Skanda Kumara Swami
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Skanda Kumara Swami |
Subrahmanya is stated to have been born in a forest of arrow-like grass (hence the name Saravanabhava) and reared by the six divine mothers of the constellation Krittika (Pleiades), hence the names 'Karttikeya' and 'Sanmatura'. It seems he assumed six faces to suckle the milk of the six mothers and so got the appellation 'Sadanana or Sanmukha'.
He was appointed the commander-in-chief of the gods and thus became "Devasenapati'. With his matchless weapon, the sakti or lance shining brilliantly like fire, he easily destroyed Tarakusara thus becoming 'Saktidhara' and 'Tarakari'. Being very young and virile he is 'Kumara' or 'Sanatkumara'. A forceful attacker in war, he is known as 'Skanda'. 'Skanda' also means one who has accumulated the power of chastity.
He likes holy people (Brahmanas) and is always good to them. Hence he is ‘Subramanya'. Once he broke down the Kraunca-parvata (a mountain) earning the name Krauncabhetta. At the time he exposed Brahma's ignorance of the Vedas and hence got the name Brahma-Sasta.
His other names are Guha (the secret one), Gangeya (son of Ganga) and Swami-natha (the preceptor of his own father)
