 |
| Murugan |
Skanda in South India
Skanda is one of the most revered forms of Divinity in the southern state of Tamilnadu. Skanda is known as Murugan - the God of the Tamils, and as Subramanyan, Balasubramanian, Saravanan, Kumaran, Guhan, Shanmukhan or Aarumugan (the six-faced one), Velayudhan, and Karthikeyan. The name Murugan is synonymous with the language Tamil and the concept of beauty Azhagu.
 |
| Palani temple |
There are several temples to Murugan all over the state of Tamilnadu (as in Palani, Tiruchendur, etc.) and prominent shrines in Shiva temples (as in Sikkal and Vaideeswaran Koyil) and at least one shrine in all Saivite temples throughout the state.
Prominent shrines to Skanda in the neighboring southern states include Haripad and Udayanapuram in Kerala, Subrahmanya in Karnataka, and the modern Skandagiri temple in Secundrabad - Andhra Pradesh.
Attributes of Skanda
Skanda is regarded as the supreme commander of the Gods and the destroyer of evil forces. He is also regarded as the epitome of knowledge. He is revered as an infant, as a child - (Balasubramanian), as a handsome and romantic prince (Valli Manavaalan - Azhagan Murugan), as an invincible warrior-ruler, and also as a mature renunciate. There is a wealth of literature centered around Murugan.
Skanda is regarded as the son of Shiva and Parvati and hence the brother of Ganesha. There is a shrine to Skanda in all Saivite temples in Tamilnadu, and likewise, there are shrines to Shiva and Parvati in all temples dedicated to Skanda.
Valli - the daughter of a tribal ruler and Deivayanai or Devasena the daughter of Indra the King of Devas- are Skanda's consorts. Skanda is also revered as the nephew of Vishnu and is referred to as Maal Marugan. The rich mythology surrounding Skanda hence revolves around all of the above-mentioned manifestations of Divinity.
See Palani for the legend relating to the manifestation of Skanda as the epitome of knowledge - Gnana Panditan, Velimalai for the colorful legend involving the romance between Skanda and Valli, Tirupparamkunram for legends relating to Skanda's wedding with Devasena.
Skanda in Tamil and Sanskrit Literature
Ancient Tamil literature eulogizes Skanda. The Tamil work Tirumurugatruppadai by Nakkeerar of the Sangam period reveres the 6 padai veedu shrines of Skanda. It is thus interesting to note, that the city of Madurai (the home of the Tamil Sangam) has held the Murugan shrine at Tirupparankunram in particular regard for about 2000 years!
 |
| arunagirinathar |
The Tamil works Akanaanooru and Puranaanooru of the Sangam period also refer to some of the abodes of Skanda such as Tiruchendur. Interestingly, even the Silappadikaaram refers to Tiruchendur and Tiruchengode (enshrining Ardhanareeswarar and Chengottuvelavar) as abodes of Murugan.
The Skanda Puranam in Sanskrit narrates legends related to Skanda and Shiva. Subramanya Bhujangam in Sanskrit, composed by Aadi Sankara in the latter half of the 1st millennium CE revers Subramanya (enshrined at Tiruchendur).
 |
| Sivacharyar |
Kalidasa's Kumara Sambhavam - composed in Central India again in mid 1st millennium CE describes the story of the birth of Skanda. The Tamil version of Skanda Puranam was created by Kachiappa Sivacharyar of Kumara Kottam at Kanchipuram.
Arunagirinathar of the 15th century CE is the composer of Tiruppugazh - a collection of hymns dedicated to Skanda in various temples across the length and breadth of the state of Tamilnadu. His works Tiruppugazh and Kandar Anubhooti are held in great regard by the Tamils. Other recent works such as the Skanda Sashti Kavacham and the Skanda Guru Kavacham are also used in worship.
Murugan in Classical and Popular Music
A wealth of music eulogizing Skanda dominates the south Indian classical music scenario. Mutthuswamy Deekshitar, regarded as one of the trinity of composers in the Karnatic music genre uses the stamp Guruguha (symbolizing Skanda) in all of his compositions in the Sanskrit language. Kritis such as Swaminatha Paripala and Subramanyena Rakshito and Sree Naadaadi Guruguho are some of his popular kritis eulogizing Skanda.
Papanasam Sivan has many a composition dedicated to Skanda. Some of the popular Tamil kritis include Kaartikeya Kaangeya, Kaa Vaa Vaa, etc. Kritis by contemporary composers such as Periyasaami Thooran and others also eulogized Skanda in Tamil. Several padams and Kaavadi Sindhus in a lighter vein are also dedicated to Murugan.
A wealth of devotional music revering to Skanda exists in the popular devotional music genre. Recordings by the Soolamangalam sisters of Skanda Sashti Kavacham and the Skanda Guru Kavacham can be heard through public address systems, even today during the Murugan festival calendar.
Murugan Temples in Tamilnadu
Skanda is enshrined as a renunciate (Dhandayutapani) as in Palani or with his consorts Valli and Deivayanai in most shrines, with Deivayanai alone in Tirupparankunram, with Valli alone in Velimalai. He is enshrined either in a seated or in a standing posture - either in the six-faced Shanmukha form or in the single-faced Subramanya form.
