[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879) › c5.824 # A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.824 A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.824 - **Language:** English ### [c5.824](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.824) The god of war and the planet Mars, also called Skanda. He is said in the Mahā-bhārata and Rāmāyana to be the son of Siva or Rudra, and to have been produced without the intervention of a woman. Siva cast his seed into fire, and it was afterwards received by the Ganges: Kārttikeya was the result; hence he is called Agni-bhū and Gangā-ja. He was fostered by the Pleiades (Krittikā), and hence he has six heads and the name Kārttikeya. His paternity is sometimes assigned to Agni (fire); Gangā (the Ganges) and Pārvati are variously represented to be his mother. He was born for the purpose of destroying Tāraka, a Daitya whose austerities had made him formidable to the gods. He is represented riding on a peacock called Paravāni, holding a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. His wife is Kaumārī or Senā. He has many titles: as a warrior he is called Mahā-sena, Senā-pati; Siddha-sena, ‘leader of the Siddhas;’ and Yudha-ranga; also Kumāra, the boy; Guha, ‘the mysterious one;’ Sakti-dhara, ‘spear-holder;’ and in the south he is called Su-brahmanya. He is Gangā-putra, ‘son of the Ganges;’ Sara-bhū, ‘born in the thicket;’ Tāraka-jit, ‘vanquisher of Tāraka;’ Dwādasa-kara and Dwādasāksha, ‘twelve-handed’ and ‘twelve-eyed;’ Riju-kāya, ‘straight-bodied.’ See Krauncha. - [Previous: c5.823](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.823) - [Next: c5.825](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.825) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5) ## Cites (2) - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki) — Vālmīki, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.824](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.824) · Pramāṇa