Kartikeya
/ˌkɑːr.tɪˈkeɪ.jə/noun
A major Hindu god of war, victory, and youth, also known as Skanda or Murugan.
Did you know?Kartikeya is traditionally linked to the Krittika (Pleiades) star cluster, and his name is often explained as meaning “son of Krittika,” showing how ancient Indian religion fused divinity with astronomy.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
कार्त्तिकेय (kārttikeya)
“One associated with the Kṛttikās; an epithet of the war god Kartikeya”
Vedic / Ancient Indian
Sanskrit
कृत्तिका (kṛttikā)
“The Krittika sisters, the Pleiades star cluster”
Ancient Indian
Sanskrit
कार्त्तिक (kārttika)
“Pertaining to the Krittikas; also the month Kārttika”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
स्कन्द (skanda)
“A name of the god, often glossed as “leaper” or “attacker””
Modern English
English
Kartikeya
“The standard English form of the Hindu deity’s name”