Unique Attributes : Lord of War, wisdom
Other Names : Murugan, Muruganswami, Skanda, Mayilvahanan,
Subramaniam, Guha, Sanmukha, Shadanana, Kumara
Primary Scriptures : Skanda Purana, Satapatha Brahmana,
Chandogya Upanishad, Baudhayana Dharmasutra, Mahabharata,
Consort : Valli and Devayani
Vahan (Vehicle) : Peacock
Known as Lord Murugan in South India and Kartikeya in the northern part
of the country, the lord of war is the son of Lord Shiva and goddess
Parvati. The text Skanda Purana is entirely dedicated to the narrative
of Lord Kartikeya. As Muruganswami he is principally prayed to in the
Tamil land. He is known to be the head figure of the Sangam Tamil
Literature and poetry and hence the one who promoted the language. Lord
Murugan or Skanda is deeply revered in South India and has several
grandiose temples dedicated to the lord in contrast to the lesser number
of shrines in northern India.
The worship of Lord Murugan is not just confined to India. He is deeply
revered in the island country of Sri Lanka. Lord Kartikeya is also
referred to as Shadanana for bearing six heads on his shoulders.
Kartikeya has held immense reverence amongst the warrior clans for being
the lord of war and has been invoked by them when going on a war. Lord
Sri Krishna in the Bhagwat Gita told Arjun that as a warrior he takes
the form of 'Skanda' - the lord of wars. Muruga in Tamil means beauty
and hence Murugan is known as the beautiful one. As Kumara he is the
youthful one.
Murugan in the religious scriptures is shown as riding his vahan
peacock and holding a spear in his hands. The lord is painted as a young
beautiful boy who is often in the middle of his two consorts Valli and
Devayani. The six heads of the lord and his mount peacock stamping a
snake underneath his foot is a reflection of overcoming one's desires
and ego. The vices which principally ought to be overcome are kaama
(sex), lobha (greed) and krodha (rage). It is a Hindu belief that once
Lord Ganesh the 'Vighnaharta' removes all impediments from a believers
life then his brother Lord Kartikeya bestows him with spiritual solace
and knowledge. The festival dedicated to the lord is Thaipusam specially
celebrated by the Tamils. The festival is celebrated to mark the birth
of Lord Murugan. It is celebrated not just in India but in Singapore,
Malaysia and Mauritius with equal fervor and spirit.