Seers and sages worshipped Him,
Scriptures hailed Him
Devotees surrendered unto His Lotus Feet,
The whole universe came under his spell

He is magnificent, majestic, benevolent and captivating
His face appeared brilliant like a thousand rising sun,
the light of knowledge radiated from His Kadir Vel,
His peacock traveled beyond time and space
His banner of rooster announced the dawn of knowledge

The devout soul aspires to reach his Lotus Feet
His name spells success and prosperity
He is Muruga, the embodiment of beauty and knowledge,
the epitome of Grace who lives in our hearts.

 

The word Muruga is derived from the word “Murugu” which means honey, beauty, fragrance and eternal youth. True to His name, this God of love, beauty and power has been exerting His charm on millions of people in South India and beyond. Though there were caste, class and other differences between them, when it comes to Muruga worship they all become one. The charm that radiates from Muruga unites them all. During festivals like Thaipoosam, they come from all directions, meander their way, like rivers destined towards ocean, converge at Palani and worship the Lord of the Hills, Sri Dhandayudhapani with single minded devotion. One could easily spot a Muruga devotee. The mark of a Muruga devotee is the white ashes prominently applied in his forehead that carries an eternal message. The ash is the creation of the element of fire which dissolves everything. We fight battles, secure properties and sacrifice principles all for the sake of preservation of this body, never knowing that this body is ultimately going to perish and turn into ashes. May this truth remain as an eternal reminder in all conduct.

Muruga is known by many other names; names that would draw a long list, like Arumuga, Guha, Kadamba, Karthikeya, Kumara, Kaliyuga Varadha, Subramanya, Swaminatha, Saravana Bhava, Skanda, Shanmuga and names associated with his consort, Valli (Valli Manala), associated with his transport, peacock, (Mayil Vahana), his banner, rooster (Seval Kodiyon), his weapon, Vel (Velayudha), His divine qualities (Karunakara), his abodes (Palani Andava, Chengottu Velava, Sikkal Singara, Senthil Andava) etc. It is impossible to comprehend, let alone describe, His magnificence truly and comprehensively. Only great sages who have attained enlightenment, who have undergone divine experience and received the grace, can guide us to the path of Muruga. .

Muruga, the Gjnana Panditha: Muruga is the source of all knowledge. He enlightens the world. Having emerged from Jyothi, the divine flame of light (Jyothi Pizhambu Athu Or Meniyagi…) Muruga radiates the light of knowledge throughout the universe. He administered the saintly advice even to Shiva, his father and the Lord, the Supreme Power of the Universe, knelt down and received the advice in all humility. Vedas are considered the source and treasure-house of all knowledge and Muruga is known as the embodiment of Vedas (Vedha Mantra Swaroopa)

Muruga, the mighty: Muruga symbolises valour and power. Armed with the boon that no power on earth, not even that of Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva could harm him, the demon Soorapadman was terrorising Devas and devotees. It therefore became necessary to create a power greater than the combined power of Trimurthis to destroy Sooran and protect Devas and devotees. Thus, Muruga, wielding an unparalleled power in universe came into being. His mother, Parvathi, blessed him and presented him with the all-powerful Sakthi-Vel. His supreme power was evident from the fact that he imprisoned even the creator, Brahma for his lack of knowledge on Pranava Mantra.

Muruga as Karunakara: Muruga represents the virtues of love and compassion. He is benevolent and generous. He is magnanimous and merciful and grants whatever His devotees aspire for. He has pardoned even Soorapadman who crossed sword with Him. The Omnipresence Muruga knows whenever His devotee is in distress, readily comes to extend His 'Abhaya Hastha', the Helping Hand and render blessings. Just as He sought Valli's hands, married her and provided fulfillment to her life, He goes after true devotees, rather than waiting for them to come to Him, uplift them and provide them the everlasting bliss of being with Him.

Muruga, the beautiful: Sulamangalam sisters have beautifully sung: “Muruga is the epitome of beauty and all the beauties on earth are converged on Muruga". Muruga is marvelous and majestic. He is so elegant and enchanting that devotees’ eyes would wish to rest there for ever. Arunagirinathar says in Kandhar Alamgaram: "To see and admire the beauty of the Lord of Thiruchengodu, even four thousand eyes are not enough. (Malon Marugane”) One can go on marveling at His exquisite beauty at Tiruchendur.

There are number of temples of Lord Muruga and the Aru Padai Veedu, the six sacred abodes of Muruga which represent His six sacred faces, assumes prime importance. Saint Nakkeerar, the leader of the Sangam literature movement in Madurai, introduced the Six Sacred Abodes (Aru Padai Veedu) of Muruga and composed Thiru Murugratru Padai in which he elaborated the divine qualities of these temples. At Thiruchendhur Muruga destroyed the demon Soorapadman and all evil forces represented by him. After his victory at Tiruchendur, Muruga is believed to have come and stayed at Thirupparamkumdran. Pleased by the way Muruga restored the dignity of Devas, Devendra offered his daughter, Devayani to the Lord and the divine wedding took place here. Thiru Avinangudi is located at the foothill of the famous Palani temple. After the young Muruga came in full circle of the world in the contest set by Lord Shiva, Muruga took his abode here. Muruga appears here as a youth with four hands, mounted over the peacock. Palani, the abode of Dhandayudhapani is unique for its divine appeal among devotees. The idol of Palani Andavar is made of "Navapashanam" ( a combination of Veeram, Pooram, Rasam, Jathilingam, Kandagam, Gauri Pasanam, Vellai Pasanam, Mridharsingh, Silasat), by a siddhar called Bhogar. At Swami Malai, Muruga appears as the enlightened Master (Guru). When Muruga imprisoned Brahma for not being able to explain the meaning of Pranava Mantra, Lord Shiva came to request Muruga to set free the Lord of Creator. Then, the Lord Himself sought the meaning of Pranava Mantra and Muruga is believed to have acted as the Master for his own father, Shiva and conveyed Upadesa by explaining the meaning and importance of Pranava Mantra. According to legend, Valli, the tribal girl has been aspiring to marry Muruga even from her previous birth. Lord Muruga sought her, found her and married her at Thiruthani. Here, Valli represents the soul, the Supreme Self which yearns to reach the Lord and the Lord readily comes down to liberate it. Any aspiring individual eager to immerse himself in the Lord can adopt the path of Valli Sanmarga which signifies the unity of the soul with that of the Eternal Power. At Pazhamudir Solai, Muruga appears with both Valli and Deivayani. The word Pazha Mudhir is also interpreted as fully matured fruit which refers to Muruga as the ultimate embodiment of knowledge.

