Mumbai: Lord Murugan is the son of the Hindu God of Destruction, Lord Shiva and the brother of the remover of obstacles, Lord Ganesh (The elephant-headed God). Lord Murugan has two wives – Valli and Devasena. Murugan is often referred to as “The god of the Tamils” and is worshiped primarily in areas with Tamil influences, especially South India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Murugan rides a peacock and wields a bow in battle. The ardent devotees of Murugan call him by a variety of names – Karthilkeya, Arumuga, Shanmuga, Guhan, Skanda and Lord Subramanya. During His bachelorhood, Lord Murugan is also regarded as Kumaraswami (Bachelor God), ‘Kumara’ meaning a bachelor and ‘Swami’ meaning God.
His six most important shrines in India are the ‘Six Abodes of Murugan’, which are temples located in Tamil Nadu, also known as Arupadai Veedu Murugan temples.
1. The Handsome God
Lord Kartikeya is one of the most beautiful-looking and handsome gods.He is often described as exuding boyish charm yet with a serious face. Often depicted as a calm and serene character, he had a face that resembled the full moon’s radiance.
2. Born to Kill Tarakasura
One Asura named Tarakasura, who Lord Brahma gave a boon that he would only be killed by someone as strong as Lord Shiva. The Son of Lord Shiva would only be as strong as Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Murugan manifested for the sole purpose of killing Tarakasura.
Also Read: Know all about ‘ Lord Murugan’s Arupadai Veedu Temples’
3. The Shanmukha
Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva took her to a cave and asked her to meditate. As they both meditated, a ball of fire emerged out of their cosmic energies.
Kartikeya is also known as Shanmukha or God with six faces. Lord Shiva hands his fiery seed fire to Agni, who can handle it till the radiance becomes Shiva’s offspring. Unable to bear the heat, Agni gives the radiance to Ganga. Then Goddess Parvati took the form of this water body as she alone could bear the energy of Shiva and Shakti.
Finally, the fireball took the form of a baby with six faces – Eesanam, Sathpurusham, Vamadevam, Agoram, Sathyojatham, and Adhomugam, and hence the name Shanmuga or Shadanan. Kartikeya was cared for by six women symbolizing Pleiades (Kritika in Sanskrit) and thus got the name Kartikeya.
4. Vahana
The Vehicle he rides is a peacock called Paravani. Kartikeya, also known as Lord Murugan in Southern India, is mounted on a peacock. This peacock was originally an Asura called Surapadma, while the rooster was called the angel, Krichi.
After provoking Lord Murugan in combat, Surapadma repented at the moment his lance descended upon him. He took the form of a tree and began to pray. The tree was cut in two. From one half, Murugan pulled a rooster, which he made his emblem, and from the other, a peacock, which he made his mount.
5. Symbolism of his Idol
If you look at the idol of Kartikeya, on the one hand, He carries a spear. It is also called Vel. It is not a trident. It is symbolic of the Kundalini Shakti.
On the other hand, he carries a small flag on which a rooster is present. In another version, Tarakasur was defeated by Lord. So, Tarakasur (ego) became a chicken or rooster after being defeated by Kartikeya. After defeating Taraka (ego) in battle, Kartikeya spared his life and asked him what boon he desired. Taraka prayed to always be at the feet of the Lord, and so Lord Kartikeya made him the emblem on his flag. This also means that the ego should always be kept subdued. The ego is necessary for life, but it should be kept subdued.
Sharad Purnima, also known as Kumara Purnima, celebrated on the full moon day after Vijayadashami, is one of the popular festivals dedicated to Kartikeya in Odisha. It is believed that unmarried girls worship Kartikeya on this day to get grooms as handsome as Kartikeya.
Another major festival dedicated to the worship of Lord Kartikeya is Thaipusam. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati presented a lance to Lord Murugan to defeat the demon army of Tarakasura and combat their evil deeds. Therefore, Thaipusam is a celebration of the victory of good over evil.
In addition, Skanda Sashti is another regional festival celebrated mostly by Shaivite Hindus, observed in honor of Lord Kartikeya on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of the Tamil month of Aippasi (October – November). It is believed that Kartikeya, on this day, annihilated the demon, Taraka. Celebrated in all Shaivite and Subramanya temples in South India, Skanda Sashti commemorates the destruction of evil by the Supreme Being.
He is also called ‘Deva Senapati’ and ‘Yuddharanga.’ Kartikeya, the god of war and general of the army of the gods, is known for his extraordinary strength and skills. He is considered the commander in chief of devas as he was mainly created to destroy demons that symbolize negative human tendencies.
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