Murugan is also known by many other names

Brush up your MYTHOLOGY!

Murugan is a prominent Hindu deity among the Tamilians. Like most Indian deities, Murugan is also known by many other names, including Kartikeya, Shanmukham, Kumara and Skanda. So, what exactly is Murugan's role in the Hindu pantheon? Well, he is the god of war and the patron deity of Tamil Nadu.

It is said that when Sati, the consort of Shiva, immolated herself at the Daksha Yagna, she was reborn as Uma, or Parvati, the daughter of the mountain king Himavaan (the Himalayas). At this time, Shiva withdrew himself from the universe and engaged in meditation within the Himalayas. Meanwhile, the demon Surapadman ravaged the earth. The gods realised that only a son born of Shiva could lead them to victory over the demon, so they plotted with Kamadeva, the god of love, to shoot a flower arrow at Shiva as he sat in meditation, so as to make him fall in love with Parvati. Things however, went slightly wrong.

When Kama aimed his arrow, Shiva opened his third eye and burned him to ashes instantly. The sparks of the fiery seed of Shiva were given to Agni, to take care of until they became offspring. But so fiery were they that even Agni, the god of fire, was unable to hold them. So they were sent along the river Ganga into the Saravana forest and put into a pond called Saravana Poigai, where they became six children. The infants were raised by the six Krittika or Kartika the stars that make up the Pleiades, earning the name Kartikeya. Parvati combined these six babies into one with six faces, Shanmukham, or Murugan.

It was thus Murugan who became the supreme General of the gods and led them to victory against the demons. Murugan rides a peacock and wields a bow in battle. The lance called the vel is closely associated with him. It was given to him by his mother, Parvati and is said to embody her energy and power. The flag of his army depicts a rooster. It is said that, during battle, Surapadman was split into two, and each half was granted a boon by Murugan. Thus, the two halves turned into a peacock and the rooster. Murugan is said to be married to two deities, Valli and Devasena.