{"product_id":"shri-shanmukha-subramania-swami-1","title":"Shri Shanmukha Subramania Swami","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis is a vintage artwork created by \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eRaja Ravi Varma\u003c\/span\u003e around \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e1900–1915\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIt depicts \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eShanmukha\u003c\/span\u003e, also known as \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eSkanda, Murugun \u003c\/span\u003eor Subramania, the son of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eShiva\u003c\/span\u003e and brother of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eGanesha\u003c\/span\u003e. In Hindu tradition he is revered as the \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003ecommander of the divine army of Shiva\u003c\/span\u003e, the youthful warrior who restores balance whenever cosmic order is threatened.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eIconography\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIn this image the god appears with \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003esix faces\u003c\/span\u003e, which is why he is called \u003ci\u003eShanmukha\u003c\/i\u003e (\u003ci\u003eshan\u003c\/i\u003e = six, \u003ci\u003emukha\u003c\/i\u003e = faces). The six faces symbolize the ability to \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eperceive all directions simultaneously\u003c\/span\u003e, representing omniscience and divine awareness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIn certain traditions he is also described only god that is \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eadho-mukha,\u003c\/span\u003e a deity who can face downward, symbolizing dominion over the subterranean realms known as the \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003epatala lokas\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eserpent\u003c\/span\u003e appears in his iconography, representing control over their primal instincts. Beneath him is the \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003epeacock\u003c\/span\u003e, his sacred mount. In many depictions he rides this peacock through the mystical \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSaravana forests\u003c\/span\u003e, the place associated with his birth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eShanmukha is believed to have two consorts: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eValli\u003c\/span\u003e – a tribal goddess representing raw desire, passion, and the wild force of nature. \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eDevasena\u003c\/span\u003e – a celestial princess symbolizing discipline, order, and focused action.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome scriptures also describe him as a \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003ecelibate warrior\u003c\/span\u003e, entirely devoted to his divine mission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBirth Story\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eLong ago the gods were defeated by the powerful demon \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eTarakasura\u003c\/span\u003e. A prophecy declared that \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eonly a son of Shiva\u003c\/span\u003e could defeat him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAt the time, Shiva remained deep in meditation, withdrawn from the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eEventually a \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003edivine spark of cosmic energy\u003c\/span\u003e emerged from him, not a conventional birth, but a blazing manifestation of pure power. The energy was so intense that the world itself could not contain it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe fire was first carried by \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eAgni\u003c\/span\u003e, the god of fire. Even Agni could not hold it and passed the energy to \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eGanga\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eGanga carried the divine sparks to a mystical forest of reeds known as \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSaravana\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFrom this sacred place arises one of his most famous mantras:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eOm Sa-Ra-Va-Na Bha-Va\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWithin the marshlands of Saravana, the sparks transformed into \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003esix divine infants\u003c\/span\u003e. They were discovered and nurtured by the celestial apsaras known as the \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eKrittikas\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhen \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eParvati\u003c\/span\u003e found the six children, she embraced them all at once and they merged into a single radiant child with six faces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Warrior of the Gods\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOnce grown, Shanmukha became the \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003esupreme commander of the celestial armies\u003c\/span\u003e. Armed with his sacred spear known as the \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eVel\u003c\/span\u003e, he defeated Tarakasura and restored balance to the cosmos.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003eVel spear\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003e symbolizes the clarity and power to \u003c\/span\u003epierce illusion, ignorance, and inner darkness\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eSymbolism and Worship\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDevotion to Shanmukha is believed to cultivate\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003ecourage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003ediscipline\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eclarity of purpose\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003evictory over obstacles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003ealignment with the consciousness of Shiva\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIn Hindu astrology he is also associated with the planet \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eMars\u003c\/span\u003e, representing strength, action, and warrior energy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Drip Press","offers":[{"title":"Unframed \/ A4 (8.27 × 11.7 in)","offer_id":53233087086865,"sku":null,"price":655.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Unframed \/ A3 (11.7 x 16.5 in)","offer_id":53233087119633,"sku":null,"price":799.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Unframed \/ Large (16 x 24 in)","offer_id":53233087152401,"sku":null,"price":999.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Unframed \/ Extra Large (24 x 36 in)","offer_id":53233087185169,"sku":null,"price":1255.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wood Framed \/ Mini (8 × 8 in)","offer_id":53233087217937,"sku":null,"price":855.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wood Framed \/ A4 (8.27 × 11.7 in)","offer_id":53233087250705,"sku":null,"price":999.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wood Framed \/ A3 (11.7 x 16.5 in)","offer_id":53233087283473,"sku":null,"price":1355.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wood Framed \/ Large (16 x 24 in)","offer_id":53233087316241,"sku":null,"price":1655.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/1617\/0257\/files\/framed_square_cf8fc3f9-f15f-40be-98e0-16007fa2d95b.jpg?v=1773652303","url":"https:\/\/drip.press\/products\/shri-shanmukha-subramania-swami-1","provider":"Drip Press","version":"1.0","type":"link"}