Soorapadam
Encyclopedia
In Hindu mythology
, Soorapadam (also known as Soorapadman), was an asura
. He was the son of the rishi Kashyapa and an asura princess, Maya, who illusively enchanted Kashyapa into marrying her.
He, and his two other brothers, were said to have received a boon from Lord Shiva that protected him from death in the hands of beings apart from a Being manifested from Lord Shiva Himself. This, he believed would grant him immortality
. As such, he began tormenting all the good souls of the universe.
Enraged with his actions, Lord Siva
is said to have created Lord Muruga (thus creating a new deity, who would be exempt from the boon) from the flames emanating from his Third Eye on his forehead (symbolizing the eye of wisdom). Receiving the vel (lance
) from Lord Siva's consort, Parvathi
, Lord Muruga set forward to defeat Soorapadman.
and the other turning into a peocock. Lord Murugan then ordered the cockerel to embed itself on the flag, thus forming the deity's battle standard. The peocock was ordered to be the vaahan (vehicle) of Lord Murugan.
Hindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
, Soorapadam (also known as Soorapadman), was an asura
Asura
-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asuras constitute a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes considered sinful and materialistic. The Daityas and Danavas were combinedly known as Asuras. The Asura were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa...
. He was the son of the rishi Kashyapa and an asura princess, Maya, who illusively enchanted Kashyapa into marrying her.
He, and his two other brothers, were said to have received a boon from Lord Shiva that protected him from death in the hands of beings apart from a Being manifested from Lord Shiva Himself. This, he believed would grant him immortality
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
. As such, he began tormenting all the good souls of the universe.
Enraged with his actions, Lord Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
is said to have created Lord Muruga (thus creating a new deity, who would be exempt from the boon) from the flames emanating from his Third Eye on his forehead (symbolizing the eye of wisdom). Receiving the vel (lance
Lance
A Lance is a pole weapon or spear designed to be used by a mounted warrior. The lance is longer, stout and heavier than an infantry spear, and unsuited for throwing, or for rapid thrusting. Lances did not have tips designed to intentionally break off or bend, unlike many throwing weapons of the...
) from Lord Siva's consort, Parvathi
Parvati
Parvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
, Lord Muruga set forward to defeat Soorapadman.
The vanquishing of Soorapadman
Seeing the arrival of Lord Murugan and anticipating defeat in his hands, Soorapadman sensed that his end was near and decided to run away and transform himself into a tree. Seeing through his petty tricks, Lord Murugan threw his Vel at the tree, thus splitting it. The tree split into two, with one half transforming into a cockerelRooster
A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...
and the other turning into a peocock. Lord Murugan then ordered the cockerel to embed itself on the flag, thus forming the deity's battle standard. The peocock was ordered to be the vaahan (vehicle) of Lord Murugan.