Unpacking Lord Muruga’s North-South Legends before 2025 Skanda Shashti

Skanda Shashti 2025 is on Monday, October 27. It is one of the most important times for sadhana related to Lord Muruga, the Kartikeya. 

But there are some things we need to discuss before seeking after the Lord.

Muruga vs. Kartikeya 

A few of my friends from the more Northern parts of India have shared with me that they often feel disconnected from Karttikeya. 

In the North, Kartik is the younger son of Shiva-Parvati and therefore the younger brother of Ganesh. He is also unmarried, celibate, a child-deity, or has only one wife (Devasena). 

In the South, the legends and specifications are more elaborate. But in the Southern states of India, Skanda or Muruga is often the older son of Shiva-Parvathi and therefore the older brother of Ganapathi. Murugan, also known as Saravanan, has two wives: Valli and Deivanai. 

Let's delve into the fables a bit deeper, where the legends of the North and South find bridges. We need only pursue the chapters of the deity’s life to pass the bridges and touch each Chakra.

Of course, we’ll be going back and forth a bit - cause and effect!

1. Birth

The birth stories of the veera Kartik find several parallels from North to South.

After losing Sati, Shiva went into deep meditation in Kailash. Demons infested the world under Tarakasura, who acquired a boon that only a son born to Shiva could kill him. Kumarasambhava narrates the story of how Sakthi was reborn as Parvati and observed extreme Tapas to marry Shiva again.

Kartikeya was the son born out of Shiva’s Veerya (will-power/essence/seed/matter/semen) and Sakthi’s Oorja (execution-power/vessel/energy/womb). Devi, unable to contain the heat of the seed, handed it to the fire-god, Agni. Fire rendered, divided, and ceded the seed to the six Krittikas to raise. When the six children were six years old, Parvati melded them to dawn Karttikeya.

These incidents took place in the upper regions of the Himalayas. The North knows these stories, and the South agrees.

2. Brother

Since Muruga was born to fulfill the marriage of Shiva-Sakthi, he could be considered their firstborn. However, we do not have a timeline for the birth of Lord Ganesh. 

We do know this:

Once, sage Narada brought the “fruit of wisdom” to Kailash. He said that the fruit can be enjoyed by only one child since it was absolute and indivisible. The children Kartik and Ganesh were given a challenge - whoever came back first after circling the worlds thrice would be awarded the fruit. 

Kartik mounted his peacock and flew away faster than lightning speed. The mouse of Ganesh was slower, but His thinking was faster than light! He circled Shiva-Parvati thrice, stating that parents (in this case, the Creators, themselves) encompassed the worlds for him.

Ganesh won the fruit of wisdom.

Skanda returned by then and was surprised that He lost. This injustice angered the child deity. He flew south, vowing to finish all injustice in the world. The fiery child-warrior did, in fact, finish several demons. 

Ganeshji is more important in the North, since the region witnessed more epics of Him. 

Muruga is more important in the South, because, as per the tale of “fruit of wisdom,” He traveled Southwards as a child. He spent most of His life in the South.

Also, a “firstborn” is assigned more significance because, by convention, they bear a good deal of their parents’ duties and legacy. In the case of the sons of Shiva-Parvati (parents of all beings), Ganesh, Kumara, Ganas, Devis, Yoginis, Yakshas, divine armies, all beings bear their assets.

Afterall, Muruga and Ganpati are not mere characters in stories. They are entities (forces) that took form and walked the sacred land of Bharat to dramatically stage some of their attributes through simple lore, so that humans could get in touch with the divine.

3. Child

This settles why Kartik is Kumara, a child in the North. The South witnessed most of the feats. 

4. Celibate and Unmarried

Kartikeya is also Sanat Kumara, the eternally youthful ascetic. His tales in the North involve his immense knowledge (often above Shiva and Brahma). He is also Subrahmanya - the best of Brahman. Kartik is therefore a Brahmachari - an uninitiated, celibate sadhak or someone who is perfectly aligned with the Brahman - a Yogi.

He moved South when he was still an uninitiated child Siddha (master). 

5. One Wife or Two Wives?

Even in the temples of the North, where Kartikey is a married deity, only one wife is depicted - Devasena, or the army of gods. Considering that the lord did acquire Devasena from Shiva. The nine lieutenants of the army (deemed the powers or sons of Devasena) are said to originate from the anklets of the nine Nava Durgas.

6. War, Love, and Lands

Now we look at the marriages of Muruga, alongside his calling on the battlefield. It is only fitting, considering he is the Lord of War, his wives fulfilled his walk of life as Dharma Patnis, and he is ever a guardian of the Southern lands.

