Skanda

Skanda, Muruga, Subramanya or Kartikeya, this is the war god of the Hindu pantheon. However, unlike other similar deities of world religions, Skanda is Senapathy or the Chief Secretary of Defence. He leads the divine army into war each time evil and adharma rears their ugly heads. Away from His main duties of ensuring peace and order and, keeping evil in check, Muruga is a highly benevolent deity who is often portrayed as a little boy, surrounded by his vahana (ride), the peacock. Not a bloodthirsty, angry young man bent on mayhem but a divine child who is famous for His pranks on His devotees. You will see similarities with the other little rascal of Hindusim, Krishna.

Muruga, strangely, is popular only in South India and doesn't enjoy a prominent place like Ganesha in North India, although he is mentioned in local texts as the other child of Shiva and Parvathy. In South India, He is worshipped fervently and has many beautiful temples in his honour. Muruga's principal temples in South India (all in Tamil Nadu) reflect how the Tamil speaking people have adopted Him as their personal Lord. Each abode indicates a particular event in Skanda Puranam or the Life and Times of Skanda.However, He is very popular in Sri Lanka and amongst Tamil communities in Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa.

Arupadai Veedu or Muruga's Six Holy Abodes

1. Palani
Muruga gets upset when Shiva gives the sacred fruit to Ganesha when He loses a task of circumbulating the world. Muruga goes around the manifest world while crafty Ganesha circumbulates His parents. Accusing His parents of being unfair, Muruga runs off and becomes a child ascetic in Thruvavinakudi, which is now called Palani.

2. Swami Malai
When Shiva couldn'nt explain satisfactorily the meaning of the pranava mantra - Aum - the task fell on the shoulders of the little child god to elucidate its meaning. He is known as Swaminathan here.

3. Thiruchendur
The boy is now a young man and He is called upon to vanquish the demon Surapadman on the shores of Thiruchendur. He assumes the name of Senthil Muruga here.

4. Thiruparamkundram
The celestial beings, in gratitude to Muruga for having saved them from Surapadman, marry the divine Devayanai to Muruga. Devayanai is said to be the symbolic representation of divine will or energy of Muruga.

5. Thiruttani
Muruga falls for the tribal lass Valli and marries her in Thiruttani. Valli is said to be the essence of material will or energy of Lord Muruga.

6. Palarmutircholai
Muruga takes on his complete form here where He is depicted with both Devayanai and Valli. To be a complete human being, He suggests that both the divine and the material world must find equal balance for human beings to lead a fulfilling life.