Murugan worshippers here?

[Bhadr]

According to our tradition the coming month Kartika is named after Lord Kartikeya.It is said to be very dear to Lord Siva due that reason.People perform religious activities in this auspicious month.Sri Skanda was called Kartikeya as Krittikas had had great affection for him.

Excerpts from Srimat Siva Mahapurana:

Sri Kartikeya said:
The Krittikas are wise woman of Yogic practice.They are the digits of Prakriti.They have helped in nurturing me.I am born of Prakriti and the Lord of Prakriti(Siva).

I am not severed from the Daughter of the lord of mountains(i.e. Parvati) who is virtually my mother just as these ladies on the basis of virtuous rites.I am their fostered son.They are my own part and parcel.

On seeing his son,the Great Lord Siva,the sole kinsman of the universe along with the Great Goddess Parvati was filled pleasure and love.

Embracing him with love,Siva kissed Kumara on the head.He,the cause of great affection,was highly delighted.

Kumara delightedly played about in the lap of Siva.He teased Vasuki round Siva's neck with His hands.

Seeing that sportive act with His merciful vision,Siva spoke about it to Parvati laughingly.
Seeing the gentle smile of Kumara,Lord Siva and Goddess Parvati attained great joy.

The Siva,the Lord of the universe,following worldly convention delightedly placed Kartikeya on a gem-set throne.

Those who looked at Kumara resembling Siva saw a great halo pervading the three worlds.Immediately they saluted Kumara who was enveloped by a brilliant halo,the luster of mountain gold and the refulgence of sun.

Eagerly engaged in shouting the cry of "Obeisance" the flanked to Him to the right and left and stood by.

The gods prostrated on the ground and circumambulated Kumara.

Kartikeya seated in the excellent throne and assuming the Lordship and Protectorate of the universe shone extremely well.

Brahma said:
O Guha,Lord of gods,O son of Parvati you are born of Siva for killing the demon Taraka.
O son of Parvati,none except you can be the slayer of this sinner.
O Great Hero,save the gods distressed in the battle.
You are neither a boy nor a youth but the Lord of all.

Siva,Parvati with baby Kartikeya seated on a peacock,present day Pakistan,Circa 200s CE

Siva,Parvati with baby Kartikeya seated in between,Brahma and Vishnu standing behind,Mamallapuram,Tamil Nadu,695-728 CE

 

[Vinayaka]

Sure, I would join this club. We were on pilgrimage/visit to Vancouver so that's why I haven't been around for a couple of days. Went to a Ganesha temple, then a Murugan, and then a Siva temple, all on the same morning. The Lanham, Maryland temple is most likely the purest Murugan temple in North America. Certainly its Saiva not Smarta.

 

[Aupmanyav]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murugan_Temple_of_North_America

 

[Vinayaka]

Do you consider Murugan as the South Indian version of Skanda, or do you think Skanda and Murugan are different gods?

It's the same God, but the intensity of worship, predominance of worship, just who he is, etc. varies from place to place, sect, to sect. In the Smarta tradition, he's one of the 6 choices for ishta, and is godhead, but in that form.

I'm not sure of how others, besides that, and my own sampradaya's version, are. We'd have to ask someone who still worships him but from their POV.

My view is that Siva emanated Murugan (and Ganesha) for separate purposes, so on one level, they (and everything) is Siva (Brahman) but just like individual souls, on another level they're distinct. So in worship I approach Him as distinct. He is the god of Yoga (I mean in the Patanjali sense) and uses His vel to dispel the triple bondage, that being anava, karma, and maya. So the individual (like me) prays to him, performs austerity, etc. to seek out the Vel, and the power it holds, which is to dispel our own ignorance.

Murugan is probably the most common Tamil deity. In Mauritius the Tamil sugar diaspora there, over a couple hundred yeas of isolation from India, developed their own Murugan bhakti, and in fact thought Murugan was Supreme God, even ahead of Siva. Very popular, as is kavadi. (spelled cavadee in Mauritius)

The two main festivals I celebrate are Skanda Shasthi (starts on Oct 31, ends on Nov. 5) and Thai Pusam in February. Normally Thai Pusam is a one day festival, but especially if kavadee is involved will morph into a 10 day or more festival, because the kavadi bearer needs time to prepare. In Mauritius its 10 days, and in both Malaysia and Mauritius its a national holiday.

Anyone else want to share more of Murugan?
Questions?

 

[Kirran]

A swami acquaintance of mine, who's a pretty amazing soul, spoke about how Murugan was the Shakti of Shiva, was his power. This makes him one with the Divine Mother, and Shakti and Shiva are the same anyway, so He's God. But what he spoke of in particular was how there's Murugan with the two Shaktis, Valli and Devani, on either side, and that the Shaktis are Iccha Shakti (will power) and Kriya Shakti (the power to put will to action), and then Murugan, esp. in his vel, is Jnana Shakti (the power of true knowledge).

I will unfortunately not be at Skanda Vale for most of Skanda Shasti, but I will catch the first day.

 

[Vinayaka]

A swami acquaintance of mine, who's a pretty amazing soul, spoke about how Murugan was the Shakti of Shiva, was his power. This makes him one with the Divine Mother, and Shakti and Shiva are the same anyway, so He's God. But what he spoke of in particular was how there's Murugan with the two Shaktis, Valli and Devani, on either side, and that the Shaktis are Iccha Shakti (will power) and Kriya Shakti (the power to put will to action), and then Murugan, esp. in his vel, is Jnana Shakti (the power of true knowledge).

