Table of Content
Who is Kartikeya?
He is the son of Parvati and Shiva, brother of Ganesha, and a god whose life story has many versions in Hinduism. An important deity around South Asia since ancient times, Kartikeya is particularly popular and predominantly worshipped in South India, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia as Murugan. In the Gayatri hymns, he is called by various names: Kumara, Kārtikeya, and Skanda. Many Puranic legends tell stories of his bravery. He leads the army of the gods and destroys the Demon Täraka, and Krauñcha.
The below Mysore painting depicts Kartikeya with his family-
The below Kalamkari painting also depicts Kartikeya with his parivara- Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha.
His various names -
He is known as various names - Karttikeya, Shaumukha, or Shadanana, Aaravanabhava or Sarajanman, Senani, Tarakajit, Gangaputra, Guha, Agnibhu, Skanda and Swaminathan Murugan, Kumara, Skanda, and Subrahmanya.
Sources to study the iconography of Kartikeya-
The Skanda Purana describes him as Shanmukha (six-faced), with twelve hands carrying spear (Vel), bow, sword, discus, and other divine weapons, peacock mount, attire is often described as golden, with a radiant aura.
The below oleograph by Raja Ravi Vrama depicts Kartikeya in his Shanmukha form. In this painting, Lord Kartikeya is seated atop his celestial mount, the peacock, and accompanied by his consorts, Valli and Devasena, by his side. He is portrayed with six pairs of arms, of which four pairs of arms are visible, holding sacred weapons such as the spear, sword, and trident, representing his prowess in battle. six-headed Kartikeya is a unique depiction that traces its origin back to the legend that six mothers took care of him as a child. His six heads also represent the six chakras, the five senses along with the mind, and the six attributes of deities - wisdom, dispassion, strength, fame, wealth, and divine powers. Riding a peacock, Kartikeya is often depicted with a black cobra in his vicinity. In this oleograph as well, there is an interesting representation of the snake caught in the peacock's claws, and is yet alive and calm, unlike its instinct. According to various Hindu legends, the snake is representative of ego, and the clutched snake is representative of Lord Kartikeya's ability to manage, not abandon or hide his ego.
Shanmukha Subramanyam (Kartikeya) Oleograph by Raja Ravi Varma (Embellished)
The Shiva Purana describes him as the divine warrior son of Shiva, a staff-wielding ascetic form (Dandayudhapani), symbolizing renunciation. It also describes his marriages to Devasena (daughter of Indra) and Valli (tribal princess).
The Brahmanda Purana, while talking about his role in defeating Tarakasura, describes his youthful form, adorned with celestial ornaments. It mentions his red complexion, symbolizing energy and power.
In the Vishnu and Matsya Purana, his warlike appearance is emphasized, with divine armor and celestial weapons.
Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai, a Sangam Era Text is one of the earliest Tamil texts describing Murugan’s iconography. It describes him as youthful, handsome, and radiant. It mentions his Vel (spear) as his primary weapon, which was gifted to him by Parvati.
The Kanda Puranam, which is the Tamil version of the Skanda Purana, gives vivid descriptions of his six faces and twelve arms. It mentions his divine consorts Valli and Devasena, with him standing between them. His peacock mount, symbolic of victory over arrogance, is also described.
Thevaram and Thiruppugazh are Tamil devotional hymns that praise his warrior form and ascetic form (Palani Murugan).
The Agamas mention the temple plan to be followed, the parivara devatas and symbols to be shown in a temple of Subramanya. Some rules are followed to depict Subramanya-
The seated figure is either on a padmasana or on a peacock. It is laid down as a rule that if the figure is a seated one, it should have only two arms; if a standing one, four; and lastly, if it is seated upon a peacock, it may have six, eight or twelve arms. The sitting posture is recommended for representing the yoga (dhruva) bēra, the standing posture for the bhoga (utsava) beras and the figures seated on vehicles for dhyana beras (images meant for
fixing one's thoughts upon and meditating). The image with two arms is said to be satvik, one with four arms rajasik and one with more arms than four tamasik in nature.’
“Subrahmanya with two arms may be sculpted in any one of the five following manners:-
in the first mode the image might keep in the right hand a padma and the left hand may be resting upon the hip (katyavalambita)
- in the second mode the right hand may be held in the abhaya pose and the left
- in the katyavalambita pose;
- in the third mode the right hand may carry a danda and the left hand may be
- in the latyavalambita pose
- in the fourth mode the right hand may carry the saktyāyudha and the left the
- Vajra.
- In the fifth mode the right hand may carry a saktyāyudha and left a kukkuţa (a fowl).’
