Vel
| Vel | |
|---|---|
 Murugan statue with Vel at Batu Caves, Malaysia | |
| Type | Spear |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Murugan |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Given to Murugan by Parvati (mother) |
Vel (Tamil: வேல், lit. 'Vēl') is a divine spear associated with Murugan, the Hindu god of war.[1]
Significance
According to
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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
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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.
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| Kaumaram |
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See also
References
- ISBN 978-1-4525-7892-7.
- ISBN 978-981-4786-66-9.
- ISBN 978-81-8475-182-6.
- ISBN 978-1-84353-103-6.
- ^ Elliott, C. Brooke (1938). The Real Ceylon. H. W. Cave & Co. p. 133.
- ISBN 9781850430261.
- ]
External links
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