Published in Speaking Tree, Nov. 28, 2010 The Kanda Puranam, the
Tamil version of the Sanskrit Skanda Purana, retells the story
of how Shiva’s son, Murugan, (known as Kartikeya, in North
India) defeated the demon Taraka and his brothers, Simhamukhan
and Surapadman. On his defeat, Simhamukhan begs forgiveness so
Murugan instructs him to turn into a lion and serve as the
vehicle of Durga. While fighting Murugan, Surapadman takes the
form of a mountain. Murugan breaks the mountain into two with
his spear. One part of the mountain turns into a peacock that
becomes Murugan’s vehicle while the other part becomes a rooster
that becomes Murugan’s symbol on his flag. Thus, says this
narrative, the vehicles of Durga and her son, Murugan, are
actually demons who have been subdued and transformed and become
worthy of being associated with the divine. In Hindu mythology,
every god and goddess is associated with one animal or the
other. Brahma, the creator, is associated with a swan, Vishnu,
the preserver, with an eagle, S