Who were Krittikas? What was their role in the Tarakasura Vadh?

Answer 1

The six Pleiades, fosterers of the six-headed war-god Karttikeya.

Read their story here:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13b051.htm

Answer 2

Kartikeya

Shiva and Parvati’s son was Skanada or Kartikeya. When the baby was very small, it got lost in some reeds. Six princesses discovered the baby in the reeds and each wanted to bring up the baby as her own son. All of them finally cooperated in bringing up the body. These princesses were the KRITTIKAS and the boy came to be known as Kartikeya.

The gods got to know from Narada that Kartikeya had been brought up by the Krittikas. They came and appointed Kartikeya their general. The army of gods then invaded Tarakasura’s city Shonitapura. A terrible fight raged for ten days. The gods completely decimated the demons and Katikeya killed Tarakasura.

After the victory celebrations were over, Kartikeya was restored to his parents. -

Answer 3

The Pleiades constellation in Sanskrit it is called Krittikas.

Krittika krttika (Sanskrit) [from kritti pelt, hide on which a disciple sits from the verbal root krit to divide into portions] plural krittikas. The Pleiades; originally the first lunar mansion, in later times the third, having Agni as its regent. The constellation is sometimes represented as a flame, sometimes as a knife. In mythology there are six krittikas represented as nymphs, who became the nurses of the god of war, Karttikeya.