kārttikeya | कार्त्तिकेय | kArttikeya
kārttikeya | कार्त्तिकेय | m. N. of a son of Śiva and Pārvatī (popularly regarded as god of war, because he leads the Gaṇas or hosts of Śiva against the demon hosts See RTL. p. 213; accord. to one legend he was son of Śiva without the intervention of Pārvatī, the generative energy of Śiva being cast into the fire and then received by the Ganges, whence he is sometimes described as son of Agni and Gaṅgā; when born he was fostered by the six Kṛttikās q.v., and these offering their six breasts to the child he became six-headed; he is also called Kumāra, Skanda, and Subrahmaṇya; his N. Kārttikeya may be derived from his foster mothers or from the month Kārttika as the best for warfare: in the Mṛcch. and elsewhere he is regarded as presiding over thieves), MBh. &c.