Skanda

On the first lunar day, the energy of Agni's fallen semen gives birth to Skanda — a child with six heads, twelve eyes, and twelve arms. He seizes a giant bow, roars so terribly that the three worlds tremble, grabs the nagas Chitra and Airavata, shatters Mount Krouncha with arrows, and hurls his spear at Mount Shveta, terrifying all beings into seeking refuge with him.

Terrible portents shake the world, and the rishis fear the calamities have come because Agni slept with the wives of the saptarshis. But no one knows the truth — that the deed was done by Svaha, the goddess of offering, who had taken the form of each wife to seduce the fire god. When the child Skanda is born, the gods themselves tremble at his power and send the mothers of the world to destroy him.

Markandeya narrates the origin of Skanda's terrifying companions — sons and daughters born when the vajra struck him. The mothers of the world approach Skanda and ask to be made supreme, worshipped by all. He grants their wish, and through his favour, each mother bears a terrible son named Shishu, establishing the group of eight brave ones and the nine including Bhadrashakha.

After instating Skanda as general of the gods, Shakra remembers Devasena — the maiden he once freed — and recalls Brahma's prophecy that she was destined for Skanda. He brings her adorned in ornaments, and Skanda accepts her hand in marriage according to prescribed rites, with Brihaspati reciting the mantras.

The maharshis and Shakra offer Skanda the position of Indra, praising his strength and asking him to become lord of the three worlds. Skanda refuses, declaring that Shakra alone should rule and that he will remain Shakra's servant — but when Shakra proposes he become general of the gods instead, Skanda accepts on one condition: that it be for destroying danavas and protecting cows and brahmanas.

Prajapati Brahma tells Mahasena (Skanda) to go to his father Mahadeva, then explains the strange circumstances of his birth — how Rudra entered Agni and Uma entered Svaha, how the semen was scattered five ways, and how the flesh-eating ganas were born from it. Skanda agrees, worships his father, and is affectionately received.

Svaha appears before Skanda and declares she is Daksha's daughter who has always desired Agni — but the fire god does not fully know her love. She asks Skanda to grant her eternal residence with Agni. Skanda decrees that henceforth every oblation offered through Agni will be rendered with the utterance of the word "svaha," ensuring she will always reside with him.

With Skanda instated as general of the gods, Rudra departs for Bhadravata in a chariot yoked to a thousand lions, followed by a vast celestial procession — gods, yakshas, rishis, weapons, rivers, and the very branches of knowledge — establishing the new cosmic order.

The danava Mahisha tears a mountain from the earth and hurls it at the gods, scattering them like small animals before a lion. He advances on Rudra's chariot and seizes its pole — and Rudra does nothing to stop him, knowing that Mahisha's death belongs to another.

When the gods confront the terrible danger from Mahisha, Skanda arrives flaming like the sun and hurls a spear that severs Mahisha's head — killing the danava who had a boon from Brahma and whom the gods could not touch. In a single day, he subjugates all three worlds.

Rudra embraces Skanda and gives him permission to leave — and the universe responds with a portent: the sky blazes, the earth trembles, darkness envelops everything, and a terrible army of danavas appears to attack the gods.