine purposes, Parvati pondered again and again. Wherever Skanda (Karttikeya) sought pleasure, Parvati herself would assume a similar form and act accordingly. So, whenever Ṣaṇmukha summoned the wives of Indra and Varuna and gazed upon them, he saw the form of his mother in each of them. Turning away in reverence, he would summon another, but again, seeing his mother’s form, he was overcome with shame. Thus, perceiving his mother’s form in many women and sensing the entire world filled with her presence, the son of Ganga became detached from enjoyment. Realizing that this withdrawal was caused by his mother’s intervention, he thought, “If I am restrained now, I had already begun before.” Embarrassed and filled with great shame, he went to the Gautami river. He declared, “This, in the form of my mother—let her hear my words: from now on, any woman named after my mother shall be regarded as equal to her by me.” Knowing this, Shiva, the lord of the world, together with Parvati, restrained their son and said, “This conduct must cease.” Thus spoke the great teacher. Then the lord of the gods, pleased, wondered what boon he might grant. With hands joined in reverence, Skanda spoke to his father: “I am already the commander of the gods and your son—what more could I desire? What use have I for boons, worshipped as I am by the gods? But if you wish to give, desiring the welfare of the worlds, grant this—not for myself, but for all: Let those who have committed great sins, even those who have approached their teacher’s wife, be cleansed of their sins by merely bathing here. Let even animals attain the highest birth, and let the deformed gain beauty by bathing here.” “So be it,” said Shiva, delighted with his son’s words. From that time, that sacred place became known as Karttikeya’s. Bathing and making offerings there bestow the fruit of all sacrifices. There is also the holy place of the Krittikas, named after Karttikeya. Merely hearing of it brings the merit of drinking soma. Long ago, for the destruction of the demon Taraka, the sage Agni received Shiva’s seed. When the embryo formed from that seed, the wives of the sages, seeing it, desired the sage. Except for Arundhati, among the wives of the seven sages who had completed their monthly purification, six became pregnant from that fire-born seed. The radiant women, purified by their monthly rites, spoke among themselves: “What should we do? Where shall we go? By doing what will we attain merit?” After this discussion, distressed, they hurried to the Ganga and released their embryos, which took the form of foam in the water. All these embryos merged together in the water, united by the wind, and became one form—from them, Ṣaṇmukha (Karttikeya) was born. After releasing their embryos, the wives of the sages returned home. Seeing their altered forms, the sages said, “Go, go quickly! Independent conduct is not proper for women.” Thus, O child, those women were cast out by their husbands. Overwhelmed by sorrow and abandoned, the six women were seen by Narada, who told them, “Karttikeya is born from Hara (Shiva). He is known as the son of Ganga and as fire-born, the slayer of Taraka. Go to him without delay; pleased, he will grant you enjoyment.” At the divine sage’s words, the Krittikas approached Ṣaṇmukha and themselves recounted all that had happened.