Page:Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Purānic.djvu/368

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344
ADITI, AND THE ADITYAS.

prayers of the gods for a competent leader of their forces. The Rāmāyana[1] says: “While Siva, the lord of the gods, was performing austerities, the other deities went to Brahmā and asked for a general in the room of Mahādeva, who, it seems, had formerly acted

KARTIKEYA.

in that capacity. 'He,' said they, 'whom thou didst formerly give as a leader of our armies (Mahādeva), is now performing great austerities, along with Umā.' Brahmā says that in consequence of the curse of Umā no son could be born of any wives of the gods, but that

  1. Muir, O. S. T., iv, 364.