Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c16.4

v2.c16.4

The identity of Agni and Rudra also appears from the Mahābhārata. In narrating the birth of Skanda, it is stated in the Vana-parvan, that Svāha, the wife of Agni, assumed on six consecutive days the forms of the wives of six out of the seven *rishis* and enjoyed the company of her husband, who had previously abandoned her and retired to the forest, because he could not succeed in securing for himself the company of the wives of the *rishis* with whom he had fallen in love. The seed of Agni gathered on the six days by Svāha was deposited in a pit and covered with *kuśa* grass. On the sixth day the seed assumed the form of Kumāra (that is, Skanda). Again, later on, it is also said that Rudra, who was dallying with his consort Umā for a long time, was prayed to by the gods to assume his other functions; he let drop his seed on the earth. Agni was asked to take it in and develope it, but its burning effect was so great that he could not bear it; he dropped it in the river Gaṅgā and Skanda was born therefrom. From these two statements, the only conclusion possible is that Rudra, who was the same as Agni was the father of Skanda.