Sri Subrahmanya Charitra – The Divine Story of Lord Kartikeya
1. The Need for a Divine Warrior
Long ago, after the churning of the ocean, the gods (Devas) attained the nectar of immortality (Amrit), but their troubles were not over. A powerful demon, Tarakasura, had gained a boon from Lord Brahma that he could be killed only by the son of Lord Shiva. Since Shiva was in deep meditation after the death of Sati, the Devas feared that no son would be born to him, and Tarakasura would remain undefeated.
The demon wreaked havoc across the three worlds, defeating the Devas and forcing them to flee from their celestial kingdom. Desperate, the gods approached Lord Brahma and Vishnu, seeking a solution. Lord Vishnu assured them that Goddess Parvati, the reincarnation of Sati, was destined to unite with Lord Shiva, and their son would be the one to destroy Tarakasura.
2. The Divine Birth of Lord Subrahmanya
To awaken Shiva from his meditation, the gods sent Kama Deva (the god of love) to shoot an arrow at him. Though this broke Shiva’s meditation, his anger burned Kama Deva into ashes. However, this act also resulted in Shiva and Parvati uniting, and from their divine energy, six sparks of fire emerged.
These fiery sparks were carried by Agni (the fire god) and dropped into the Saravana Poigai, a mystical lake surrounded by lotus flowers. Here, the sparks transformed into six divine babies, who were nurtured by six celestial maidens, the Krittikas.
When Goddess Parvati arrived at the lake, she embraced all six babies, merging them into one divine child with six faces—Shanmukha (the six-faced one).
3. The Battle Against Tarakasura
As the divine child grew, he was appointed the commander-in-chief of the celestial army (Deva Senapati). He was gifted the powerful Vel (spear) by his mother, Parvati, which would be his greatest weapon in battle.
Accompanied by his army of gods and sages, he rode to war on his peacock mount, prepared to face the mighty Tarakasura.
The battle was fierce. Tarakasura, with his magical powers, created illusions and rained deadly weapons upon the young warrior. But Subrahmanya’s Vel pierced through all his illusions, cutting through his army and striking fear into the demon’s heart.
Finally, with a single powerful thrust of the Vel, he pierced Tarakasura’s chest, ending his reign of terror. The Devas rejoiced, hailing him as their savior.
4. Marriage to Devasena and Valli
After the war, Indra, the king of the Devas, offered his daughter Devasena in marriage to Lord Subrahmanya as gratitude for restoring the heavens. Their divine wedding was celebrated grandly in Tirupparankundram, one of the six sacred abodes of Murugan.
Later, Lord Subrahmanya also married Valli, a simple tribal girl, after a beautiful episode where he disguised himself to win her heart. This marriage symbolizes his universal love—one wife from the celestial realm and the other from the earthly world.
5. Symbolism and Spiritual Significance
Shanmukha (Six Faces): Represents wisdom, courage, and divine knowledge.
Vel (Spear): The destroyer of ignorance and evil.
Peacock (Mount): Symbolizes victory over ego and material desires.
Serpent: Represents Kundalini energy and spiritual awakening.
6. Worship and Festivals
Skanda Shashti (6-day festival) celebrates his victory over Tarakasura.
Thaipusam (observed mainly in Tamil Nadu and Malaysia) honors his devotion and sacrifice.
Kukke Subramanya Temple (Karnataka) and Palani Murugan Temple (Tamil Nadu) are among the most revered pilgrimage sites.