Muruga, the Protector: Arunagirinathar describes, in his own inimitable style, the splendour and glory of Muruga. He describes the different divine qualities of Muruga; his valour in destroying the evil forces, his compassion in protecting the devotees, his Jnana in imparting knowledge, His grace for a smooth passage of life and his unique divine power that liberates the devotees. Kandar Alamgaram is an ornament that is offered to Muruga by depicting His gracious qualities. Let us see in detail how Arunagirinathar prays in one single verse all that a true spiritual seeker aspires for.

Vizhikku thunai Thiru Men Malar Padhangal
Meimaikundram Mozhikku Thunai,
Muruga Enum Namangal Munbu Seitha Pazhikku Thunai,
Avan Paniru Tholum Bayantha Thani Vazhikku Thunai
Vadi Velum Sengodan Mayooramume.”

Vizhikki Thunai: What we see through our eyes, what we hear through our ears and what we feel through our senses are mere illusion. The oft-quoted snake-rope analogy reminds us how deceptive our eyes are. A man, walking in the veil of darkness, found a snake like object and was gripped in fear. Though in truth it was a rope, in his perception, it was a snake. It was only when some one put on a torch on the object, he realised that his perception was different from reality. Similarly, the eyes merely make an object visible, but they do not reveal what the object is exactly. It is the inner eyes which gives the correct vision. We need someone to give us this inner vision. We need someone to light a torch and tell us what is real and what is not. Who else can guide us other than Muruga? Arunagirinathar prays that the Lotus Feet (Malar Padhangal) of Lord Muruga should give us the correct vision (Vizhi).

Mozhikki Thunai: Quite often, the words we speak do not fully conform to truth. This is because we speak not what is right but what our mind tells us. We speak the language of our ego. We speak the language of anger and jealousy. With Muruga’s grace, we would rise above our petty pride and prejudices and ever speak the language of truth. Arunagirinathar seeks the blessings of Muruga that would help us to express ourselves gently, politely, clearly and briefly. (Mozhikku Thunai). It is even better to avoid speaking at times and observe silence. “Summa Iru” he says in another song.

Pazhikki Thunai: One performs various deeds in the course of his life which are known as Karmas. The word ‘Karma’ denotes action. Any action bears a possible reaction, depending upon the nature of the action. A deed, done with the notion of “I am the doer”, invites adverse consequences. The consequence which one is called upon to bear either in the same birth or in the succeeding birth is called Karma. It is the Karma or the necessity of bearing its consequence that brings one back to this life again. If he is going to add up his Karmas, it would become a chain reaction, leading to the cycle of birth and death (Punarabhi Jananam...). One may have done some Karmas out of his ignorance in the previous birth and it is the grace of Muruga that can liberate him. Arunagirinathar prays that the names of Lord Muruga (Muruga Enum Namangal), like Kanda, Kadamba, Kartikeya, Karunakara and Kumara would come as a help and uplift the devotees from past Karmas

Vazhikki Thunai: We pass through different roads in our life time. We are comfortable while walking through these roads because there is always a companion with us. But we dread one road; the road that takes us to the end of the journey. It is the dark road where there would be no companion. It is the road one has to pass alone. Howsoever he wishes to avoid it; he has to pass through it ultimately and inevitably. It is here one feels the real need for a companion. In another song, Arunagirinathar prays for a smooth passage: “As I walk through this lonely path, may the Vel (spear) of Muruga accompany me on my left and right and give me solace and courage”.

Of all parts of the human body, the shoulder has special significance. Kachiappa Sivacharyar, the author of Kanda Puranam, first hails the shoulders of Muruga and then only he comes to describe about the face. (Aariru Thadanthol Vazhga Arumugam Vazhga). Poet Kambar, author of the Tamil epic “Ramayana”, describes beautifully about the shoulder of Lord Rama. While Rama was majestically walking through the street of Mithila, Sita watched him from the balcony of her high palace and admired the majestic way Rama was moving forward. Her eyes first fell on the shoulder of Rama. She was so struck by the beauty of the broad shoulders of Rama that she could not take her eyes off. Kambar describes this event as: “She saw the shoulder and she kept on seeing the shoulder only.” (Thol Kandar Thole Kandar).

When a person is in distress, he leans upon the shoulder of his friend for solace and support. When human shoulder itself gives a relief, think of the shoulders of Muruga and the enormous support they can give. As one makes his last journey, walking through the dark corridors of death, Arunagirinathar prays for the grace, comfort and relief from the shoulders of Muruga (Avan Panniru Tholum Bayantha Thani Vazhikku Thunai). May Lord Muruga’s grace be bestowed on all devotees. May the Lord guide us to the path of perfection and lead us to the right destination of life. May the power of his Vel protect us from all negative forces.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
To be immersed in the grace of Muruga, visit the website
www.kaumaram.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------