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{{Short description|Divine spear in Hindu mythology}} | |||
{{about|a divine entity in [[Hinduism]]||Vel (disambiguation)}} | {{about|a divine entity in [[Hinduism]]||Vel (disambiguation)}} | ||
{{Infobox weapon | {{Infobox weapon | ||
| name = Vel | | name = Vel | ||
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| transport = | | transport = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Vel''' ({{lang-ta|வேல்|lit=Vēl}}) is a divine | '''Vel''' ({{lang-ta|வேல்|lit=Vēl}}) is a divine javelin or spear associated with [[Kartikeya|Murugan]], the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] god of war.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=Frances Kozlowski and Chris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qV6KAAAAQBAJ&dq=javelin+murugan+vel&pg=PA140 |title=Driven by the Divine |date=August 2013 |publisher=Balboa Press |isbn=978-1-4525-7892-7 |pages=143 |language=en}}</ref> | ||
== | ==Significance == | ||
According to | According to [[Shaivism|Shaiva]] tradition, the goddess [[Parvati]] presented the vel to her son [[Murugan]], as an embodiment of her [[shakti]], in order to vanquish the [[asura]] [[Soorapadman|Surapadman]]. According to the [[Skanda Purana]], in the war between Murugan and Surapadman, Murugan used the vel to defeat all the forces of Surapadman.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Belle |first=Carl Vadivella |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kB1qDwAAQBAJ&dq=parvati+murugan+vel+surapadman&pg=PT178 |title=Thaipusam in Malaysia |date=2018-02-14 |publisher=Flipside Digital Content Company Inc. |isbn=978-981-4786-66-9 |language=en}}</ref> 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 ({{lang-ta|சேவல்|lit=Cēval}}), and the other a peacock ({{lang-ta|மயில்|lit=Mayil}}). Henceforth, the peacock became his [[vahana]] or mount, and the rooster became the emblem on his battle flag.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krishna |first=Nanditha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DF_af8_547EC&dq=surapadman+rooster+mango&pg=PT271 |title=Sacred Animals of India |date=2014-05-01 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-182-6 |pages=271 |language=en}}</ref> | ||
{{Saivism}} | |||
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.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Abram |first1=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sEhJBfbhTAAC&dq=parvati+murugan+vel&pg=PA517 |title=The Rough Guide to South India |last2=Edwards |first2=Nick |date=February 2004 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-84353-103-6 |pages=517 |language=en}}</ref> 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. | |||
The alternative interpretation of | ''Adi-vel'' is a major festival observed in [[Sri Lanka]] by Tamil Hindus in the month of July/August, known as ''Adi''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Real Ceylon |last=Elliott |first=C. Brooke |date=1938 |publisher=H. W. Cave & Co |page=133 |language=en}}</ref> The festival take place cities such as [[Kataragama|Katharagama]] and [[Colombo]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3V2xRnKcOEAC&q=adi+vel&pg=PA62|title=Sri Lanka: Ethnic Fratricide and the Dismantling of Democracy|last=Tambiah|first=Stanley Jeyaraja|date=1986|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=9781850430261|language=en}}</ref> | ||
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.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sG5VDQAAQBAJ&q=vel+wisdom+sharp+deep+wide&pg=PT216 |title = A Monk's Tale|isbn = 9780985701918|last1 = Natarajan|first1 = Muni|date = 2012-07-02}}</ref> | |||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
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File:Vel spear murugan karthikeyan kurunji aandavar temple kodaikaanal.jpg|Vel, used to worship in temple | 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:Murugan statue srisailam.jpg|Statue of Murugan with Vel | ||
File:Karttikeya With Spear And Cock in a coin of Yaudheyas.jpg| Coin of the Yaudheyas 200 BC, depicting Murugan with the 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. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery>{{Kaumaram}} | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[Trishula]] | * [[Trishula]] | ||
* [[Kaumodaki]] | |||
* [[Sudarshana Chakra]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* [http://kataragama.org/research/krishnapillai.htm | * [http://kataragama.org/research/krishnapillai.htm vel Worship in Sri Lanka] | ||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120823082754/http://omtamil.com/home/vel-meaning-definition/ | * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120823082754/http://omtamil.com/home/vel-meaning-definition/ vel – Meaning & Definition] | ||
[[Category:Weapons in Hindu mythology]] | [[Category:Weapons in Hindu mythology]] | ||
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[[Category:Hindu mythology]] | [[Category:Hindu mythology]] | ||
[[Category:Tamil mythology]] | [[Category:Tamil mythology]] | ||
{{Polearm-stub}} | |||
Latest revision as of 08:15, 24 October 2022
| Vel | |
|---|---|
 Murugan statue with Vel at Batu Caves, Malaysia | |
| Type | Spear |
| Place of origin | India |
Vel (Tamil: வேல், lit. 'Vēl') is a divine javelin or spear associated with Murugan, the Hindu god of war.[1]
Significance[edit]
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.[2] 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 (Tamil: சேவல், lit. 'Cēval'), and the other a peacock (Tamil: மயில், lit. 'Mayil'). Henceforth, the peacock became his vahana or mount, and the rooster became the emblem on his battle flag.[3]
| Part of a series on |
| Shaivism |
|---|
 |
 Hinduism portal |
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.[4] 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.[5] The festival take place cities such as Katharagama and Colombo.[6]
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.[7]
Gallery[edit]
Stone vel from the Sangam period, Saluvankuppam, Tamil Nadu
Vel, used to worship in temple
Statue of Murugan with Vel
Coin of the Yaudheyas 200 BC, depicting Murugan with the Vel.
| Part of the series on |
| Kaumaram |
|---|
 |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Jackson, Frances Kozlowski and Chris (August 2013). Driven by the Divine. Balboa Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-4525-7892-7.
- ↑ Belle, Carl Vadivella (2018-02-14). Thaipusam in Malaysia. Flipside Digital Content Company Inc. ISBN 978-981-4786-66-9.
- ↑ Krishna, Nanditha (2014-05-01). Sacred Animals of India. Penguin UK. p. 271. ISBN 978-81-8475-182-6.
- ↑ Abram, David; Edwards, Nick (February 2004). The Rough Guide to South India. Rough Guides. p. 517. ISBN 978-1-84353-103-6.
- ↑ Elliott, C. Brooke (1938). The Real Ceylon. H. W. Cave & Co. p. 133.
- ↑ Tambiah, Stanley Jeyaraja (1986). Sri Lanka: Ethnic Fratricide and the Dismantling of Democracy. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 9781850430261.
- ↑ Natarajan, Muni (2012-07-02). A Monk's Tale. ISBN 9780985701918.