12 - The Krattikā Tirtha

Brahmā said: 

1. The holy centre next to Karttikeya is known as Krttikā- Tirtha. Merely by hearing about it one will acquire the benefit of drinking Soma juice. 

2-3. Formerly, for quelling Tāraka, Fire god drank the semen of Siva. On seeing him with the Semen within, O sage, the wives of sages desired for the same. Of the seven sages Vasiştha's wife Arundhati had her menstrual bath. Excepting her, the other six women became pregnant through the Fire god. 

4-6. They had scorching experience in their menstrual bath. They shone splendidly. They consulted mutually: "What shall we do? Where shall we go? How can we attain merit?" After saying thus mutually they went to Gangā and pressed themselves hard. The foctuses coming out of them floated in the water in the form of foam. Through water and wind they joined together. Thus the six-faced lord with a single body was born. 

7. After causing the abortion of the foetuses the wives of sages went home. On seeing their deformed bodies the sages said: 

8. "You may go. You may go quickly. It is not proper for women to be licentious." After saying this their husbands cast them off. 

9-10. On being forsaken by their husbands, those six women became very miserable. On seeing them thus Närada said: "By the names of Kärttikeya, Gāngeya (son of Ganga), Agnibhava (born of Fire god) and Tarakantaka (slayer of Taraka) Siva's son is well known. Go to him. Ere long he will become pleased and grant you worldly pleasures." 

11. At the instance of the divine sage the Křttikās approached the six-faced lord and themselves intimated to him everything in the manner it had taken place. 

12-16. Kärttikeya approved of them and said to them "All of you go to Gautamī. Take your bath and worship Maheśvara. I shall come there itself, and lead you to the abode of Devas". Saying "So be it” the Kattikās took their bath in Ganga and Gautami. They worshipped the lord of Devas at the bidding of Kärttikeya. By the grace of the lord they went to their abode and were accepted by the sages. 

Thenceforward that holy centre is called Karttikātirtha. He who takes bath on the full moon day in the month of Kärttika, in conjunction with the Krattikä stars, acquires the benefit of all sacrifices. He becomes a virtuous king. He who remembers that holy centre or hears about it becomes rid of all sins and acquires long life.