Burdened by the shame and ridicule that had arisen because of his mother’s actions, Skanda, filled with great embarrassment, sought out Gautamī. Addressing his mother, or rather, the presence that bore her form, he declared, “From this day forward, any woman who bears my mother’s name shall be regarded by me as equal to her.” Thus he resolved, hoping to put an end to his discomfort. At this, Śaṅkara, the lord of the world, together with Pārvatī, intervened. They restrained their son, Śaṅkara gently instructing him, “This conduct must cease.” The wise teacher’s words brought calm to the situation. Pleased with his son’s composure and wisdom, the lord of the gods wondered, “What boon shall I give?” Skanda, with hands joined in reverence, humbly addressed his father, “O lord of gods, I am already the commander of the gods and your son. That is enough for me. What need have I for further boons, worshipped though I am by the gods?” But seeing his father’s desire to grant him something for the welfare of the worlds, Skanda made a compassionate request, “If you wish to bestow a boon, O god, let it not be for me. Instead, I ask this: May those who have committed great sins—even those who have approached their teacher’s wife—be cleansed of their sins simply by bathing here. Let even animals attain a higher birth, and may the deformed gain beauty by bathing at this sacred place.” Delighted by his son’s selfless words, Śambhu agreed, saying, “So be it.” From that moment, the sacred place came to be known as Kārttikeya’s. Bathing and making offerings there would bestow the merit of all sacrifices. This holy place, known as Kṛttikā’s tīrtha after Kārttikeya, was so sanctified that simply hearing of it granted the merit of drinking soma itself. Long ago, for the destruction of the demon Tāraka, a sage had consumed Śiva’s seed. When the embryo formed from that seed, the wives of the sages, upon seeing it, were filled with longing for the sage. Of the seven sages’ wives, all but Arundhatī—who had completed their monthly purification—conceived from that fire-born seed. The six radiant women, purified by their rites, conferred among themselves, asking, “What shall we do? Where shall we go? By what means can we attain merit?” Distressed, they hurried to the Gaṅgā and there, in sorrow, released their embryos into the river, where they took the form of foam upon the waters. The embryos, merging together in the water and united by the wind, became one form: thus was Ṣaṇmukha, the six-faced, born. After this, the wives of the sages returned home. Yet when their husbands saw that their forms had changed, they reproached them, saying, “Go, go quickly! Such independent conduct is not proper for women.” Thus, those women were cast out by their husbands, left sorrowful and alone. Consumed by grief, the six abandoned women were seen by Nārada. The divine sage told them, “Kārttikeya, born from Hara, has come into the world. He is known as the son of Gaṅgā and as fire-born, the slayer of Tāraka. Go to him without delay; he will be pleased and grant you enjoyment.” Heeding Nārada’s words, the Kṛttikās approached Ṣaṇmukha and told him all that had transpired. Kārttikeya, accepting their words, instructed, “All of you should go to the Gautamī, bathe, and worship Maheśvara. I will come there as well, and then proceed to the abode of the gods.” Following his guidance, the Kṛttikās bathed in both the Gaṅgā and the Gautamī. Having worshipped the Lord of the gods at Kārttikeya’s instruction and by the Lord’s grace, they were able to proceed to the celestial realms. From that time, the sacred place became known as Kṛttikā-tīrtha. Whoever bathes there at the conjunction of Kārttikā and Kṛttikā attains the merit of all sacrifices and the stature of a righteous king. Even by merely remembering or hearing of that tīrtha, one is freed from all sins and blessed with long life. Now, listen to the tale of the Daśāśvamedhika tīrtha, O great sage—a place so holy that by merely hearing of it, one gains the merit of a horse sacrifice. Viśvarūpa, the illustrious and mighty son of Viśvakarman, had a son named Bhauvana, who was powerful and renowned. Bhauvana’s priest was Kaśyapa, master of all knowledge. Desiring to perform ten horse sacrifices at once, Bhauvana approached his revered teacher, the learned Brahmin Kaśyapa, and asked, “Where shall I offer sacrifice to the gods?” Kaśyapa replied, “O best of kings, establish the sacrificial ground wherever the foremost Brahmins have commenced great rituals.” Following this advice, groups of seers became officiating priests, and ten horse sacrifices were initiated simultaneously by the chief priest. The sacrifices proceeded, but when they were brought to completion, the king grew anxious. Leaving that sacrificial ground, he attempted the rituals again elsewhere, but as before, obstacles and faults arose. Seeing the sacrifices left incomplete, the king spoke to his teacher, “Because of faults of place, of time, of myself, or perhaps of you, the ten horse sacrifices did not reach completion.” Distressed, Bhauvana and Kaśyapa went to Saṃvarta, elder brother of the lord of hymns, and sought his guidance: “Venerable one, where can ten horse sacrifices performed at once attain completion? Tell us the place and the teacher, O bestower of honor.” After meditating, the great seer Saṃvarta answered, “Go to Brahmā, the teacher; he will reveal the place.” Bhauvana, accompanied by the noble Kaśyapa, came before me and recounted all that concerned the teacher and the place. I then said to my son Bhauvana and to Kaśyapa, “Go to the Gautamī. O king of kings, that land is sanctified by sacrifices. Kaśyapa, master of the Vedas, is the foremost teacher there; by his grace and by the sanctity of the Gautamī, blessings will surely be attained.