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The Mythology of Subramanyam
(from various sources)

Justifying his name Kumara, he is shown here as a handsome youth, bright like the morning sun. The lance (Vel) he holds in his left hand is said to have been a gift from his mother Parvati. The right arm is raised in the abhaya mudra, or the gesture of fearlessness. He wears a karandamukuta - the high crown which signifies a deity's exalted status - and which here eminently suits the youth who was destined to be the commander of gods.

Bejewelled sumptuously, he has a well proportioned and sturdy body which stands erect on the high lotus pedestal. The upper anatomy is adorned only with ornaments and is totally bereft of any garment. A rich saffron colored dhoti clings to his lower limbs and is held at the waist by numerous decorated belts.

The brilliant hues of the peacock are presented in natural colours. The royal blue and the rich green make most of the bird. In its claw, the peacock holds a snake, its enemy. Yet, the serpent is also the symbol of Kartikeya’s descendence from Shiva, as snakes are associated with Shiva.

The was a time when the demon Surapadma ravaged the earth and tormented its beings. Because of a boon he had received, the gods knew that only a son born of Shiva and Parvati could lead the gods to victory over Tarakaasuran, Surapadma and their demon companions.

The gods 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, Shiva opened his third eye and burned him to ashes instantly. Upon hearing the pleas of Kama's wife Rati, and at the insistence of Parvati, he brought back Kama to life, in flesh and blood for Rati's sake, and in a formless state for others.

Now, Shiva's penance had been disturbed and he fell in love with, and married Parvathi. Skanda is said to have issued from the third eye of Shiva as six sparks of fire which were cast into the Ganges. Because Subramanyam was born from the womb of Mother Ganga, he is also called Gangaputra (son of ganga). They then flowed into the holy Himalayan lake Saravana and were transformed into six babes. These were taken care of by the six nymphs of the constellation of Pleiades, and the six aspects or powers became unified into one in the fond embrace of the Goddess Uma and took the present form called Skanda.

That Sri Skanda was formed from the six sparks on the water has a significance to those who wish to delve deep into the esoteric meaning of the legend. The sparks represent fire or the life energy which proceeds from the Supreme Spirit Shiva, a symbol of Divine Energy. In spiritual terms, six is a symbol of accomplishment, that which serves to usher in the seventh, which is perfection. The water upon which the six sparks fell is a symbol of Truth or Eternal Reality and the source of all manifestation. In Genesis, God created water from which, in the beginning, all manifested.

The Hindu god of war, Kumara or Karttikeya has numerous other names, each of which delineates a particular characteristic:

1). Skanda - As he is born of the dissipated semen of Shiva he is called Skanda, which means discharged.

2). Shikhandaka - His head is adorned with tufts of hair (shikha).

3). Karttikeya - For having been nursed by six Krittikas (Pleiades).

4). Shanmatura - For possessing six mothers.

5). Shanmukha or one with six faces, so that he could suckle all his mothers simultaneously.

6). Kumara - He commandeered the army of the gods and killed the demon Taraka. Ku means evil and mara means to kill. He is also called so because he is a brahmchari and therefore a virgin (kumara).

7). Tarakari - For killing Taraka.

8). Shashthipriya - One who is fond of the 'sixth day' ; since he killed the above demon on the sixth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Mrigashiras, which according to the scriptures is the best of months.

In Chapter X of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says, "Know me as Skanda, the Warrior Chief."

Subramanyam Temple in Trichendur, South India

Once, when he was in South India, Karttikeya desired to worship his father, Siva. At the time there was no Siva shrine there, so Maya, the celestial architect, constructed a temple of Siva on the sea front and Subrahmanya worshipped there.

This is said to be the origin of this holy abode of Lord Kumara. The shrine of Tiruchendur is believed to be most liked by Subrahmanya and has been given the second place among His shrines in the Skanda Purana, the first being Palani.

The Tiruchendur temple also may be considered as a commemoration of the defeat of the deamon Surapadman in the South. From this camp at Tiruchendur, war started against Surapadman and his brother and it lasted for five days, when all the sons, the brother and the mighty hordes of the demon gave battle to Subrahmanya at sea and in the air and were finally vanquished.

On the sixth day, Surapadman alone survived. Karttikeya took Indra as his vehicle in the form of a peacock his lance, the Vel, and sought the foe in his hiding place in the ocean. At last Surapadman came out of his island fortress of Veera Mahendra, rose in the form of a terrible mango tree and attacked him.

The lance of Karttiheya pierced the tree and broke it into two. The broken pieces instantly turned into a peacock and a rooster. The former attacked Indra (Lord Subrahmanya’s charger) with no success. The demon would not yet accept defeat. But Shanmukha’s grace was so bountiful that, as an act of forgiveness, he took the peacock as his permanent vehicle, relieved Indra of his duties and put the peacock on his banner.

As Surapadman was a Brahman, the sin of Brahma Hatti (killing a Brahmin) affected Subrahmanya. He became pitch black in complexion and his beautiful shape was lost. As a result of this he prayed at Sikkal, and took a bath in the tank made out of the milk of Kamadhenu, the celestial Cow, and got back his original beautiful form and complexion.

Lord Muruga has two consorts, Valli and Teyvayanai. But in Northern India, Karttikeya is called Kumara or bachelor god. He is worshipped there as a heavenly boy with powers to confer heavenly gifts to his devotees.

The war against Surapadman and the success over him are celebrated every year at Tiruchendur on the days till Skanda Shashti, i.e. the sixth day of the waxing moon in the Tula month (October - November). These six days are considered to be very sacred in the Hindu religious calendar. The Skanda Purana is read at this time in private houses and in the temple, with the hope of receiving both material and spiritual benefits from Lord Skanda.

Originally the temple in Trichendur was of a very modest construction, but during the course of about 1,000 years many additions and alterations were made by different Pandya and Chola kings,and the wealthy people of the area, as a result of which the present gigantic structure has grown up.

'Tiruchendur’ means a sacred and prosperous town of victory. The temple was originally constructed on the sandstone reefs of the beach, but due to corrosion by the sea, the stone began to disintegrate. A noble sannyasin, Mouna Swami, took up the renovation work and it was followed by two others in succession for 72 years and the noble edifice of three prakarams was constructed anew in black granite stone.

The gopuram is on the west (instead of being in the east as usual because of the sea) and is a gigantic structure of nine storeys with a height of 137 feet, commanding a good view of the surrounding area. History states that the gopurarn was constructed roughly 300 years ago.

Please click here for the 108 mantras (Astotra namavali) for Subramanyam.