Vel Pari

Vel ( ta, வேல், lit=Vēl) is a divine javelin or spear associated with Murugan, the Hindu god of war.

Significance

According to Shaiva tradition, the goddess Parvati presented the Vel to her son Murugan, as an embodiment of her shakti, in order to vanquish the asura Surapadman. According to the Skanda Purana, in the war between Murugan and Surapadman, Murugan used the vel to defeat all the forces of Surapadman. When a complete defeat for Surapadman was imminent, the asura transformed himself into a huge mango tree to evade detection by Murugan. Not fooled by asura's trick, Murugan hurled his vel and split the mango tree into two halves, one becoming a rooster ( ta, சேவல், lit=Cēval), and the other a peacock ( ta, மயில், lit=Mayil). Henceforth, the peacock became his vahana or mount, and the rooster became the emblem on his battle flag.

Vel, as a symbol of divinity, is an object of worship in the temples dedicated to Murugan. The annual Thaipusam festival celebrates the occasion when Murugan received the divine vel from his mother. During this festival, some of the devotees pierce their skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers while they undertake a procession towards the Murugan temple.

''Adi-vel'' is a major festival observed in Sri Lanka by Tamil Hindus in the month of July/August, known as ''Adi''. The festival take place cities such as Katharagama and Colombo.

The alternative interpretation of vel is that it is a symbol of wisdom/knowledge. It symbolically shows that wisdom/knowledge should be sharp as in the vel's tip, as broad and tall as the javelin. Only such wisdom is supposed to be able to destroy the darkness of ignorance.

Gallery

File:Stone vel Saluvankuppam.jpg, Stone vel from the Sangam period, Saluvankuppam, Tamil Nadu
File:Vel spear murugan karthikeyan kurunji aandavar temple kodaikaanal.jpg, Vel, used to worship in temple
File:Murugan statue srisailam.jpg, Statue of Murugan with Vel
File:Karttikeya With Spear And Cock in a coin of Yaudheyas.jpg, alt=Coin of the Yaudheyas 200 BCE, depicting Murugan with the Vel., Coin of the Yaudheyas 200 BC, depicting Murugan with the Vel.

See also

* Trishula
* Kaumodaki
* Sudarshana Chakra

References

External links

vel Worship in Sri Lanka

vel – Meaning & Definition

Weapons in Hindu mythology
Indian melee weapons
Javelins
Kaumaram
Hindu mythology
Tamil mythology

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