Sri Ishta Siddhi Subrahmanya Swami
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Sri Ishta Siddhi Subrahmanya Swami |
From Hindu Gods and Goddesses
By Parama Poojya Swami Harshananda
If Ganapati is universally revered by almost all the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, and has even succeeded in going abroad to many countries of Southeast Asia, China, Japan and Afghanistan, his brother Subrahmanya has somehow remained confined to South India.
Historically speaking, Subrahmanya is a much older deity, being mentioned in stone inscriptions and shown on coins (1st Cent. to 5th Cent. AD), and was well-known in North India. The sixth day of a lunar month (sashti) is considered sacred to him (as with serpent deities). He is said to have been married to a forest maid Valli Amma. The peacock is his carrier mount. His temples are usually found on hilltops.
All these factors may indicate that he was a sylvan deity connected with serpent-worship and tree worship, and hence was more popular among the people of lower strata in society. Now, however, all sections of Hinduism have accepted him and venerate him.
