After their marriage, Lord Shiva and Parvati resided on Mt. Gandhamadana. During an intimate moment, a small quantity of Shiva’s vital fluid fell to the ground, generating intense heat that threatened the world. On Brahma and Vishnu’s advice, Agni consumed the fluid, but Parvati, feeling insulted, cursed him to become omnivorous and suffer unbearable inflammation. To alleviate the curse, Shiva instructed Agni to transfer the fluid to a womb. Agni passed it to the Krittikas, who gave birth to Kartikeya, born from six mothers, thus having six heads.
Kartikeya, later anointed as the commander-in-chief of the Devas, was foretold to be the only one capable of defeating the demon Tarakasura, a crucial event in the ongoing battles between the Devas and Asuras. The myth also explains how the Krittikas became stars in the Pleiades constellation, and how Kartikeya came to be known as Saravana, being born in a forest of reeds (Sara Vana).
This story highlights the complex connections between divine actions, cosmic forces, and the eventual rise of Kartikeya, one of the key figures in Hindu mythology, as the protector and leader of the gods in their eternal battle against evil.