Murugan Pictures

r Brahma st

Brahm, the Lord of Creation, and first among the Hindu Trinity, was once approached by Skanda to explain him the meaning of pranava mantra. Brahm 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, Skandas father, rebuked him for having done so and asked Skanda whether he knew the meaning of pranava. Skandas 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 Sivas behest Brahm was released from the prison.

The story is elaborated in Kanda Purnam (Urpattikndam, Ayancirainkku Patalam).

Source: Rare Images of Brahmassta and Varhasamhra by R.K.K. Rajarajan

Devasenpati

This term means Murukan, the consort of Devasen. Devasen is the daughter of the daughter of Indra, but brought up by Iravata, his elephant. Hence she came to be called Teyvaynai ('divine elephant'). She was given in marriage to Murukan by Indra at Tirupparankunram (near Madurai). The Kanta Purnam dedicates an entire patalam (chapter) to the descriptionof the divine marriage.

In the form of Devasenpati, Murukan is depicted as possessing six faces and twelve hands. Teyvaynai 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: akti, trident, arrow, sword, club, thunderbolt, cockflag, bow, shield and lotus flower.

According to r Tattvanidu, Devasenpati's form is depicted with one face, two eyes and four hands. Two hands are in the abhaya mudr and varad 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

Krttikeya

This name is common in North India. Because Murukan was brought up by the Krttik maidens, he is known as Krttikeya. The Kumra Tantra depicts Krttikeya 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 akti, sword, thunderbolt, and shield. He is said to shine like the morning sun.

The Tanikaip Purnam gives the description of the Krttikeya form. Murukan has six faces and six hands, of the left three hands, one is in the varada mudr and in the other two hands he bears the thrunderbolt and shield. Of the three right hands, one is in the abhaya mudr and in the other two hands he bears the spear (Vel) and the sceptre (cenkkl). Those who concentrate upon this aspect will be relieved of all diseases. This form of Murukan is shaped to represent Krttikeya.

At Adi Kumbeshwarar Kovil in Kumbakonam, Krttikeya shines with six faces and six hands.36 In four hands, he has the japa mla, 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

r ikhivhanar

ikhi 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 ikhivahana, 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 rtattvanidhi 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.

Senni

In the Gta, Lord Krishna says to Arjuna that among the heroes Skanda shines as the generalissimo among warriors (senni, i.e. Murukan). Those who want to be heroic warriors worship this form of Murukan. Chanakya in his Artha astra mentions the figure of Senni on the ramparts of the Maurya kings.

Murukan was directed to be the Commander-in Chief by iva when the devas approached him with a request to conquer and eradicate Surapadma. So he is called Sendhipati' ('Generalissimo').

This image has six faces with twelve hands as per Kumra Tantra. Of the six right hands, one is in the abhaya mudr, while the others hold the thunderbolt, lotus flower, noose, club and mace. We can find the Senni image in the temple of Peryianyaki Amman in Devikpuram, Tiruvannamali District.

From: In the Footsteps of Saint Arunagirinathar: Pilgrimage to the sacred places in the Tiruppukal by Valayapettai Ra. Krishnan

r Trakri

Trakri (Slayer of Traka) Traksura was the younger brother of Surapadman. He was an adept in in deluding his enemies through his My. When Deva, the chief among the nine heros (nava vrar) associated with Murukan, entered into the hill region, Traksura mesmerized them and made them to swoon. When Murukan came to know about this magical delusion made by Traka, he made his My useless by throwing his Jna Vl and disposed of Traksura once and for all. This is mentioned in the line Kuruku Pyariya Kunram Konron Murukan. 'Kuruku' stands for kraucam (Skt: 'stork').

In Kumra 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 akti, 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 Trakri image is in Virlimalai mlasthnam. The Tanikaip Purnam also corroborates the Kumra Tantra description. We find this same image at Uttaramrr Murukan temple in Chengleput district.

From "In the Footsteps of Saint Arunagirinathar: Pilgrimage to the sacred places in the Tiruppukal" by Vallayapettai Ra. Krishnan

Gajavhanar

In this form Murukan has as his vehicle the elephant. Hence he is called Gajavhanar and Gajrudhar. This sort of 'elephant vehicle' is usually found in ancient temples dedicated to Murukan, just in front of the mlavar. For example, we find this peculiar feature at Tiruttani, Swmimalai, and Uttiramrr. The Kanta Purnam 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-tri (cinturam elephant).

The Kumra Tantram refers to this form of Murukan with one face and four hands. They are with the weapons akti 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 Gajrudhar 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

Bla Murugar

r Gna Pandita

Bla Subramaniyan

Bla Subramaniyan

Bla Subramaniyan

Dandyudhapni

Kundrakudi Kumaran

Arunagiri Upadesamrti

Valli Kanavan

Bla Subramaniyam

Mayil Vhanar

Shanmuga Subramaniyan

Valli Teyvnai 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 Rja Janjni