Devasena and Valli 

Devasena and Valli are considered two antitheses, together completing Muruga.

In the Tamil version of the Skanda Purana, these Devis are considered the daughters of Lord Vishnu and Devi Lakshmi. 

Since Vishnu is considered the ceremonial brother of Parvati, their children are suitors to each other by tradition. 

You can see this tradition being followed in the Mahabharat period, where Kunti is the aunt of Lord Krishna and Devi Subhadra. Kunti’s son Arjun marries Subhadra. Draupadi is considered a sister to Krishna (and therefore Adi Sakthi - more on that later!). She also marries Kunti’s five sons. This tradition led to the “Mura” system in Kerala, by which the children of a brother marry the children of a sister. The norms are a tad more elaborate, but this briefs it. This “muracherukkan-murappennu” system is adopted by Muslims also in Kerala. People who come across this system (from another state or country) often face a slight culture shock. 

Valli 

Valli (Srivalli) is often affiliated with the Vedic goddess Sinivali, Indra’s daughter. Indra also has a son Vali, in Ramayan, though I do not beyond the likeness of their names. 

The name “Valli” is said to come from the Sanskrit term Lavali (Phyllanthus distichus), a tree that bears a fruit with six sections, much like Amla. Both fruits are tangy, rich in vitamins, and provide wakefulness and immunity. 

“Valli” translates to sweet potato or creeper plant in Tamil. Sweet potatoes are beautiful plants, almost ornamental. They were staples in the Sangam era for their nutritional benefits, which you may know from how it is trending now.

She was the daughter Sundaravalli of Vishnu-Lakshmi. After pursuing Tapas to marry Muruga, he appeared before her and said that he was engrossed in battling Surapadman and asked her to wait if she could. She took birth as Valli in the “Kurinji” lands. She was a fierce warrior, huntress, and protector of millet fields.

Once Muruga paid her a visit in the guise of a hunter and proposed to marry her. Having woven herself to Muruga, she battles the hunter. For the first time in her life, she faced defeat. Muruga then revealed his identity to her, and the two married.

In the ancient Tamil Sangam landscape, Kurinji is the Hilly regions of South India. Muruga, as “Seyon” (the red one) is the patron of the lands, alongside his lady, Valli. Ancient knowledge identifies six kinds of millets, which were Muruga’s favorites. Now millets are trending too, for their steady glucose-release and other benefits. It is not only food fit for a warrior, but also a savior of farmers, since they need less water to grow.

Muruga, having imparted protection, knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual upliftment to the Tamil (whole of South India during the Sangam period) is called "Tamil Kadavul", the Tamil God. 

Devasena 

The daughter Amritavalli of Vishnu-Lakshmi also had performed penance to marry Kartik. She took birth as a granddaughter of Daksha.

In the Mahabharata, two twin grand-daughters of Daksha, Devasena (or army of gods) and Daityasena (or army of demons), are abducted by an asura called Keshi. Daityasena marries the demon. A resisting Devasena was rescued by Indra. The gods decided that only a fire-born warrior could marry Devasena and thus become the Lord of the Army of Gods. Kartikeya fit the description. 

In Tamil some narratives, she is called “Deivanai” (translation: celestial elephant), affiliating her to Indra’s elephants. She is also considered a daughter of Indra, raised by his divine elephant, Airavat. 

In the East, she is Shashti (meaning six) the motherly protector of children - born and unborn. Also called Soshthi or Chhathi, she is worshiped on the sixth day after a full moon or new moon. The most important Shashti day is Chhat Puja (Pratihar Sashthi/Surya Sashthi). It befalls soon on a Tuesday, 28 October 2025 -  the day after Skanda Sashti on 27 October. 

War

Muruga was born to lead the army of gods against the demon armies of Tarakasura, Simhamukha, and Surapadma. Skanda Shashti (Skanda Sashti or Kantha Sashti) commemorates Kartik’s acquisition of (marriage to) Devasena, who helped him to finally kill Surapadma (Soorasamharam).

It is said that Parvati - the Devi herself - in her motherly concern for Her son, first observed the Shashti Vratam. This vrat is observed by mothers for their children.

Sashti Vrat

Different regions of India observe the Sashti Vratam or Chhat Puja as per local traditions, which are best suited for the populace. We do know that Lord Murugan and His consorts offer protection and vigor to anyone at the ready.

We will be looking at the Aru Padai Veedu and their spiritual connection with the chakras soon…and more!