Murugan is often referred to as God of the Tamils and is arguably the most popular deity in south India (note 2).

As revered general of Shivas armies, Murugan is the beautiful and eternally youthful bestower of blessings.

His mythology is told in the Skanda Purana which tells mostly of his birth and youth.

Their lovemaking shakes the cosmos, and the gods become fearful, wondering what a child born of two such powerful deities will be like.

Led by Vishnu, the entourage travels to Kailash and wait patiently for the newlyweds to emerge.

Agni (God of Fire) disguises himself as a dove and enters the bedchamber.

Uma reacts. Shiva withdraws.

A drop of his semen falls to the floor.

Agni eats the drop.

Uma is enraged at the interruption and curses the gods so that all their wives would be barren.

Agni, meanwhile, is unable to bear the heat of Shivas fiery seed and flies to the banks of the Ganges to cool off.

This particular location happens to be where wives of seven sages have come to bathe (note 3).

When the sages find out they scold their wives, who place the embryo on a Himalayan peak.

Murugans six mothers are smitten by the newborn baby god and argue amongst themselves over who is to breastfeed him.

Murugan solves the problem by creating five additional faces, one for each of his mothers.

His second wife, Valli, the gypsy huntress, he keeps hidden in the hills.

The characteristics of his wives complete Murugan as he spends his time equally on earth and in heaven.

His vehicle (vahana) is Paravani, a blue peacock, who often holds a serpent in its claws symbolizing the destruction of ego.

Murugan Gayatri Mantra In Tamil