Sri Murugan also known as Kartikeya, Skanda, Subrahmanya and Shanmukha is the god of war for Hindus. He is the son of Sri Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Sri Ganesha is his Brother. He is worshipped in South India and in some parts of North India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and Mauritius. Peacock is the Vahanam of Sri Murugan.
Sri Murugan has six mothers, also known as Krittikas or Kartikeya Mothers.
The six mothers of Sri Murugan are:
- Krittika (Pleiades)
- Rohini
- Mrgashira
- Ardra
- Punarvasu
- Pusya
The legend goes that when Kartikeya was born, he was initially nursed by each of these six-star maidens, known as Krittikas, to provide him strength and attributes. Therefore, all these celestial beings are considered the mothers of Sri Kartikeya. Goddess Parvati is often seen as the adoptive mother of Kartikeya, having created him from her divine energy.
Popular Names of Sri Murugan:
Sri Murugan has many names below are some of the famous names:
Kartikeya, Skanda, Shanmukha, Subrahmanya, Skanda, Kathirvela, Vela, Subramani, Arumuga, Kumaraswamy, Saravanan, Sendhil, Bala Subramanian, Balamurugan, Dandapani, Kumaran, Kumaraswami, Palaniappan, Palanisami and Palanivel.
Sri Murugan Region Wise Names:
North India: Kartikeya, Mahasena and Kumara.
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana and Karnataka: Subrahmanya, Shanmukha and Kumaraswamy.
Tamil Nadu & Kerala: Kartikeya, Skanda, Shanmukha, Subramani, Skanda, Kathirvela, Vela, Arumuga, Kumaraswamy, Saravanan, Sendhil, Bala Subramanian, Balamurugan, Dandapani, Kumaran, Kumaraswami, Palaniappan, Palanisami and Palanivel.
Six Abodes of Murugan (Aarupadai Veedu):
- Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Thiruparankundram
- Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur
- Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani
- Sri Swaminatha Swamy Temple, Swamimalai
- Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruttani
- Sri Solaimalai Murugan Temple, Pazhamudircholai
Famous Temples of Sri Murugan in South India:
- Marudamalai Murugan Temple, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
- Kumarakottam Subramanya Swamy Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
- Subramaniyaswami Temple, Marudamalai, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
- Singaravelar Subramanya Temple, Sikkal, near Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu.
- Mallam Subramanya Swamy Temple, Chittamuru Mandal, near Naidupeta, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.
- Murugan Temple, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh.
- Sri Subrahmanyeswara or Golingeswara or Subbaraidu Temple, Bikkavolu, Andhra Pradesh.
- Bala Subrahmanya on Indrakeeladri, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
- Subramanya Swamy Temple, Mopidevi, Andhra Pradesh.
- Bikkavolu Subramanya Swamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh.
- Kukke Subramanya Temple, Karnataka.
- Ghati Subramanya Swamy Temple, Karnataka
- Skandagiri Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple, Secunderabad, Telangana.
- Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple, Haripad , Kerala.
- Sree Subramanya Swamy Temple, Perunna, Kerala.
- Sree Subramanya Swami Temple, Thazhakkara, Kerala.
- Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple, Payyanur, Kerala.
- Sri Subrahmanya Swami Temple, Neendoor, Kerala.
- Sree Subramanyaswami Temple, Kidangoor, Kerala.
- Subramanya Swamy Temple, Kodumbu, Kerala.
Famous Temples of Sri Kartikeya in North India:
- Kartikeya Temple Pehowa, Haryana.
- Swami Kartikeya Temple (Kaylong Temple) Kugti, Himachal Pradesh.
- Kartik Swami Temple, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand.
- Kartik Swami Temples, Manali, Nasogi, Himachal Pradesh.
- Kartik Swami Temple or Kelang Temple, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh
Rest of the World:
- Kataragamam temple, Sri Lanka
- Batucaves Murugan Temple, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. Singapore.
- Murugan temple, Langkat, Indonesia,
- Sri Subramaniar Temple, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Murugan Temple of North America, Maryland, USA,
- Sri Sivasubramaniar Temple, Mauritius.
- Kallumalai Temple Ipoh, Malaysia.
- Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, Penang, and Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple, Penang, Malaysia.
- Sannayasi Andavar Temple in Cheng, Malacca, Malaysia.
- Sri Marathandavar Bala Dhandayuthapani Alayam, Maran, Pahang, Malaysia.
- Sri Kandaswamy Kovil, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
List of Festivals:
- Vaikasi Visakam day, (during May –June month), Kavadis and Palkudams are taken.
- Surasamharam or Skanda Sashti during October–November month is celebrated as a 6-day festival.
- Thaipusam or Thai Poosam: This Festival is celebrated as a 6-day festival during the January – February months.
- Karthikai Deepam
- Panguni Uthiram
- Kartik Purnima
