After Subramanya was born, the devas sent six mothers to feed him. They were known as Krittikas. It is debated whether he got six faces because they fed him at the same time or whether they were six in number because Subramanya had six faces. According to some scriptures, Parvati sent them. Subramanya came to be known as Karthikeya because of the Krittikas, as per Ramayana Balakanda Sarga 37, Kathasaritasagara Lavanakalambaka Taranga 6. The Krittikas later entered the nakshatramandala as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 236 verse 11. They were then known as the Karthika nakshatra. Narada once mentioned that giving ghee and payasam to brahmins on the Karthika day earns a person entry to important worlds as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 64 verse 5.