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| '''Devasena''' is the wife of the ] ] (Skanda), also known as Murugan in south-Indian traditions.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3179-8|pages=185–6|url=http://books.google.co.in/books?id=5kl0DYIjUPgC&pg=PA185&dq=Devasena+Indra&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZM-qU5D4NsTGuATHrYGIBQ&ved=0CB0Q6AEwATgU#v=onepage&q=Devasena%20Indra&f=false}}</ref> She is known as '''Deivayanai''' in south-Indian texts. | '''Devasena''' is the wife of the ] ] (Skanda), also known as Murugan in south-Indian traditions.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3179-8|pages=185–6|url=http://books.google.co.in/books?id=5kl0DYIjUPgC&pg=PA185&dq=Devasena+Indra&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZM-qU5D4NsTGuATHrYGIBQ&ved=0CB0Q6AEwATgU#v=onepage&q=Devasena%20Indra&f=false}}</ref> She is known as '''Devayanai''' or '''Deivayanai''' (], literally "celestial elephant")<ref name="Clothey79"/> in south-Indian texts. | ||
| The ''Mahabharata''<ref>Clothey pp. 51-52</ref> | The ''Mahabharata''<ref>Clothey pp. 51-52</ref> | ||
| The '']'' mentions that Devasena and her co-wife ] were daughters of the god ] in a previous birth, thus their husband Kartikeya is regarded as the son-in-law of Vishnu.<ref>Clothey p. 3</ref> |
The '']'' mentions that Devasena and her co-wife ] were daughters of the god ] in a previous birth, thus their husband Kartikeya is regarded as the son-in-law of Vishnu.<ref>Clothey p. 3</ref> An interpolation in the southern recensions of the scripture narrate the story of the marriage of the two maidens to Kartikeya. Both the girls are fated to be married to the god. Devasena is born as Amirtavalli. She forms the path of traditional Hindu rituals and practices to gain her husband. Appeased by her penance, Indra adopts her as his daughter and marries her to Kartikeya in an arranged marriage followed by custom. The couple settled in the hill town of ], where one of Murugan's chief temples, ], stands. Meanwhile, Valli is born as Sundaravalli, is adopted by a tribal chieftain and grows up as a huntress. Murugan wins Valli's hand in a colourful way and takes her to Thiruttani. The god is worshipped here flanked by Devasena on his left and Valli on his right. Another interpretation regards Devasena and Valli as representations of ''] shakti'' (action) and '']'' (will-power) respectively.<ref>Clothey pp. 83-84</ref> | ||
| The presence of the two consorts, Devasena and Valli, is said to denote dual of Murugan, as the god of heaven and earth. Devasena, the celestial wife, is married in a traditional arranged marriage while her earthly counterpart is won by the god, resulting in a love marriage. The consorts also being represent a syncretism between the ] (dedicated to ]) and ] (dedicated to Vishnu) sects. The son of Shiva, Kartikeya, becomes the son-in-law of Vishnu, due to the marriages. Both the consorts are identified with the soul ('']''), while their husband (''pati'', Lord) represents God. The marriage of Devasena also conveys Shaiva ideals, where the soul (Devasena) remains "detached from the god - she has her own relative autonomy and earns the love of the god by her own merit". In contrast, the Vaishnava philosophy says that god is attached to the soul (Valli) and woos it.<ref>Clothey pp. 84-85</ref> | |||
| |Thirumurugatrupadai]]'' describes Murugan is accompanied by his "chaste wife" Devasena and is honoured by a procession of gods and '']''s (sages).<ref>Clothey pp. 64-5</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | The ] in ] is dedicated to Murugan and Devasena (Deivayanai) as his consort. |
||
| The '']'' contains a ] panegyric dedicated to Murugan. It praises him as the god is allowed to have two wives, Devasena - the daughter of Indra and Valli, a hunter princess. Murugan is described to equally spend his time on earth and in heaven. This is also conveyed by his wives, Devasena is a daughter of the heavens, while Valli is an earthly maiden. Another devotional work '']'' describes Murugan is accompanied by his "chaste wife" Devasena and is honoured by a procession of gods and '']''s (sages).<ref>Clothey pp. 64-5</ref> | |||
| Devasena is generally depicted with her husband, particularly in an iconographical form called ''Senapati''. Devasena seats on the left thigh of a six-headed and twelve-armed Senapati. One of his arms hold her waist. Numerous depictions of the two exist at ], the location of their marriage. However, in many south-Indian representations, when Murugan is depicted only with one consort, Valli is favoured over Devasena. In most South-Indian depictions, Murugan is depicted with both his consorts standing besides him.<ref name="Clothey79"/> | |||
| ⚫ | The ] in ] is dedicated to Murugan and Devasena (Deivayanai) as his consort. It is believed that Devasena was married to the god at this location.<ref name="Clothey79">Clothey p. 79</ref> The temple of Latankovil at ] is also dedicated to the divine couple.<ref>Clothey p. 76</ref> | ||
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Devasena is the wife of the Hindu god Kartikeya (Skanda), also known as Murugan in south-Indian traditions. She is known as Devayanai or Deivayanai (Tamil, literally "celestial elephant") in south-Indian texts.
