Idumban: Difference between revisions

Idumban
Idumban
	Modern representation of Idumban
Venerated in	Kaumaram
Affiliation	Asura
Texts	Kanda Puranam

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Latest revision as of 21:31, 2 May 2025

Idumban (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is an asura in Hinduism, featured in Tamil mythology. Idumban is described to be a devotee of the deity Murugan (Kartikeya), regarded by adherents to be a guardian of the deity's temples in Tamil Nadu. He is also associated with the ritual practice of the Kavadi Aattam, in which his veneration is regarded to be a prerequisite.^[1]

Legend[edit | edit source]

According to legend, Sage Agastya wanted two hills, Shivagiri and Shaktigiri, to be transported to his abode in the south, and commissioned his disciple, the asura Idumban, to carry them. Idumban bore the hills slung across his shoulders by inventing a tool called the kavadi. The tool was made of the staff of Brahma, which was employed as a pole, and two divine serpents, which were employed as ropes. When he became fatigued after carrying the hills, he placed the kavadi near Palani to recuperate. Meanwhile, Murugan, having journeyed to Palani after losing the jnana palam (fruit of wisdom) to Ganesha, claimed the hills as his own. Unable to lift the hills and resume his journey, Idumban confronted the deity. In the combat that ensued, Idumban was slain,^[2] but was resurrected on the intercession of his wife, Idumbi, as well as Agastya. Restored to life, Idumban wished to serve for perpetuity as the dvarapala (door-guardian) of Murugan's shrine. The deity declared that Idumban would stand guard at the foot of the hill, and proclaimed that every devotee who worshipped him at the site would first venerate his dvarapala.^[3]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Idumban at Kaduveividuhi
Image of Idumban
Devotees from Sri Lanka come to the Kaduvettividuthy Murugan Temple, Kaduvettividuthy, Tamil Nadu.
Idumban at Kaduveividuhi
Idumban at Kaduveividuhi

References[edit | edit source]

↑ Gajrani, S. (2004). History, Religion and Culture of India. Gyan Publishing House. p. 222. ISBN 978-81-8205-061-7.
↑ Handelman, Don (2013-09-25). One God, Two Goddesses, Three Studies of South Indian Cosmology. BRILL. p. 301. ISBN 978-90-04-25739-9.
↑ Belle, Carl Vadivella (2018-02-14). Thaipusam in Malaysia. Flipside Digital Content Company Inc. p. 201. ISBN 978-981-4786-66-9.

[1] Gajrani, S. (2004). History, Religion and Culture of India. Gyan Publishing House. p. 222. ISBN 978-81-8205-061-7.

[2] Handelman, Don (2013-09-25). One God, Two Goddesses, Three Studies of South Indian Cosmology. BRILL. p. 301. ISBN 978-90-04-25739-9.

[3] Belle, Carl Vadivella (2018-02-14). Thaipusam in Malaysia. Flipside Digital Content Company Inc. p. 201. ISBN 978-981-4786-66-9.

