Word

Subramanya

Sanskrit

सुब्रह्मण्य

IAST

subrahmaṇya

In General

Son of Siva and Parvati and brother of Ganapati . There are many prominent temples dedicated to Subromonya in Tamil Nadu, most of them on the tops of hills. The Palani temple is very popular. Kumara, Muruka, Karttikeya, Skanda, Arumukha, Shanmukha are some of his popular synonyms. Skanda Purana and books written during the Sangha period go to prove that Subrahmanya was worshipped in India from very olden times.

Veda

The word is used in Veda for a priest. Subrahmanya is the third assistant of Udgatri. He is also called padi and he gets the dakshina one fourth of what Udgatri get.

Purana

Once Vajranga did penance for thousand years to get a son who can defeat Devas; Brahma granted the boon and his wife Varangi delivered a child. The couple named the child Tarakasura. Tarakasura, as a child, began practicing penance and Brahma duly appeared before him and granted him the boon that if he were to die, he would die at the hands of a seven days old child. Haughty over the boon Tarakasura very soon conquered the three worlds. The devas found no means to suppress Tarakasura

Tarakasura could be killed only by a child not more than seven days old and the Devas realized that such a child could be begot only by Siva. It was the occasion Parvati was doing penance to secure Siva as husband. When Siva wedded Parvati a child called Subrahmanya was born to her. The child had six faces and shined like sun.

The Devas soon approached Siva and Parvati to anoint the child as the leader of their force and fight with Tarakasura and others who disturbed the peace in the universe. Devas presented him all kind of weapons. Agni presented him the Vel, Garuda presented the peacock, the Army of Devas stood firmly behind him.

The consecration of Subrahmanya as Commander-in-Chief of the army kindled a new hope and enthusiasm in the Devas. They challenged the Asuras for war and they took it up. The asura army entered the battle-field under the leadership of unrivalled warriors like Tarakasura, Mahisa, Bana, Tarakaksa, Kamalaksa etc. In the furious battle that ensued Subrahmanya killed Tarakasura. The other asura chiefs too were killed.