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 Kartikay
is a son of Shiva and brother
to Ganesha. While Ganesha
symbolizes a spiritual attitude, Kartikay is the scientist
of the gods. Kartikay bears 31 names,
among which are Karttikeya, Kumara, Guha… Kartikay
rides on a peacock, the killer of serpents.
When Brahma had granted
the demon Taraka the boon of invulnerability to all but a
son of Shiva and Taraka became extremely powerful, the gods
sought to persuade the ascetic Shiva to produce a son with
Parvati. Finally Agni could pick up a seed of the great god
but dropped it in a river. From the seed Kartikay was born.
 Six
goddesses, the Krtikkas (Pleiades), were filled with
compassion for the new born. They were quarreling over
him, because each of them was eager to nurse the baby.
To satisfy them all, Kartikay grew six heads and grew
up under their guidance. Kartikay
became commander of the army of the gods and slew the
demon Taraka.
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