Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.2836

c7.2836

KṚTTIKĀ I. When Subrahmaṇya was born the Devas deputed six mothers to breast-feed him, and they are called Kṛttikās. Certain Purāṇas hold the view that six faces were caused to Subrahmaṇya as he had to feed on six breasts at the same time while others opine that six mothers were deputed to feed him as he was born with six faces. Again, according to certain Purāṇas it was Pārvatī, who deputed the Kṛttikās. The child came to be known as Kārttikeya also as it was fed by the Kṛttikās. (Skanda Purāṇa, Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa, Canto 37 and Kathāsaritsāgara, Lāvaṇakalambaka, Taraṅga 6).