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[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Multiple issues|
+{{Infobox deity
-{{Refimprove|date=February 2016}}
+| type = Hindu
-{{No footnotes|date=February 2016}}
+| name = Idumban
-{{Unreliable sources|date=February 2016}}}}
+| image = Lord Idumban lineart.jpg
-{{Kaumaram}}
+| caption = Modern representation of Idumban
+| venerated_in = [[Kaumaram]]
+| texts = [[Skanda Purana|Kanda Puranam]]
+| affiliation = [[Asura]]
+}}{{Short description|Hindu mythological character}}
-'''Idumban''' @Kudumban is a great devotee of Lord [[Kartikeya|Muruga]] and a greatest disciple of sage [[Agastya]] according to Hindu mythology.  Idumban is also seen as one of  the guardian of Muruga's temples in [[Tamil Nadu]]. During [[Thaipusam|ThaiPoosam]] celebrations in the Tamil month of Thai (January), Tamil people observes a ritual practice of [[Kavadi Attam|kavadiyaatam]] to obtain blessings from God Muruga.In this ritual practise before entering into muruga shrine people used to worship Idumban.
+'''Idumban''' ({{Langx|ta|இடும்பன்|translit=Iṭumpaṉ}}) is an [[asura]] in [[Hinduism]], featured in [[Tamil mythology]]. Idumban is described to be a devotee of the deity [[Murugan]] (Kartikeya), regarded by adherents to be a guardian of the deity's temples in [[Tamil Nadu]]. He is also associated with the ritual practice of the [[Kavadi Attam|Kavadi Aattam]], in which his veneration is regarded to be a prerequisite.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gajrani |first=S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zh6z0nuIjAgC&pg=PA222 |title=History, Religion and Culture of India |date=2004 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-8205-061-7 |pages=222 |language=en}}</ref>
-==Mythology==
+==Legend==
-Sage [[Agastya]] wanted to take two hills - Sivagiri and Sakthigiri - to his abode in the South and commissioned his disciple Idumban to carry them. Idumban bore the hills slung across his shoulders, in the form of a kavadi one on either side. When he was fatigued, he placed the kavadi near Palani to take rest. At this stage, Subrahmanya or Muruga had been outwitted in a contest for going round the world. [[Ganesha|Ganapati]] had won the prized fruit (mango) by simply going round His parents. Long after, this, Subrahmanya came sweating on His peacock to find that the prize had already been given away. In anger, the frustrated child left the divine parents and came down to [[Palani Murugan temple|TiruAvinankudi]] at the Adivaram (pronounced Adivaram. It means foot of the Sivagiri Hill).Siva pacified Him by saying that He (Subrahmanya) Himself was the fruit (pazham) of all wisdom and knowledge; nee - you. Hence the place was called 'Pazham Nee' or Palani. Later, He withdrew to the hill and settled there as a recluse in peace and solitude. By seeing Idumba, God Muruga decided to test his devotion towards his master Agastya and his determination. When Idumban resumed his journey, he could not lift the hill. Muruga had made it impossible for Idumban to make it. In the fierce battle that ensued, Idumban was killed but was later on restored to life. Idumban prayed that:
+{{Kaumaram}}According to legend, Sage [[Agastya]] wanted two hills, Shivagiri and Shaktigiri, to be transported to his abode in the south, and commissioned his disciple, the asura Idumban, to carry them. Idumban bore the hills slung across his shoulders by inventing a tool called the kavadi. The tool was made of the staff of [[Brahma]], which was employed as a pole, and two divine serpents, which were employed as ropes. When he became fatigued after carrying the hills, he placed the kavadi near [[Palani]] to recuperate. Meanwhile, Murugan, having journeyed to Palani after losing the [[Jnana Palam|jnana palam]] (fruit of wisdom) to [[Ganesha]], claimed the hills as his own. Unable to lift the hills and resume his journey, Idumban confronted the deity. In the combat that ensued, Idumban was slain,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Handelman |first=Don |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bWJTAQAAQBAJ&dq=Idumban+asura&pg=PA31 |title=One God, Two Goddesses, Three Studies of South Indian Cosmology |date=2013-09-25 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-25739-9 |pages=301 |language=en}}</ref> but was resurrected on the intercession of his wife, Idumbi, as well as Agastya. Restored to life, Idumban wished to serve for perpetuity as the [[dvarapala]] (door-guardian) of Murugan's shrine. The deity declared that Idumban would stand guard at the foot of the hill, and proclaimed that every devotee who worshipped him at the site would first venerate his dvarapala.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Belle |first=Carl Vadivella |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kB1qDwAAQBAJ&dq=idumban&pg=PT201 |title=Thaipusam in Malaysia |date=2018-02-14 |publisher=Flipside Digital Content Company Inc. |isbn=978-981-4786-66-9 |pages=201 |language=en}}</ref>
-[[File:Idumban temple.png|thumb|இடும்பன்]]
-[[File:Kaduveividuhi idumban4.jpg|thumb|kaduveividuhi idumban]][[File:Kaduveividuhi idumban2.jpg|thumb|kaduveividuhi idumban]]
+==Gallery==
+<gallery>
-. Whosoever carried on his shoulders the Kavadi, signifying the two hills and visited the temple on a vow, should be blessed and;
+File:Kaduveividuhi idumban3.jpg|Idumban at Kaduveividuhi
-[[File:Kaduveividuhi idumban3.jpg|thumb|kaduveividuhi idumban]][[File:SRILANGA DEVOTEES CAME KADUVETTIVIDUTHY IDUMBAN TEMPLE.jpg|thumb|SRILANGA DEVOTEES CAME KADUVETTIVIDUTHY IDUMBAN TEMPLE]]
+File:Idumban 01.jpg|Image of Idumban
+File:SRILANGA DEVOTEES CAME KADUVETTIVIDUTHY IDUMBAN TEMPLE.jpg|Devotees from Sri Lanka come to the Kaduvettividuthy Murugan Temple, Kaduvettividuthy, Tamil Nadu.
-. He should be given the privilege of standing sentinel at the entrance to the hill.
+File:Kaduveividuhi idumban4.jpg|Idumban at Kaduveividuhi
-[[File:Idumban 01.jpg|thumb|இடும்பன்]]
+File:Kaduveividuhi idumban2.jpg|Idumban at Kaduveividuhi
+</gallery>
-Hence we have the Idumban shrine halfway up the hill where every pilgrim is expected to offer obeisance to Idumban before entering the temple of Dandayudhapani. Since then, pilgrims to Palani bring their offerings on their shoulders in a kavadi. The custom has spread from Palani to all Muruga shrines worldwide.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}
 ==References==
-<!--- See [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically -->
+<!--- See [[Bharatpedia:Footnotes]] on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically -->
 {{Reflist|30em}}
-==External links==
-* [http://palani.org/kavadi.htm Idumban History]
-* [http://arupadai.org/palani/history/ Idumban History]
-* [http://www.palanitemples.com/english/kavadi_idumban.htm Idumban and Kavadi]
-* [http://velmuruga.com/tag/idumban/ Idumban and Kavadi]
-* [http://www.palanimurugantemple.tnhrce.in/about/legends.html Idumban and Kavadi]
 [[Category:Kaumaram]]
-[[Category:Hindu mythology]]
+[[Category:Asura]]