SHRI SUBRAMANYA SWAMI TEMPLE Kadandale

 temple, Murugan temple

Very ancient temple of Swamy Shri Subramanya. Famous for Shashti Jaatra

The story of Lord Kartikeya's birth is given in Kumar Sambhavam.

Sati, the consort of Shiva immolated herself at the site of the Daksha Yagna, which was later destroyed by Shiva. Sati was reborn as Uma, or Parvati the daughter of the mountain king Himavaan (the Himalayas). Shiva withdrew himself from the universe and engaged himself in yogic meditation in the Himalayas.

In the meanwhile, the demon Surapadma ravaged the earth and tormented its beings. It was realized by the gods that only the son born of Shiva and Parvati could lead the gods to victory over Tarakaasuran, Surapadman and their demon companions. They 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 at Shiva, he opened his third eye and burned him to ashes instantly. Upon hearing the pleas of Kama's wife Rati, he brought back Kama to life, in flesh and blood for her sake, and in a formless state for others.

His penance disturbed, Shiva fell in love with Parvathi. However, the sparks of the fiery seed of Shiva were unbearable; even the fire God Agni could not bear them; this fire was then transported by the river Ganga into the Sara Vana forest, where Sara Vana Bhava (Kartikeya) was born. He was raised by the six Kartika damsels. Parvati combined these six babies into one with six faces, ie. Shanmukha.
He led the army of the devas to victory against the demons.

Kartikeya is also known as Subramaniam, Skanda, Guha, Shadannana or Shanmukha (because he has six faces). He represents a person of perfection. He is the war God, the Hindu equivalent of Mars and Aries. He was created by all the Gods to lead the heavenly hosts and destroy the demons. He is the most masculine and fierce of all the Gods. While Ganesh removes all obstacles, Skanda bestows all spiritual powers, particularly the power of knowledge.

He is worshiped for all problems related to Mars, especially Mangala dosha or Kuja dosha.

Subrahmanya is stated to have been born in a forest of arrow-like grass (hence the name Saravanabhava) and reared by the six divine mothers of the constellation Krittika (Pleiades), hence the names 'Karttikeya' and 'Sanmatura'. It seems he assumed six faces to suckle the milk of the six mothers and so got the appellation 'Sadanana or Sanmukha'.

He was appointed the commander-in-chief of the gods and thus became "Devasenapati'. With his matchless weapon, the sakti or lance shining brilliantly like fire, he easily destroyed Tarakusara thus becoming 'Saktidhara' and 'Tarakari'. Being very young and virile he is 'Kumara' or 'Sanatkumara'. A forceful attacker in war, he is known as 'Skanda'. 'Skanda' also means one who has accumulated the power of chastity.

He likes holy people (Brahmanas) and is always good to them. Hence he is ‘Subramanya'. Once he broke down the Kraunca-parvata (a mountain) earning the name Krauncabhetta. At the time he exposed Brahma's ignorance of the Vedas and hence got the name Brahma-Sasta.

His other names are Guha (the secret one), Gangeya (son of Ganga) and Swami-natha (the preceptor of his own father)

In icons, Subrahmanya is shown as a boy either with one head and two arms or with six heads and twelve arms. His lance and his peacock are also prominently displayed. A fowl adorns his banner.

Subramanya, the son of Siva and Sakti, represents the greatest state to which spiritual aspirants can evolve. Etymologically the word 'Subramanya' means 'one who tends the spiritual growth of the aspirants'. It is only he who reached the summit of the spiritual perfection in this life that is capable of tending the spiritual growth of others. Mythology describes him as the Son of God begotten to save the world from tyranny of the fiend Tarakasura. This is more true in the spiritual sense.

Subramanya, the Sanmukha, is depicted with six heads and twelve hands, all of them being attached to one trunk resting on two feet.

Of course, even a boy knows that biologically this is impossible even as an angel with wings is! But a concept like this can be conceded if it fits into useful philosophical postulations. His six heads represent the five sense organs and the mind, which co-ordinates their activities. When these are controlled, refined and sublimated, man becomes a Superman. This is the implication of the symbology.

Subramanya has two consorts: Valli and Devasena. The former is the daughter of a humble chieftain of a race given to agriculture and woodcraft. The latter is the daughter of Indra, the king of Gods.

This is just to show that God does not make any distinction between the humble folk and the elite. He loves both equally.

Alternatively, this can also mean that the true leader of a society will espouse agriculture and industry on the one hand, and the armed forces on the other, in order to develop the society as also to protect it.

The lance of dazzling brightness is the weapon with which the Devasenapati vanquished many an enemy. It actually stands for knowledge and wisdom with which all the ugly demons of ignorance can be destroyed.

The peacock is Subrahmanya's mount. It is shown as belabouring a snake with one of its legs. The snake stands for time. The peacock that kills it stands for what is opposed to it. By riding the peacock he is showing that he is beyond what is within time and outside it. He is beyond all dualities.

If the snake represents lust, as it often does in the symbology of psychology, the peacock signifies the power of celibacy. As Skanda, he is the very personification of the powers of chastity and hence is shown as riding on the peacock.

Lastly, the peacock, with its beautiful plumage, represents creation in all its glory. Hence he that rides it is the Supreme Lord, the Master of creation