Vel

 ( Weapons In Hindu Mythology ) 

Vel () is a divine spear associated with Kartikeya, the Hindus god of war.

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Significance According to Shaivism tradition, the goddess Parvati presented the Vel to her son Kartikeya (also known as Murugan), as an embodiment of her shakti, in order to vanquish the asura Soorapadman. According to the Skanda Purana, in the war between Kartikeya and Surapadman, Kartikeya used the vel to defeat all the forces of Surapadman.

Carl Vadivella Belle (2018). 9789814786669, Flipside Digital Content Company Inc.. . ISBN 9789814786669

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 (), and the other a peacock (). Henceforth, the peacock became his vahana or mount, and the rooster became the emblem on his battle flag.

Nanditha Krishna (2014). 9788184751826, Penguin UK. . ISBN 9788184751826

Vel, as a symbol of divinity, is an object of worship in the temples dedicated to Kartikeya. The annual Thaipusam festival celebrates the occasion when Kartikeya received the divine vel from his mother.

During this festival, some of the devotees pierce their skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers while they undertake a procession towards the Kartikeya temple.

Adi-vel is a major festival observed in Sri Lanka by Tamil Hindus in July/August, known as Adi. The festival takes place in cities such as Kataragama and Colombo.

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.

== Gallery ==

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See also

• Trishula
• Kaumodaki
• Sudarshana Chakra

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External links

• vel Worship in Sri Lanka
• vel – Meaning & Definition

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