An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s9.307.1

c5.s9.307.1

[Manushyagrahakathana(m)] (*"on the demons that possess mankind"*). § 502 (cf. Skandop.). The six divorced wives of tho rṣhis, together with Vinatā, obtained permission from Skanda to become his mothers. At the request of Indra the Kṛttikās (i.e. the six wives of the rṣhis) (together with Vinatā, see v. 14464 and Nil.) are placed among the nakshatras (and presided over by Agni) instead of Abhijit, the younger sister of Rohiṇī, who from jealousy had repaired to the woods. Brahmán ordered that time should be reckoned from Dhanishṭhā, while it had formerly been reckoned from Rohiṇī (so Nil.). Then (these seven) mothers asked Skanda that they might become the mothers of the worlds instead of the old mothers (Brāhmī, Maheçvarī, etc.; Nil.) and devour the progeny of those old mothers, because they had slandered them before their husbands, and always dwell with Skanda. Skanda granted that until the age of 16 years they should have the power of afflicting the human kind, and he loosed from his body his Raudra nature, under the name of Skandapasmāra, that they might dwell with him. Enumeration of several grahas (the number 18 in v. 14490 is difficult to explain), among others (*a*) the male and female children of Skanda (the males are the husbands of the females); they are all named Skandagrahas; they are propitiated with offerings, ablutions, unguents, etc., and particularly by the worship of Skanda; and when they are propitiated they bestow good on men.