Murugan Pictures
Śrī Brahma Śāstā Brahmā, the Lord of Creation, and first among the Hindu Trinity, was once approached by Skanda to explain him the meaning of pranava mantra. Brahmā was unable to give Skanda a proper reply. So, the latter knuckled him and threw him into the gutter. Thereupon, Skanda himself started functioning as the Lord Creator. Later Siva, Skanda s father, rebuked him for having done so and asked Skanda whether he knew the meaning of pranava. Skanda s reply was yes. Then, Siva asked him to tell what it was. To take a lesson, one should seek it with the discipline expected of a student. So Skanda asked Siva to be his student and know the secrets of the mantra. Then, Siva is said to have appeared before Skanda with the head down, mouth closed with one hand and in meek submission. Skanda divulged the secrets through a whisper. Later, at Siva s behest Brahmā was released from the prison. The story is elaborated in Kanda Purānam (Urpattikāndam, Ayancirainīkku Patalam). Source: Rare Images of Brahmasāsta and Varāhasamhāra by R.K.K. Rajarajan
Devasenāpati This term means Murukan, the consort of Devasenā. Devasenā is the daughter of the daughter of Indra, but brought up by Iravata, his elephant. Hence she came to be called Teyvayānai ('divine elephant'). She was given in marriage to Murukan by Indra at Tirupparankunram (near Madurai). The Kanta Purānam dedicates an entire patalam (chapter) to the descriptionof the divine marriage. In the form of Devasenāpati, Murukan is depicted as possessing six faces and twelve hands. Teyvayānai is embraced by Murukan with one hand on the left side. Another hand is in the abhaya pose. In the remaining ten hands, he holds the following weapons: śakti, trident, arrow, sword, club, thunderbolt, cockflag, bow, shield and lotus flower. According to Śrī Tattvanidu, Devasenāpati's form is depicted with one face, two eyes and four hands. Two hands are in the abhaya mudrā and varadā poses and in the other two he holds the conch and disc. This peculiar image is enshrined in Cennimalai. From "In the Footsteps of Saint Arunagirinathar: Pilgrimage to the sacred places in the Tiruppukal" by Vallayapettai Ra. Krishnan
Kārttikeya This name is common in North India. Because Murukan was brought up by the Krttikā maidens, he is known as Kārttikeya. The Kumāra Tantra depicts Kārttikeya with six faces and six hands. Two hands are in the abhaya and varada poses and in the remaining four hands he bears the weapons of śakti, sword, thunderbolt, and shield. He is said to shine like the morning sun. The Tanikaip Purānam gives the description of the Kārttikeya form. Murukan has six faces and six hands, of the left three hands, one is in the varada mudrā and in the other two hands he bears the thrunderbolt and shield. Of the three right hands, one is in the abhaya mudrā and in the other two hands he bears the spear (Vel) and the sceptre (cenkkōl). Those who concentrate upon this aspect will be relieved of all diseases. This form of Murukan is shaped to represent Kārttikeya. At Adi Kumbeshwarar Kovil in Kumbakonam, Kārttikeya shines with six faces and six hands.36 In four hands, he has the japa māla, sword, thunderbolt and shield; the right hand is in the abhaya pose and the left is bent. From "In the Footsteps of Saint Arunagirinathar: Pilgrimage to the sacred places in the Tiruppukal" by Vallayapettai Ra. Krishnan
Śrī Śikhivāhanar Śikhi or mayura (mayil in Tamil) means peacock. Vahana is a form in which Subrahmanya is seated on a peacock. The peacock was associated with Karttikeya since the Gupta period as noted in Kalidasa's Raghuvamsa (5th century AD). As Śikhivahana, Subrahmanya has one face, three eyes and four hands The hands bear the abhaya mudra, varada mudra, sakti and vajra. His peacock vehicle is called Indranilaratha. The Śrītattvanidhi associates the other forms of Muruga like Karttikeya, Shanmukha and Desika with the peacock. They are ten, twelve and six-handed respectively. From "The Iconography of Murugan" by Prof. Raju Kalidos.