The peacock is considered to be Skanda's favorite mount. Skanda is always seen armed with a spear - the Vel. The very symbol Vel is held in high regard in Tamilnadu and is symbolic of victory (Vetri Vel). The six faces of Skanda (Shanmukhan) represent the union of the five faced Shiva with Parvati.
Most temples enshrining the Skanda follow the Saiva Agamas in worship protocols. The Skanda shrines in the southern district of Kanyakumari and some temples in vicinity of Tirunelveli such as Tiruchendur follow the Keralite Kumara Tantram form of worship.
Most of the shrines to Skanda are highly endowed and have a rich tradition of grand festivals. The sixth phase of the moon in the bright half of each month Sashti- as well as the Kartikai asterism each month, is an occasion for special worship.
Other days sacred to Skanda throughout the year are Thai Poosam, Panguni Uttiram, Vaikasi Vishakam, Aadi Kartikai, Thai Kaartikai, Kartikai Deepam, and Skanda Sashti. Most of these special occasions are marked by devotees carrying Kaavadis in procession, in a manner reliving the legend of Idumban at Palani.
Kumaarasambhava - The birth of Skanda
This legend narrates the story of the destruction of Kaama by Shiva and the birth of Skanda.
Sati, the consort of Shiva immolated herself at the site of the Daksha Yagna, which was later destroyed by Shiva. Sati was reborn as Uma, or Parvati the daughter of the mountain king Himavaan (the Himalayas). Shiva withdrew himself from the universe and engaged himself in yogic meditation in the Himalayas.
In the meanwhile, the demon Surapadma ravaged the earth and tormented its beings. It was realized by the gods that only the son born of Shiva and Parvati could lead the gods to victory over Tarakaasuran, Surapadman and their demon companions. They plotted with Kaama, the lord of desire, to shoot a flower arrow at Shiva, as he sat in meditation, so as to make him fall in love with Parvati. When Kaama aimed his arrow at Shiva, he opened his third eye and burned him to ashes instantly. Upon hearing the pleas of Kama's wife Rati, he brought back Kama to life, in flesh and blood for her sake, and in a formless state for others.
His penance disturbed, Shiva fell in love with Parvathi. However, the sparks of the fiery seed of Shiva were unbearable; even the fire God Agni could not bear them; this fire was then transported by the river Ganga into the Sara Vana forest, where Sara Vana Bhava was born. He was raised by the six Kartika damsels. Parvati combined these six babies into one with six faces, ie. Shanmukha. Shanmukha, or Kartikeya the supreme general of the devas, led the army of the devas to victory against the demons. The six sites at which Kartikeya sojourned while leading his armies against Surapadman are Tiruttanikai, Swamimalai, Tiruvavinankudi (Palani), Pazhamudirsolai, Tirupparamkunram and Tiruchendur. All these sites have ancient temples glorified by the tamil poems of Tirumurugaatruppadai of the Sangam period (prior to the 3rd century CE).
Tirukkurukkai, in Tamilnadu near Thanjavur, enshrines Kaamari Murthy, the destroyer of Kaama, in the Veeratteswarar temple which is one of the 8 Veeratta stalas celebrating Shiva as the destroyer of evil.
 |
| Murugan marriage with Valli |
Skanda's marriage with Valli
Legend has it that the ghat region of Tamilnadu was ruled by Nambirajan, the king of the Kuravas or the hill tribes. Nambirajan worshipped Shiva, praying for a daughter; his prayers were answered and it was revealed to him that he would discover a baby in the nearby woods and that she would be his daughter.
Accordingly, the kurava king discovered ‘Vallinayaki’ in the woods and brought her up as his own.
Valli grew up to be a beautiful maiden and Subramanya - son of Shiva and Parvati sought her hand in marriage. Their courtship is full of very interesting stories which form the basis of many folk and classical performing arts in Tamilnadu.
Murugan assumed the form of an old bangle seller, and sold bangles to Valli, in return for a local delicacy of honey-soaked corn flour. A conversation ensued between the two, which was interrupted by the arrival of Valli's brothers, a valiant lot who were highly possessive and protective of their sister. Flustered by their sudden appearance, and unwillingness to indulge in battle, Skanda manifested himself as a Vengai maram (a stump of which is still seen in the Temple at Velimalai in Southern Tamilnadu).
Skanda appeared again, in the guise of an old tribal king, and sought her hand in marriage. The brothers materialized again, and Skanda transformed himself into an old ascetic from the Himalayas, and they left the spot.
Upset by the ongoing hindrance, Skanda sought the help of his brother Vinayaka - the remover of obstacles, who appeared on the spot as a wild elephant. The scared Valli embraced Skanda and promised to offer him anything in return for protection from the wild beast. Skanda sought her hand in marriage, and Valli consented gladly, realizing that her suitor was none other than Murugan, whom she and her tribe held in great regard.
Valli married Murugan and the marriage was celebrated in great splendor by Nambirajan, the king of kuravas.
- See Also All about Shiva
