Valli

Valli (Tamil வள்ளி) is a Goddess and the divine consort of the prominent Hindu God Murugan, according to Hindu mythology. She represents the "Ichha Shakti" (power of aspirations), and Goddess Deivayanai depicts "Kriya Shakthi" (power of actions), and Lord Murugan himself is "Gnana Shakthi" (power of knowledge).

Valli in Tamil language means a creeper and is also used as a title of many tribal or idigenous peoples goddesses in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and by the Rodiya people of Sri Lanka.

The Birth of the Goddess

In ancient times, the mountainous regions in South India were ruled over by various tribes. One of the prominent tribal people were the Veddas, who were prevalent in the Southern part of India, including a part of Sri Lanka or Ceylon, in areas known as 'Katirkamam'. The chief of this Mountain tribe, Nambi Raj and his wife prayed to the Mountain God for a girl-child. Their prayers were answered when the chief found a new-born girl child during one of his hunting expedition. As she was found among creeper plants, they named the child as Valli and she grew up as the princess of the Mountain tribe.

In her previous birth, Valli and her sibling Deivayani (another consort of Lord Murugan) were the daughters of Maha Vishnu, and both of them undertook severe penance to become the consort of Lord Muruga, who appeared before them and gave the boon of marriage in their next birth. And in the present birth, the Goddess was destined to marry the God of Mountains, Lord Murugan and would never consider anyone else.

The Divine Revelation

Goddess Valli had her heart and soul dedicated to the Mountain God(Lord Murugan) and would always pray with fervent devotion and love, to be with Him. The Lord was moved by the innocent love of the mountain princess, and so He planned to appease her in person and awaited a right chance.

The mountain chief planned to develop a field for growing millets, and assigned Valli to take in-charge of protecting the field from birds and animals who might devour the crops. Lord Murugan saw this as an opportunity to meet the Goddess, and therefore He assumed the form of a handsome tribal hunter and appeared before her, as if he lost his way on chasing a deer during hunting. Valli did not recognize the stranger and promptly asked him to leave the place. The Hunter was about to leave and at that moment the chief was returning to the place bringing honey and fruits for Valli, the God in order to avoid being caught, turned himself into a tree. After the chief and his followers left the place, the God changed back into the hunter form and proposed his love to Valli.

The princess who had only the Mountain God in her heart, was infuriated at the proposal and lashed out at the hunter. The chief and his followers were again returning to the place, so the hunter changed himself into an old man, without being noticed by Valli. When the chief on seeing the old man, requested him to stay with Valli till they return from the hunting.

The old man was hungry and asked Valli for food, and she gave Him a mixture of the millet flour and honey, but it made him thirsty and asked for water. She provided water from a nearby stream and the Lord jokingly remarked that she has satisfied his thirst and she can quench his thirst for a companion. The Goddess was angered again and started to leave the place, the Lord took help from his brother, Lord Ganesha to appear as an wild elephant at that time. On seeing the wild elephant, Valli was scared and ran back to the old man, pleading with Him to save her from the elephant. Lord Muruga proposes to save her only if she agrees to marry Him. In the heat of the moment, she agrees and the Lord reveals His true form. It was then Valli realises that it was her beloved Lord, who was with her all the time.

The Wedding

After the millet harvest was over, the chief with his daughter and entourage returned to their native land. The Lord who could not bear the separation, went in the disguise of the old man again, and He and Valli eloped from the place. The chief on being alerted about this incident, flew into rage and went in search of the two. When they finally found the old man, the chief and followers shot arrows at Him, but they all failed to touch the God and instead, the chief and followers fell dead. Goddess Valli was disheartened to see the lifeless bodies of her kith and kin, and prayed to the Lord to bring them back to life. Lord Murugan instructed Her to revive them herself, the Goddess touched everyone and brought them back to life. The chief Nambi raj and his tribesmen realised that it was their God of Mountains, in the form of the old man and prayed to Him. Lord Muruga took his true form and blessed the tribesmen, and the chief conducted the marriage between his daughter and the Lord.

This place came to be known as Vallimalai, the divine place were Lord Muruga and Goddess Valli spent their times of courtship and eventually got married. It is located in Vellore District of Tamilnadu state, in South India.

After their wedding, Lord Murugan and Goddess Valli, moved to Thiruthani, which is one of the Arupadai Veedu (the six battle camps) of the Lord.

Facts

It can be noted that the descendants of the Vedda tribe are still inhabitant around the Kathirgamam region and there are temples dedicated to the God of Mountains, Lord Muruga in this region of Sri Lanka.

Goddess Valli is also known as "Pongi", at Vallimalai, and the pond from which she drew water to quench the thirst of the God, is still existent here. This pond though in an open ground, does not receive the rays of the sun.

References

* [http://kerala.gov.in/keralcalljuly04/p31-34.pdf Ancient myths of the aborigines of Kerala]
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Links

* http://murugan.org/centers/vallimalai.htm