In a time marked by celibacy, Shiva beheld Parvati, the daughter of the mountain, radiant in her austerity. Though in the bloom of youth, her slender waist and delicate limbs seemed at odds with her ascetic life. Shiva wondered at her resolve, and Parvati replied to him truthfully and sweetly. Hearing her words, Hara—another name for Shiva—felt joy, his heart delighted by his own purpose. But as Shiva listened, Parvati could not contain herself; she revealed her divine form, three-eyed and holding the trident. Bhavani, another name for Parvati, became bashful in Shiva’s presence, standing with her face lowered. The narrator confesses to striving for the abduction of Parvati, but after speaking thus, Shiva vanished, and the goddess returned to her father’s house. Upon her arrival, they bowed down and remembered the Supreme Lord. Then Shiva addressed all the sages gathered at the house of the mountain king. The sages agreed, saying, “So be it,” and together made arrangements with Śambhu, another name for Shiva. The king of mountains offered water for washing hands and feet, and seats were accepted with due reverence. When the king declared, “Given,” the wedding day was determined. All present announced to Śaṃkara, “Śivā has been given by Himavat.” Then Brahmā, Indra, and the other gods prepared the materials for the wedding. The ceremony was accompanied by the sounds of conches and drums, with Brahmā and the immortals in attendance. Shiva married Parvati according to the prescribed rites and then returned to his own abode. Meanwhile, the frightened gods sent Agni, the fire god, to Maheśvara, another name for Shiva. Embarrassed, Agni took Shiva’s seed into his own mouth. But Agni cast it out, and the seed fell into the waters of the Gaṅgā. At that time, the six wives of the seven sages went to Jahnavī—the river Ganges—to bathe. Mistaking the seed for fire, they performed penance there as they wished. From the opening of the hip, the six-faced one was swiftly born. Fearing the sages, all the women became anxious. The newborn, becoming one with the six, reached the summit of the White Mountain. On the first day of the bright fortnight, he appeared; on the second day, he was made complete; and on the fourth day, with all his limbs perfected, the six-faced one, possessing twelve eyes, was manifest. His radiant white and coppery brilliance illuminated the three worlds. Brahmā gathered the gods and performed his consecration according to the sacred rites. Gauri, another name for Parvati, appointed the peacock as his vehicle. With the spear and nurtured by the Krittikas, the newborn was cared for out of desire for a son. Holding the spear, he was anointed and honored by the army of the gods. He is known by many names: Gangeya, Kartikeya, Guha, Skanda, and the son of Uma. Kumara, bearer of the spear, is among his sixteen names. Thus was born Mahasena, the destroyer of demons. He was consecrated, adorned, and his matted locks arranged as in ancient times. After receiving consecration and weapons, Maheshvara entrusted Mahasena with a mission: “O son, you must protect the cause of harmony for Indra.” When the great festival arose amidst the ocean of proud attendants, Shankara assigned names to them according to their food preferences. Those who desire the banyan fruit were designated as the mothers of the banyan.