The Vel: Symbol of Wisdom and Power
A foremost object of alangkaaram of Lord Murukan is the VEL வேல் [lance], which the Lord holds prominently in his sacred hand: "வேலே விளங்கு கையான்" [28]. It is the most powerful warring weapon against evil forces, and it is also a symbol of True Wisdom [Meyjnaam மெய்ஞானம்].
The Lord is lovingly praised as 'the bearer of the beautiful lance that is lauded by the scriptures of the Vedas and the Aagamas': "வேத ஆகம சித்ர வேலாயுதன்" [17]; and the Lord is well-known as 'the bearer of sharply-pointed, victorious, lustrous and beautiful lance':
- "அயில் வேலன்" [2]
- "வெற்றி வேலோன்" [11]
- "வையிற் கதிர் வடிவேலோன்" [18]
Por-velan: The Warring Lance Bearer
Lord Murukan is also known as por-velan [போர் வேலன்], that is, 'one who holds the warring-lance' [91]. The chief target of Lord Murukan's sharply-pointed-lance is the demon Suur [சூர்], or Suurapanman [சூரபன்மன்].
The Demon Suur: From Sangam to Puraanic Mythology
As noted in Paragraph 3.2.6, the term Suur is used in the classical Tamil poetry of the early Sangam-era to denote a personalized malevolent and demonic force causing terror to the dwellers of the hills. According to a poem in the Akanaanuuru-anthology, the wrathful Lord Murukan who abides on the cool, sacred hill of Thirupparangkunram, annihilated the demonic force with the long-and-fiery-leaf-shaped-lance:
சூர்மறுங்கறுத்த சுடரிலை நெடுவேல்
சினமிகு முருகன் தண்பரங்குன்றத்து
[அகநானூறு, 59:10–11]
Though it is believed that the Tamil word suur and the Sanskrit term asura ['demon'] may not be related [Clothey 1978: 30], nevertheless it would seem that both the terms came to be used to refer to the demons in the elaborate puraanic-mythology of the medieval period.
Lord Murukan's Lance against Suurapanman
According to the Kantharalangkaaram, Lord Murukan hurled the lustrous lance against Suur: "சூர்மீது கதிர்வேல் எறிந்தவன்" [49]; the Lord also released the lance against the roaring sea wherein the demons had hidden: "பொங்கார வேலில் வேலைவிட்டோன்" [59].
Lord Murukan being the Supreme Lord of the hills, it does seem rather ironical that the demon Suurapanman chose to hide in the golden krauňca-hill and defied the Lord! The Lord's sharply-pointed-lance pierced the golden krauňca-hill which was the hiding place of the demons: "சொன்ன (சுவர்ண) கிரெௌஞ்சகிரி ஊடுருவத் தொளைத்த வைவேல்" [19].
Finally, Lord Murukan hurled the sharply-pointed lance against the stealthy and cruel Suuran and killed him in an instant: "சோர நிட்டூரனைச் சூரனை...கூரகட்டாரி இட்டு ஓர் இமைப்போதினில் கொன்றவன்" [4].
Compassion and Grace alongside Terror
Though Lord Murukan has been described as a terror to the demon Suuran ["சூரபயங்கரன்" — 82], it must be remembered that the Lord is, indeed, Kirupaakaran ['Lord of Compassion'] [1] to sincere devotees. The Lord is kind and gracious enough to grant then and there a pleasant livelihood even to those who abuse the Lord in the three-fold-Tamil-language: "முத்தமிழால் வைதாரையும் அங்கு வாழவைப்போன்" [22].
It should also be noted that Lord Murukan is the divine Patron for the dissemination of classical Tamil literary works: "கந்தன்... செந்தமிழ் விரித்தோன்" [72].
The Lord's beautiful lance, which causes terror to the evil forces, becomes a beacon of light and wisdom to a sincere devotee. It is indeed the source of help, protection and guidance for one's journey along a lonely and fearsome path: "பயந்த தனி வழிக்குத்துணை வடிவேல்..." [70].