India, April 10 -- By Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik - Author, Speaker, Illustrator, Mythologist

In the State of Punjab stands the temple of Achaleshwar Mahadev at Gurdaspur, while in nearby Haryana is the temple of Pehowa at Kurukshetra. What connects these two sites is their association with Kartikeya, the mighty son of Shiva and Parvati.

Kartikeya is no longer a widely worshipped deity in North India, but he remains extremely popular in Tamil Nadu, where he is venerated as Murugan, Subramanyam, or the bright jewel.

The earliest depictions of Kartikeya in history appear on the coins of the Yaudheyas, a warrior clan that once controlled the Punjab region, which are over 2,200 years old.

Kartikeya was also seen on the coins of Audumbara kings,...