The Mahabharata
The Skanda Purana mentions that Devasena and her co-wife Valli were daughters of the god Vishnu in a previous birth, thus their husband Kartikeya is regarded as the son-in-law of Vishnu. An interpolation in the southern recensions of the scripture narrate the story of the marriage of the two maidens to Kartikeya. Both the girls are fated to be married to the god. Devasena is born as Amirtavalli. She forms the path of traditional Hindu rituals and practices to gain her husband. Appeased by her penance, Indra adopts her as his daughter and marries her to Kartikeya in an arranged marriage followed by custom. The couple settled in the hill town of Thiruttani, where one of Murugan's chief temples, Thiruthani Murugan Temple, stands. Meanwhile, Valli is born as Sundaravalli, is adopted by a tribal chieftain and grows up as a huntress. Murugan wins Valli's hand in a colourful way and takes her to Thiruttani. The god is worshipped here flanked by Devasena on his left and Valli on his right. Another interpretation regards Devasena and Valli as representations of kriya shakti (action) and Iccha-shakti (will-power) respectively.
The presence of the two consorts, Devasena and Valli, is said to denote dual of Murugan, as the god of heaven and earth. Devasena, the celestial wife, is married in a traditional arranged marriage while her earthly counterpart is won by the god, resulting in a love marriage. The consorts also being represent a syncretism between the Shaiva (dedicated to Shiva) and Vaishnava (dedicated to Vishnu) sects. The son of Shiva, Kartikeya, becomes the son-in-law of Vishnu, due to the marriages. Both the consorts are identified with the soul (Atman), while their husband (pati, Lord) represents God. The marriage of Devasena also conveys Shaiva ideals, where the soul (Devasena) remains "detached from the god - she has her own relative autonomy and earns the love of the god by her own merit". In contrast, the Vaishnava philosophy says that god is attached to the soul (Valli) and woos it.
The Paripatal contains a Tamil panegyric dedicated to Murugan. It praises him as the god is allowed to have two wives, Devasena - the daughter of Indra and Valli, a hunter princess. Murugan is described to equally spend his time on earth and in heaven. This is also conveyed by his wives, Devasena is a daughter of the heavens, while Valli is an earthly maiden. Another devotional work Thirumurugatrupadai describes Murugan is accompanied by his "chaste wife" Devasena and is honoured by a procession of gods and rishis (sages).
Devasena is generally depicted with her husband, particularly in an iconographical form called Senapati. Devasena seats on the left thigh of a six-headed and twelve-armed Senapati. One of his arms hold her waist. Numerous depictions of the two exist at Tirupparamkunram, the location of their marriage. However, in many south-Indian representations, when Murugan is depicted only with one consort, Valli is favoured over Devasena. In most South-Indian depictions, Murugan is depicted with both his consorts standing besides him.
The Thirupparamkunram Murugan Temple in Tirupparamkunram is dedicated to Murugan and Devasena (Deivayanai) as his consort. It is believed that Devasena was married to the god at this location. The temple of Latankovil at Anamalai is also dedicated to the divine couple.
Notes
- James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 185–6. ISBN 978-0-8239-3179-8.
- ^ Clothey p. 79
- Clothey pp. 51-52
- Clothey p. 3
- Clothey pp. 83-84
- Clothey pp. 84-85
- Clothey pp. 64-5
- Clothey p. 76
References
- Fred W. Clothey (1 January 1978). The Many Faces of Murukan̲: The History and Meaning of a South Indian God. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-90-279-7632-1.