Lord Shiva and Mahadevi Sati, living on the Kailash, once observed the movement of Devtas through the heavens and wondered what it was all about. Naradji, who happened to visit the Kailash at this time, informed them that the Devtas were all going to Kankhal where Daksha Prajapati, the father-in-law of Lord Shiva, was performing a Mahayajna and that by not inviting Lord Shiva he purposely meant to insult Lord Shiva. Satiji, thereupon, went to the Mahayajna uninvited but being openly insulted by her father she sacrificed herself in the fire. This enraged Lord Shiva. He destroyed the Yajna as well as Daksha and being broken hearted oving to the loss of Satiji ultimately went into Samadhi.
Meanwhile, Tarkasur, the king of asuras, was doing severe penance. Eventually, on Bramhaji being pleased, Tarkasur obtained two assurances, namely that he would conquer the three worlds and that his death and Satiji having died Lord Shiva will not get a son and so he was immortal, Tarkasur spread an orgy of terror through the world and also succeeded in subjugating Lord Indra. The Devtas were terror stricken. They begged o Bramhaji to find some way out. Bramhaji thought that reincarnation of Sati was necessary. Thus Parvati was born to Parvatrai, the king of Himachal.
Parvati soon grew up to be a beautiful princess. There were many suitors including Tarkasur, but Parvati had been Lord Shiva in her visions and had set her heart on him. Lord Shiva, however, was in Samadhi so Indra sent Kamdev to wake him but Lord Shiva burnt him to death. At last Parvati commenced penance to win over Lord Shiva. Tarkasur tried nard to make her give up the penance but eventually she succeeded. Lord Shiva married Paruati and they got a son, Kartikeya.
The news of Kartikeya's birth was as a death-knell to Tarkasur. He tried all methods to destroy Kartikeya but his own son Kamlaksha fell prey to his own game.
The loss of Kamlaksha enraged Tarkasur. He took a vow to destroy Lord Shiva and entire Kailash, and actually invaded the Kailash with all his might. Lord Shiva was in samadhi and could not be disturbed. Naradji said that Kartikeya was the boy of destiny and he must assume the command of the Kailash forces, although he was only eight years old. Battle ensured between him and Tarkasur. Who succeeded? See "Kailaspati".
[From The Official Press Booklets]