He was dark and handsome. A younger reflection of his father, some said. A valiant warrior since his teens. His skills with the bow, arrow and spear were second to none. His warrior skills were trained by his father, the Lord himself. His birth was to kill a demon that tortured the people and drove the Devas away from Indralok. He was the eldest son, travelling all over Aryavarta to spread his father's teachings from north to south. His peacock was his best friend away from home, and he stayed in southern cities away from his home at Mt. Kailash to spread the worship of the lord. He led the devas to war against the Asuras and killed Taraka, the demon who had the boon to be killed by the Lord's son. He won the war, and the gods urged him to be their leader. His father, however, gave him the task of spreading knowledge to the south and restored Indra as the King of the gods. As he went south, the insecure Indra sent his daughter as a spy behind him to make sure he never had the plan to overthrow the leader. He instructed his daughter, " Devasena, Travel south in disguise and befriend him, make sure not to reveal your true Identity. He wanted to be the leader of the Gods and would not befriend my daughter. Stay close to him and know his moves. Keep informing me about them." "But why, Father? He will not do anything against his father's wish. "Do as I say, I command you!" She followed him through the journey, in disguise. On one hand, he killed a deer for sport, but gave the meat of the same deer away to hungry children. She was mesmerised by his handsome figure, generous heart and archery skills. She followed him into cities and villages and heard him speak wisdom to sages and common people. She followed him to Princess Meenakshi's palace and stayed as a maid. He was alone with his peacock in the gardens, resting when he asked for water. She walked up to him, and their eyes met. " I have seen you somewhere, o lady in waiting...where I cannot relate..."
" I don't know my lord."
" Please call me Murugan. Everyone calls me that here."
"And what do they call you at home?"
" Home... My mother named me Kartikeya..."
" You must miss home a lot."
" I do... what is your name? You don't look from down south"
"I am from the East, my lord."
"Not Lord again! That's what they call my father."
"Ohh!! " They shared a laugh. From the palace window, the Princess saw and smiled. That night, she called on Sena and asked, " You love him, don't you? "
" Who, My Lady?"
" Murugan. Devasena..."
Shocked, she stepped back. How did the princess know who she was? Will she be punished?
" Don't worry, I did not inform him that you are Indra's daughter. But I will have to inform your father that you chose a husband."
" But how did you...??"
" A princess always recognises another."
Back in Mt. Kailash, Indra stood with his hands folded before Murugan's Parents. The Lord and Devi were pleased with the proposal. Indra, on the other hand... this is the last thing he wanted.
The news reached Murugan. He realised that the lady was Devasena in disguise. Anger filled him. She, who was a spy of that man, now claims to love him and, knowing everything, his parents agreed to the marriage. His mother told him, " When a girl goes against her father's wish to marry a man he does not approve of, it means she truly loves this man and wants to fight the world for him."
The marriage was a huge celebration. They travelled back to the South to teach the people.
They travelled to the kingdom of Nambirajan, where he met Princess Valli. It was love at first sight, and with Sena's consent, he approached her in disguise to talk. Valli was unwilling at first. Later, when he saved her life in the forest from a wild elephant and asked for her hand in marriage, she agreed.
Thus, the god has two consorts. One from an arranged marriage and another from a love marriage. It is popularly said that the marriage to Sena helps keep his touch with the practical world and makes him the god of the Earth. Valli keeps his romantic side alive and helps fulfil his duties as the god of Heaven. He is worshipped as a bachelor in some parts of India, especially in the East, where the news of his southern wives had not reached. He is worshipped as Skanda in West Bengal, seated on his mother's lap. She is Skandamata. He is worshipped as a son of the Lord by couples wanting children. His birth faced many difficulties; hence, he removes difficulties from others' paths, it is believed. His consorts are goddesses only with him and not in their own right. Hence, they are worshipped with him and not separately. Princess Meenakshi is the goddess of the Meenakshi temple in the south, the protector of the land.
Note: Pictures are from Wikipedia. The Direct conversations and happenings are the author's interpretation with no reference to any such occurrence in religious texts. It is a way to show Murugan's great character and to let the readers know his consorts better.
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