The Birth of the War-God: A Poem by Kálidása

This book is an epic poem by the South Asian author, Kālidāsa, more commonly known by its Sanskrit title, 'Kumārasambhava' or as translated in English, 'The Birth of Kumāra'. It is about the birth of Kumara (Kārtikeya), the son of Shiva and Parvati. This epic of seventeen cantos entails Sringara rasa, the rasa of love, romance, and eroticism, more than Vira rasa (the rasa of heroism). Tārakāsura, a rakshasa (demon) was blessed that he could be killed by none other than Shiva's son, however, Shiva had won over Kama, the god of love. Parvati performed great tapas (or spiritual penance) to win the love of Shiva. Consequently, Shiva and Parvati's son Kartikeya was born to restore the glory of Indra, king of the Gods.