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| Kali Yuga, the age indicating the period of darkness and degeneration
commenced about 3100 BC. Many Hindus believe that the presiding deity of
this yugam [period] is LORD MURUGAN [Kali Yuga Varathan], whose VEL that
symbolises the spear of victory, will eventually restore peace and harmony,
destroying arrogance, violence and injustice. The worship of LORD MURUGAN
goes back to the pre-Christian era, and forms an important facet in the
religious life of Hindus. |
| His vehicle or Vahana is the peacock: this is by way of representation
that he has entirely conquered pride, egoism, and vanity. There is a cobra
under His Feet: this is to indicate that He is absolutely fearless, immortal
and wise. The peacock is the enemy of the serpent. It is seen clutching
the serpent with its claws. The serpent is not killed but held in captivity.
This symbolises complete control over the ego. The serpent represents the
ego. |
| Sometimes He stands alone with the Vel. He is called by
the name of Dandapani. This represents His Nirguna aspect which is free
from Maya. The six heads represent the six rays or the six attributes viz.
Jnana (wisdom), Vairagya (dispassion), Bala (strength), Keerthi (fame),
Sree (wealth) and Aishvarya (divine powers). They indicate that He is the
source for the four Vedas and the six schools of philosophy; that He has
controlled the five Jnana Indriyas and the mind. They denote that He is
the Virat Purusha with countless heads. |
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| They signify that His head is turned
everywhere (Visvatomukha): He is all-pervading. They indicate that He is
omnipotent and that He can multiply and assume forms at His will. The term
Murugan, in Tamil, denotes the Deity possessed of non-decaying beauty, everlasting
youth and Godliness. |
| The most important form of worship that a human being can offer unto the
Lord is by not hurting others either by thought or word or deed. Only then
life in nature becomes smooth and happy. It is this kind of worship and
life that the Skanda Purana teaches us through the worship of the Saguna
form of Lord Skanda. |
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