I will unfortunately not be at Skanda Vale for most of Skanda Shasti, but I will catch the first day.

Good to hear that he knew they weren't 'wives'. As with Shiva, I prefer Murugan alone. I think he's alone at the Skanda Vale temple, no? Many temples have Him wit the 'wives' sometimes only one, and whenever He's portrayed as Palaniandavar, He's alone.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I only wish that Skanda will not confine himself to South India but come to the North India as well.

 

[Vinayaka]

I only wish that Skanda will not confine himself to South India but come to the North India as well.

Maybe Aup needs to look harder.

 

[Kirran]

Good to hear that he knew they weren't 'wives'. As with Shiva, I prefer Murugan alone. I think he's alone at the Skanda Vale temple, no? Many temples have Him wit the 'wives' sometimes only one, and whenever He's portrayed as Palaniandavar, He's alone.

He's in all three temples, and he's alone in two of them.

I only wish that Skanda will not confine himself to South India but come to the North India as well.

I found him in Varanasi! Like, a legit Murugan temple.

 

[Vinayaka]

I found him in Varanasi! Like, a legit Murugan temple.

It seems to me that, because of the way the world operates, and more mobility for jobs, etc., all sects get spread around more. Certainly its true of the diaspora, but I think its true in India as well. Friends of mine were surprised a few years back to see a very South Indian gopuram smack dab in the middle of Delhi. naturally, they stopped and explored. Long term visitors to any area will build what they find comfortable. I think its great because it takes people outside of their village box without going outside of their village physically.

 

[Shrew]

Good to hear that he knew they weren't 'wives'. As with Shiva, I prefer Murugan alone.

Why do you feal so?
I like the story of Murugan and Valli.

 

[Vinayaka]

Gods getting married is too anthropomorphic of a concept for my taste. I'm sure there is a metaphor or lesson in there somewhere, but its not my cup of tea. I like the Vel itself, or Palaniandavar. But that's all mostly just personal taste. Some people really like the stories, the Puranas, and all that, whereas I prefer a more direct approach. This is God, its a vibration, has form, but isn't the form of a human. It's about meditation on Him, or worship of Him that heals, spins, pushes to soul's evolving and benefitting. This is why Murugan is worshiped by Saiva sannyasins.

So too with Siva for me. I prefer Nataraja or the Lingam, not the anthropomorphic version. Ganesha isn't really so anthropomorphic to begin with.

 

[Vinayaka]

Here's a nice temple ....

 

[Jainarayan]

Many temples have Him wit the 'wives'

In our temple he is with Devasena and Valli. Or rather, they are with him.

 

[Vinayaka]

In our temple he is with Devasena and Valli. Or rather, they are with him.

Most in the west are like that. Not all though. (The one we were at in Vancouver 2 days ago isn't ... He stands alone there, so too in Maryland if I remember right.) The addition of wives happened around 1300 AD, but Murugan is really ancient and has some very old shrines. Many historians figure He was originally a Dravidian tribal God dating to antiquity. Another reason why I prefer Him alone. I like the old stuff.

 

[Shrew]

Is Valli an old folk deity? I think she has something to do with a plant...

 

[Bhadr]

Date: 1stC-3rdC (circa)
From: Pakistan,North West Frontier Province
http://www.britishmuseum.org/resear...27&partId=1&place=40375&plaA=40375-3-2&page=1

Date: 2ndC-3rdC
From: Pakistan,North West Frontier Province
http://www.britishmuseum.org/resear...51&partId=1&place=40214&plaA=40214-3-2&page=1

Date : 3rdC-4thC
From : Afghanistan,Kabul (province)
http://www.britishmuseum.org/resear...bjectId=3323274&partId=1&matcult=48321&page=1

 

[Kirran]

I'm not sure how much sects are really a thing in practice. Like, they exist of course but I think most Hinduism operates outside them, inc. temple building etc. I have no sect.

R.e. God's aspects getting married - I think it's generally happening as an indication of deeper truths. The union of Siva and Shakti, for example. I've learnt that Lord Subramanium had an earthly incarnation many millennia past, in Sri Lanka I think. So we can probably put a lot of the 'anthropomorphism' down to that. I worship the vel a lot too. But just the name of Murugan is an amazing form.

I'm different to you V in that I worship Murugan as God, just as I worship Shiva and Mother and even Rama or Vishnu or whoever now and then. But I'm probably as much a Murugan bhakta as a Siva bhakta if I'm honest. Shiva can be quite aloof, whereas Murugan is right there in full power getting up in your grill.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Maybe Aup needs to look harder.

That is only one. I want more. My preference is for Velayudhan flanked by Valli and Devasena.
@Kirran, was he alone or with consorts? I think both mother's must have come with him to visit Kashi. It is his father's place.

In our temple he is with Devasena and Valli. Or rather, they are with him.

Why the fuss? Both statements are the same. Him with them or them with him. They are together.

Vima Kadphises (90–100 CE), Emperor Kanishka's father, was a Shaiva. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vima_Kadphises

 

[Kirran]

@Aupmanyav it was just him in this case. He's the tutelary deity of the Niranjana Akhara, so they have a temple to him. He was also there in a big South Indian temple near Manikarnika Ghat, although that was primarily a Shiva temple.