In the case of the figure of Subrahmanya with four arms the hands, the hands are required to be kept in any of the seven poses and to carry articles as given in the following table -
Subrahmaņya with two or four arms is said to be capable of giving siddhi to his worshippers.
The figure of Subrahmanya with six arms should have in its right hands abhaya, khadga and
sakti ; and in the left hands khētaka, akshamāla and kukkuta. The image of Subrahmanya with eight arms should be represented as carrying in its hands the vajra, sakti, abhaya, varada, khadga, khetaka, bana and dhanus ; or, they may keep the padma, vajra, sakti, abhaya, varada, khadga, khetaka and pāsa.
‘Subrahmaņya with twelve arms may be sculptured in six different ways; the following
table furnishes the information regarding the poses of the hands and the objects carried in them:
The agamas mentioned the appropriate forms of the image of Subrahmanya that should be set up in temples erected for that deity in towns of different kinds the image that must grace a temple constructed for this deity in the rajadhani (the capital city) of a reigning sovereign is to be one with six faces, six arms, twelve eyes and twelve or six ears. It should keep in its hands the sakti, khadga, akshamālā, abhaya, kukkuța and khețaka. The image that should be set up in a grăma or a prasāda (palace) should have twelve arms; the right hands of this image should carry the bakti, musala, khadga, chakra, paša and abhaya; and the left hands, the vajra, dhanus, khētaka, bikhi-dhvaja (a banner made of peacock feathers), aṁkuša and varada.
This figure should be of the colour of the rising sun and be draped in red clothes and be adorned with a karanda-makuta, and a yajñöpavita and be seated on a peacock with, on either side, a figure of a dēvī. Though different types of images of Subrahmanya are prescribed for consecration in different kinds of villages there is no positive objection to any of the five types of the image of this deity, namely, those with two, four, six, eight or twelve arms, being set up in any kind of town.
Texts including the agamas, Kumara-tantra and Sritatvanidhi, descriptions of different forms of Kartikeya have been given, which include Shaktidhara, Skanda, Senapati, Devasenapati, Subrahmanya, Gajavahana, Sarvanabhava, Karttikeya, Kumara, Shamuka, Tarakari, Kraunchabhetta, Senani, Brahma-sasta, Balasvami, Sikhivahana, Vallikalyanasundara, Agnijata Subhramanya, Saurabheya Subhahmanya, Gangeya Subrahmanya, Guha Subrahmanya, Brahmachari Subrahmanya, Desika Subrahmanya, etc.
The below painting shows Kartikeya in his Bala Subrahmanya form. Bala Kartikeya, the beloved Hindu god of war, wisdom, and victory, is standing in Abhaya Mudra, suggesting protection and assurance. He is adorned in multiple pieces of jewellery and has barely any cloth on his body. He is accompanied by his majestic peacock represented in all his glory against a picturesque landscape. At its core, this oleograph is a visual ode to the divine attributes of Lord Sri Bala Subramanya, revered as the embodiment of courage, wisdom, and divine grace. The peacock, a symbol of purity and spirituality in Hindu mythology, serves as a loyal companion to the deity, representing his divine vehicle and messenger. The interesting representation of the snake caught in the peacock’s claws indicates the ability of Kartikeya to vanquish his natural enemies.
This is a Chhau mask of Kartikeya, the formidable God of War. With six majestic faces and a majestic peacock as his steed, Kartikeya embodies unmatched power and grace. As the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, his legend resonates with tales of valor and righteousness. The Chhau mask is traditionally associated with the age-old Chhau dance forms in Purulia district of West Bengal. The mask is worn during the performance of Chhau dance, mainly performed during the festivals, especially in Spring festival of Chaitra Parva and Sun festival in which the whole community participates.
Kartikeya’s peacock vahana (Paravani), as a vibrant and majestic bird, represents the victory of divine wisdom over ego, desire, and ignorance. It is often associated with beauty and arrogance, but when tamed as Kartikeya’s mount, it signifies the controlled and disciplined mind, essential for a warrior deity. His primary weapon, the Vel (spear), believed to be gifted by his mother, Goddess Parvati, symbolizes spiritual knowledge and power to pierce through illusion (maya) and ignorance. Other weapons, such as the sword, bow, and discus, emphasize his role as the commander of divine forces and protector of dharma. Additionally, Kartikeya is sometimes depicted holding a pasha (noose), a weapon symbolizing control over karmic bonds and attachment, reinforcing his role as a deity who liberates devotees from worldly entanglements. Collectively, these elements reinforce Kartikeya’s identity as a warrior of wisdom, valor, and righteousness.
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