Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v2.c27.s4.t2.30

v2.c27.s4.t2.30

The Birth of Kumāra.—We shall conclude this account of the military festival of Mewar with the birth of Kumara, the god of war, taken from the most celebrated of their mythological poems, the Ramayana, probably the most ancient book in the world.² “Mena, daughter of Meru, became the spouse of Himavat, from whose union sprung the beauteous Ganga, and her sister Uma. Ganga was sought in marriage by all the celestials ; while Uma, after a long life of austerity, was espoused by Rudra.”³ But neither sister was fortunate enough to have offspring, until Ganga became pregnant by Hutasana (regent of fire), and “ Kumara, resplendent as the sun, illustrious as the moon, was produced from the side of Ganga.” The gods, with Indra at their head, carried him to the Krittikas⁴ to be nursed, and he became their joint care. “As he resembled the fire in brightness, he received the name of Skanda, when the immortals, with Agni (fire) at their head, anointed him as general of the armies of the gods.”⁵— “Thus (the bard Valmiki speaks), oh ! Rama, have I related the story of the production of Kumar.”