The Worship of Lord Murugan

The Worship of Murugan


The Kaumaras or those who regard and worship Kumara, Skanda, Shanmuga or Karthikeya as the Supreme Being, belong to one of the sects of the Hindu faith. The other five being Ganapathyam (worship of Ganesa), Saivaism (worship of Lord Siva), Vaishnavaism (worship of Lord Vishnu), Shaoram (worship of Sun) and Saktham (worship of Shakthi). This division was devised by the Saint Adi Shankara. Thirumurukattruppadai and Paripadal A review of references in early Tamil literature points to the conclusion that the worship of Muruga is very ancient among the Tamils.

The work of Thirumurukattruppadai devoted entirely to the extolling of Murugan, is attributed to Nakkirar, a celebrated bard of the early period and the poems in the Paripadal which are exclusively in praise of Chevvel (The Red One) are the earliest and best works available which enable us to study the worship of Muruga.

Besides the two works a number of references are made about Muruga in the oldest Tamil grammar book Tolkapiyam that says that the mountain region is dear to Cheyon (Cheyon Meya Maivaraiyulagamum).

There is also reference in Porulathikaram to veriyadal-to dance in frenzy-the dance of invocation to the god Muruga, which is conducted by a person called Velan so called because he holds a spear in his hand while he dances.
Vel - Spear of Murugan

The Vel of Murugan, which is identical with Him, is a mystic divine weapon with which He destroyed the Asuras. The Vel, which is Wisdom-Absolute, also annihilates the inner Asuras or Enemies of Avidya, Karma and liberates the Jiva (Soul) from transmigration.

The Vel is a mysterious divine power and is referred to by Saint Arunagiri as the Mantra Vel in one of his Thiruppugazh (Songs of praise of God or the Glorious One). It is not surprising therefore that the emblem of this divinity, Vel, is the object of worship in some of the shrines of Murugan.

Devotees carrying kavadis also use Vel. The very word vel has the mystic powers of invoking the grace of Murugan and therefore devotees chant "Vel, Vel", "Veera Vel", "Gnana Vel", "Shakthi Vel".
Murugan and His Consorts

Teyvayanai and Valli are the consorts of Murugan. Teyvayanai is the daughter of Indran, the King of the Devas (Celestials) and Valli is the pretty daughter of the hunting tribe. In another words the former belongs to the Heavens and the later to the mountainous regions of this world.

Murugan with His consorts is described in Paripadal thus: "O Lord Muruga, perhaps wishing to reside in this world even as you reside in the Heavens, you reached Katampu tree, the significance of which is hard to comprehend even by the wise; you married Valli in order to make the people of this world live in happiness in the same manner as you do for the Devas in the upper world; which marriage is in fact a contrast to your marriage to Teyvayanai".

The marriage of Teyvayanai to Murugan signifies that the Atman (Soul represented by Teyvayanai) seeks the union with Brahmatman (represented by Murugan) and the marriage of Valli signifies that at times Brahmatman seeks the union of Atman. Later commentators and the Saiva Siddhanda Philosophers have interpreted the consorts of Murugan as being His inherent energy. Teyvayanai is Energy of Action (Kriya-Sakthi) and Valli is Energy of Desire (Iccha-Sakthi). But in actual worship however, the Supreme place of honour is reserved for Murugan although He accompanies Teyvayanai and Valli.

It is also said that Teyvayanai and Valli are daughters of Vishnu, the maternal uncle of Murugan and by His marriage Murugan acts as a link between the Vaishnavaites (worshippers of Vishnu) and the Saivaites (worshippers of Siva).