Krittika

In the Vedas, Krittika is used in the plural form and is considered to represent six of the daughters of Daksha Prajapati. The word "Krittika" means "the cutters." Krittika is governed by Agni, and its deity is described as having a white, bright, transparent form from above and light from below.

Krittika has an appearance resembling a cutter or knife, indicating a connection of the native with surgery, medicine, treatment, and other activities involving cutting, peeling, fabricating utilities, or some form of penetration. This Nakshatra is also associated with Lord Kartikeya, the commander-in-chief of the God's army, who is known as Senani. Therefore, a connection with the armed forces naturally comes into consideration.

Lord Kartikeya was nurtured by the Krittikas, and therefore nurturing, boosting energy, foster care, and various maternal qualities can also be associated with Krittika Nakshatra. Krittika translates as "one who cuts," and its primary symbol is a razor or another sharp object.

The cluster is easily visible to the naked eye over the head of an observer at around 8:00 to 9:00 PM during January and February. At that time, the Punarvasu cluster remains to its east.

Lord Shiva is also known as the Lord of the departed and is depicted holding a human skull. As Pashupati, the Lord of all creatures, He is said to bear the entire sky upon His head. He is also known as Antakantha, the restrainer of Yama and the internal cause of life and death. These aspects relate Krittika with Yama, Agni, and also with Brahma, the creator, associated with Rohini, the Nakshatra next to Krittika. Thus, Krittika can be understood as deriving active energy from both Bharani and Rohini. The presiding deity of this Nakshatra is Agni.

Krittika and Lord Kartikeya

Krittika Nakshatra is strongly associated with Lord Kartikeya, and there is a well-known story connected with this association.

Skanda is the son of Shiva and Parvati. Some texts also consider him to be the son of Agni and the Krittikas, or of Agni and Swaha. An Asura named Tarakasura had obtained a boon from Brahma that he could not be slain by anyone except a seven-year-old child of Shiva. Armed with this boon, he defeated the celestial beings. It became clear that only a child born to Shiva could kill him. For this reason, Lord Vishnu suggested that someone should go and check on Lord Shiva and Parvati.

When they went there, they found that Mata Parvati and Shiva had withdrawn into seclusion. When the frustrated Gods reached the Devadaru Forest, they learned that Shiva and Maa Parvati were residing in a cave in the forest. The Gods pleaded with Shiva for help, but their efforts were of no avail.

In order to awaken them, Agni Dev decided to create an obstacle in their union. When Agni Dev reached the entrance of the cave, he saw that Shiva and Shakti were engrossed in their divine union. However, both became cautious after hearing the call of Agni Dev. When Shiva saw Agni Dev, he had to discontinue the act, and in the process, his divine essence was released.

Agni Dev took this divine essence in the form of a pigeon and began carrying it to protect it from Tarakasura. The temperature of the divine essence was so intense that even Agni Dev could not bear it. For this reason, he handed it over to Ganga Devi.

When Goddess Ganga began carrying the divine essence, the waters of the Ganga started boiling with its power. Frightened, Ganga Devi carried the divine essence to the Sharavana forest and established it there. The divine portion flowing into the Ganga River was divided into six parts, from which six beautiful and tender babies were born.

When the six Krittika girls saw the children in the forest, their maternal instincts awakened. They took the children and began breastfeeding them. Thereafter, they went to Krittika Loka and continued to nurture them.

When Naradji told Shiva and Parvati about what had happened, they became anxious to meet their son. When Mother Parvati saw her six sons, she became overwhelmed with maternal affection and embraced the children so strongly that the six children became one child with six heads.

Shiva and Parvati then explained the entire story to the Krittikas and returned to Kailash with their son. According to the Skanda Purana, Kartik was born to kill the demon Tarakasura, who had become unrighteous and extremely powerful. The child came to be known as Kartikeya because of his upbringing by the Krittikas.

Personality and Career

Krittika natives are believed to have an adventurous spirit and are constantly looking to fuel their inner fire with new information and experiences. Physical activity and an energetic demeanour are characteristic of those born under this Nakshatra.

They may have a sharp tongue, yet they can possess tremendous willpower and the capacity to support others. Krittika is considered a star of courage, awareness, and purification. Determined to achieve greatness, its qualities include sharpness, cutting, and penetration.

Krittika is considered a mixed Nakshatra, possessing both soft and harsh qualities. Fire can weld things together, but at the same time, it can melt or destroy them. In the kitchen, fire helps prepare food, but it can also burn it. The same fire also aids digestion within the stomach.

Because of these qualities, Krittika natives may find opportunities in professions and activities such as surgery, medicine, designing, singing, musical instruments, public performance, cutting, peeling, goldsmithing, perfumes and aromas, police forces, defence, criticism, judging, chemicals, investigations, and rehabilitation of addicts.

The fundamental symbolism of Krittika is therefore deeply connected with the transformative nature of fire—its ability to purify, separate, shape, strengthen, nourish, and, when necessary, destroy.