BIRTH OF KARTIKEYA

(This is in continuation of the previous post/s related to Birth of Karikeya, the background, which culminates into the Birth of Ganga or Gangavatarana, as narrated by Sage Vishwamitra to Srirama mentioned in Chapter 37, Balakanda, Srimadvalmeeki Ramayana)

Skanda ityabruvandEvAha skannam garbhaparisravAt|
KArtikEyam mahAbAhum kAkutstha jwalanOpamam||27||

PrAdurbhUtam tataha kSheeram kruttikAnAmanuttamam|
ShaNNAm ShaDAnanO bhUtwA jagrAha stanajam payaha||28||

GruheetwA ksheeramEkAnhA sukumAravapustadA|
Aajayat swEna veeryENa daityasainyagaNAnwibhuhu||29||

SirasEnAgaNapatimabhyaShinchanmahAdyutim|
TatastamamarAha sarwE samEtyAjnipurOgamAha||30||

Rama, since Kartikeya, who was broad shouldered and was reminiscent of Yagneshwara, the deities also called him as Skanda as he had fallen from the womb. Skanna in Sanskrit means one who has fallen to the ground. 

Pure and nutritious milk filled the breasts of the deities of Star Krittika. All the six mothers (deities) sat together to feed breast milk to Skanda. Being a divine person, Skanda manifested himself with six faces and drank the breast milk of all the six mothers, simultaneously. Born with a soft body, Lord Skanda with six faces drank the breast milk fed by all the six mothers for one full day and won the battle against demons with his sheer should power and strength. Agni and the other chief deities arrived and performed the coronation of Skanda as the chief commander of the army of deities. I have narrated the entire story of the birth of Kartikeya and the grand origin of Ganga in detail, This story is highly meritorious and gracious. 

Bhaktashcha yah KArtikEyE KAkutsTha Bhuvi mAnavaha|

AayuShmAnputrapautrashcha SkandasAlOkyatAm vrajet||

Rama, Any man who is a devotee of Kartikeya and surrenders to him without any bias or prejudice will have a long life, beget children and grandchildren, will have all pleasures and happiness in life and will finally get into the Skanda Loka.”