Senāni In the Gīta, Lord Krishna says to Arjuna that among the heroes Skanda shines as the generalissimo among warriors (senāni, i.e. Murukan). Those who want to be heroic warriors worship this form of Murukan. Chanakya in his Artha Śastra mentions the figure of Senāni on the ramparts of the Maurya kings. Murukan was directed to be the Commander-in Chief by Śiva when the devas approached him with a request to conquer and eradicate Surapadma. So he is called Senādhipati' ('Generalissimo'). This image has six faces with twelve hands as per Kumāra Tantra. Of the six right hands, one is in the abhaya mudrā, while the others hold the thunderbolt, lotus flower, noose, club and mace. We can find the Senāni image in the temple of Peryianāyaki Amman in Devikāpuram, Tiruvannamali District. From: In the Footsteps of Saint Arunagirinathar: Pilgrimage to the sacred places in the Tiruppukal by Valayapettai Ra. Krishnan
Śrī Tārakāri Tārakāri (Slayer of Tāraka) Tārakāsura was the younger brother of Surapadman. He was an adept in in deluding his enemies through his Māyā. When Deva, the chief among the nine heros (nava vīrar) associated with Murukan, entered into the hill region, Tārakāsura mesmerized them and made them to swoon. When Murukan came to know about this magical delusion made by Tāraka, he made his Māyā useless by throwing his Jñāna Vēl and disposed of Tārakāsura once and for all. This is mentioned in the line Kuruku Pēyariya Kunram Konron Murukan. 'Kuruku' stands for krauñcam (Skt: 'stork'). In Kumāra Tantra this form of Murukan is depicted with six faces and twelve hands. One of his right hands is in the abhaya pose and in the rest five right hands, he bears śakti, the pestle, sceptre, disc and noose. One of the left hands is in the varada pose, and in the remaining five left hands he holds the thunderbolt, bow, shield, creeper and a demigod. This Tārakāri image is in Virālimalai mūlasthānam. The Tanikaip Purānam also corroborates the Kumāra Tantra description. We find this same image at Uttaramērūr Murukan temple in Chengleput district. From "In the Footsteps of Saint Arunagirinathar: Pilgrimage to the sacred places in the Tiruppukal" by Vallayapettai Ra. Krishnan
Gajavāhanar In this form Murukan has as his vehicle the elephant. Hence he is called Gajavāhanar and Gajārudhar. This sort of 'elephant vehicle' is usually found in ancient temples dedicated to Murukan, just in front of the mūlavar. For example, we find this peculiar feature at Tiruttani, Swāmimalai, and Uttiramērūr. The Kanta Purānam mentions that 'Iravatam of Indra' acted as the vehicle for Murukan. Whenever Murukan goes for battle or for showering grace he goes on his elephant called Pini Mukam. Arunagirinathar in the Tiruppukal sung at Chidambaram praises the Lord as unrantuc cintai Santhoshit Talu Kontarula Vantu cinturat-tēri (cinturam elephant). The Kumāra Tantram refers to this form of Murukan with one face and four hands. They are with the weapons śakti and cock in two hands while the others are in the abhaya and varada poses. As per another reference, he is holding the Vel and the sword in his two right hands and the cock-flag in both the left hands. The gateway of the eastern gopuram at Chidambaram bears a beautiful image of this Gajārudhar and Arunagirinathar refers to this deity in appropriate words. From "In the Footsteps of Saint Arunagirinathar: Pilgrimage to the sacred places in the Tiruppukal" by Vallayapettai Ra. Krishnan
Bāla Murugar Śrī Gñāna Pandita Bāla Subramaniyan Bāla Subramaniyan
Bāla Subramaniyan Dandāyudhapāni Kundrakudi Kumaran Arunagiri Upadesamūrti
Valli Kanavan Bāla Subramaniyam Mayil Vāhanar Shanmuga Subramaniyan
Valli Teyvānai Samedha Subramaniya Upadesa Murti
Valli - Murugan - Teyvani Dandhayudhapani Kataragama Deviyo Devasena-Murugan
Ganapati - Bala Murugan Kataragama Deviyo Kumara Swami Pillaiyar - Murugan
Saravanabhavanar Palani Moolavar Tiru Tanikkai Mayil Priya
Sri Vel Murugan Shanmukha Vigna Rāja Janājni