When Parvati revealed her true, star-like form—after a thousand forms had been consumed—Shankara, the great lord, was finally freed from all doubt. Beholding her, the very embodiment of the universe, Shiva, the lover of delight, rejoiced deeply, for he had regained his beloved wife, Himavat’s radiant daughter, after a long and painful separation. For a thousand years, the divine couple remained in joyful seclusion, their loving play uninterrupted, arising from countless causes and circumstances. All the while, Viraka stood dutifully at the entrance, turning away the gods who wished to see Hara. With respect, he directed them back to their own abodes, saying, “There is no opportunity here, O gods; the bull-bannered one is enjoying private sport with the goddess.” Thus, the gods departed as they had come. When a thousand years had passed, the gods, filled with curiosity and eagerness, urged Agni to discover what Shankara was doing. Agni, taking the form of a boar, entered through a lattice opening and saw Sharva lying with Girija. But Mahadeva saw Agni in his boar form and, somewhat angered, spoke to him: “Half of my semen has been discharged into the goddess, O Agni, in the form of seed; since she stopped out of modesty, you must take the other half.” Shiva continued, “Because you have caused this obstacle, the task falls upon you.” So addressed, Agni, with joined palms, respectfully drank the potent seed. By this act, the gods themselves became filled, each according to their bodily division. Their bellies split open, and from them the mighty seed of Maheshvara emerged. When this seed came forth, glowing like molten gold, it spread throughout Shankara’s hermitage and formed a vast, pure lake—a golden expanse resplendent with blooming lotuses and alive with the songs of many birds. Hearing of this wondrous lake, Parvati approached it, filled with curiosity. She played in its golden waters and adorned herself with a garland of lotuses. Seated on the bank with her companions, the goddess wished to drink. She saw the water, sweet, pure, and adorned with lotuses. There she saw the Krittikas, radiant as six suns, who had bathed in the lake and taken some of the water upon a lotus leaf to their home. With delight, Parvati exclaimed, “I see milk resting on the lotus leaf.” The Krittikas then explained everything to the daughter of the mountain. They said, “If a child is born to you, we will give him to you; but let him also be our son, bearing our names, and let him be renowned in all worlds, O auspicious one.” Parvati replied, “How can a son born from my body, possessing all limbs, belong to you all?” The Krittikas answered, “We will provide him with the finest limbs; if it is so, let it be.” The goddess agreed, saying, “Let it be so, O blameless ones.” Then, filled with joy, the Krittikas gave her the milk resting on the lotus leaf. Parvati drank the water gradually, and, as she did, she split open her right side. From this emerged a wondrous child, illuminating all the worlds—shining like the sun, radiant as gold, holding a pure and sharp spear, and possessing six faces. Brilliant and golden-hued, he was born to destroy the wicked demons, and by divine will, he became known as Kumara. Again, splitting open her left side, another son emerged as a child. From Skanda’s mouth, from the seed of Agni, came the enemy-slayer with a beautiful face. Because of his union with the Krittikas, he was especially called ‘Shakha’; and the names ‘Shakha’ were given, spread among his six faces. Thus, in the world, he is known as Vishakha, six-faced, Skanda, Shakha, six-mouthed, and Kartikeya—famed everywhere. On the fifteenth day of the bright half of Chaitra, these two mighty ones, radiant as the sun, were born in the vast forest of reeds. On the fifth day of the bright half of Chaitra, Paka-shasana, considering the two boys, performed a rite to appoint them as leaders. On the sixth day, Guha was anointed as lord by all the hosts of immortals—Brahma, Indra, Upendra, and Bhaskara. They adorned him with fragrant garlands, auspicious incense, toys, umbrellas, fans, nets, ornaments, and ointments. Having been duly anointed according to the prescribed rite, the mighty Six-faced Lord received from Indra the renowned daughter, Devasena. For the sake of the Lord of the gods’ wife, Vishnu gave his weapon, and the lord of wealth granted him one hundred thousand Yakshas. Agni bestowed his radiance, Vayu gave a vehicle, and Tvashtar presented a marvelous toy—a rooster able to assume any form. Thus, all the gods bestowed upon him an unsurpassed retinue. With joyful hearts, they gave these gifts to Skanda, who shone with the brilliance of the sun. The hosts of gods, kneeling upon the ground, praised the Six-faced Lord, the bestower of boons, with a hymn—the foremost among the gods: “Salutations to Kumara, the great radiant one, to Skanda, the destroyer of demons, to you whose brilliance rivals the newly risen sun; salutations to you, Six-faced, who can assume any form. Salutations to you, adorned with bound jewels, the lord in battle, the destroyer of demons; salutations to you whose radiance equals the sun, salutations to the secret one, to Guha, to you. Salutations to you who remove the fear of the three worlds, salutations to you, child of boundless compassion; salutations to you, wide-eyed and pure, salutations to Vishakha, the great vow-holder.