कार्त्तिकेय Kārttikeya

Kārttikeya is the god of arriving exactly as needed. Six mothers, one spear, seven days: nothing in his story wastes a moment. He asks the commander's question, which is also every late-starter's and every young team's: what are you waiting to grow up for — and what would you take on, if you knew you were already enough?

The spear has not dulled: the six hills still fill, the milk-pots still rise, and the Pleiades still rise over Palani in his season, the six star-mothers keeping their appointment with the son. Astronomy and affection never separated in his cult: look up, the stars; look down, the hills; look inward, the spear. The peacock deserves its own line — the war-bird that eats the serpent, dancing at his approach — pride made useful, display made dangerous. His whole household is like that: six mothers, six faces, one spear, zero hesitation. One battle, properly timed, permanently won; and then, like a good commander, letting the calendar do the remembering.