Once a demon named Tarakasura had become invincible with a boon from Shiva and was attacking the saints and Gods. Struggling with the increasing arrogance of demons they sent a deputation to Lord Shiva through Agni seeking his help. They realized that only a son of Shiva can destroy such a formidable enemy. So they began to work towards that goal. When Agni met Lord Shiva he was in a cosmic embrace with his wife Goddess Parvati When Parvati met Agni she gave Shiva's seed to him and Agni swallowed it. But unable to withstand its heat Agni dropped it in the river Ganges. She bore the seed which separated into six seeds giving birth to six babies. Six out of the seven stars of Krttika (the Pleiades) constellation took human form to nurture the six babies but as they were blamed by their husbands the Saptarishis of disloyalty they floated the babies on the Ganges. One day while having bath Parvati took them in her lap and joined them into one baby. She was so charmed by the baby that she took him as her son and named him as Armugam (the one with six faces). Lord Muruga is considered as the planetary overlord of Mars who strengthens good qualities of the planet when worshipped regularly with devotion. Muruga was so intelligent that at a very young age he became the commander of the Celestial army and led his army against demon Tarakasura and other demons like Supradaman. His mother Parvati gave him the weapon Vel to meet the demons in a fierce fight and end all agony of the Gods. Muruga succeeded in killing the demon with his supreme weapon that represented Shakti.