him. Brahma arranged for his birth in answer to the prayers of the gods for a competent leader of their forces. The Ramayana [**] says: "While Siva, the lord of the gods, was performing austerities, the other deities went to Brahma and asked for a general in the room of Mahadeva, who, it seems, had formerly acted in that capacity. 'He,' said they, 'whom thou didst formerly give as a leader of our armies (Mahadeva), is now performing great austerities, along with Uma.' Brahma says that in consequence of the curse of Uma no son could be born of any wives of the gods, but that Agni should have a son by the river Ganga, who should be their general."

In the following extract from the Mahabharata [*+] is an explanation of the statement in the preceding paragraph that Agni was to be the father of this god. Kartikeya has just been installed as general, when, "the god whose banner is a bull (Siva), arriving with his goddess, paid him honour, well pleased. Brahmans called Agni Rudra, consequently he (Kartikeya) is the son of Rudra. Having seen him thus honoured by Rudra, all the deities consequently call him, who is the most excellent of the gifted, the son of Rudra. For this child was produced by Rudra when he entered into fire. Skanda (Kartikeya), that most eminent deity, being born of Agni, [who was] Rudra, and from Svaha (Uma) [and] the six wives [of the Rishis], was the son of Rudra."

This quotation will be more intelligible after reading what precedes it: "Indra being distressed at the defeat of the armies of the gods by the Danavas, is meditating on this subject, when he hears the cry of a female calling for help, and asking for a husband to protect her. Indra sees that she has been seized by the demon Kesin, with

whom he remonstrates; but the demon hurls his club at Indra, who, however, splits it with his thunderbolt. Kesin is disabled in the next stage of the combat, and goes off. Indra then finds out from the female that her name is Devasena (army of the gods), that she has a sister named Daityasena (army of the daityas), and that they are both daughters of Prajapati. She wishes Indra to find her a proper husband, who shall be able to overcome the enemies of the gods. Indra takes Devasena with him to Brahma, and desires him to provide her with a martial husband; and Brahma promises that a helpmate of that description shall be born. It happened that Vasishtha and other Rishis had been offering a sacrifice, whither the gods, headed by Indra, proceeded to drink the Soma juice. Agni, too, being invoked, descended from the region of the sun, entered into the fire, received the oblations of the Rishis, and presented them to the gods.