Lord Murugan (Kartikeya) Mantras

The demon Tarakasura, by severe penance, had won a boon that he could be slain only by a son of Shiva — and at that time Shiva sat deep in meditation, with no son. Emboldened, the demon tormented the three worlds, and the gods longed for a saviour. To rouse Shiva they sent Kama, the god of love, to wake him with desire; Shiva opened his third eye and burned Kama to ashes — yet the divine spark of his power was released.

That blazing seed was too fierce for any to hold. Carried by Agni and the Ganga, it was laid at last upon a bed of reeds, where it became six radiant infants nursed by the six Krittika star-maidens. When Goddess Parvati embraced all six at once in her love, they became one child with six faces — Shanmukha, Kartikeya, called Murugan and Subramanya.

Grown swiftly into a peerless warrior, the youthful Murugan was made commander of the armies of the gods. Riding his peacock and bearing the divine spear (Vel) given by his mother, he led the gods against Tarakasura and the demon Surapadma and destroyed them, freeing the worlds. So Murugan is adored as the god of valour and victory — beloved above all in the south — his Vel the emblem of wisdom piercing ignorance.