Prajāpati (Prajapati) was Manu’s son, and Manu was Brahmā’s (Brahma’s) son. Anala was born of Prajāpati to Śāṇḍilī (Shandili). He was a luminous god. He was one of the eight Vasu. In some Purāṇas (Puranas) it is said that the eight Vasu were born of Kaśyapa (Kashyapa). In others, it is said that they were born of Dharma to Prajāpati’s daughter Vasu. Anala, one of the eight Vasus, held within him the power of Śiva (Shiva), and therefore in Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), his wife is thought to be Śivā (Shiva). But in most other Purāṇas, especially in Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Śivā is identified as Anila’s wife. In any case, the part of Śiva that Anala carried within him, he ejected in a thicket of reeds. Hence Kārtikeya (Kartikeya), the boy born in a reed hedge, is Anala’s son— agneḥ putra kumārastu śrīmān śaravanālayaḥ. However, since he was nursed by six kṛttikā (krittika; a certain type of demigoddess), he is also known after them as Kumāra Kārttikeya (Kumara Karttikeya). The other three sons of Anala are Śākha (Sakha), Vaiśākha (Vaishakha) and Naigameya. Anala’s eyes are tawny; his neck is rust-coloured, and he is dark-skinned. He has eight other names—Hutāśana (HUtashana), Saptārci (Saptarchi), Havyavāhana (Havyavahana), Kṛśānu (Krishanu), Agni, Pāvaka (Pavaka), Śukra (Shukra) and Vanhi.