Idumban () is an

asura Asuras () are a class of beings in Indian religions, and later Persian and Turkic mythology. They are described as power-seeking beings related to the more benevolent Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhist context, the wor ...

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...

, featured in

Tamil mythology Tamil mythology refers to the folklore and traditions that are a part of the wider Dravidian pantheon, originating from the Tamil people. This body of mythology is a fusion of elements from Dravidian peoples, Dravidian culture and the parent Ind ...

. Idumban is described to be a devotee of the deity

Murugan Kartikeya (/ kɑɾt̪ɪkejə/; ), also known as Skanda ( /skən̪d̪ə/), Subrahmanya (/ sʊbɾəɦməɲjə/, /ɕʊ-/), Shanmukha ( /ɕɑnmʊkʰə/) and Murugan (/ mʊɾʊgən/), is the Hindu god of war. He is generally described as the ...

(Kartikeya), regarded by adherents to be a guardian of the deity's temples in

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...

. He is also associated with the ritual practice of the

Kavadi Aattam Kavadi Aattam () is a ceremonial sacrifice and offering practiced by devotees during the worship of Murugan, the Hindu god of war. It is a central part of the festival of Thaipusam and emphasizes debt bondage. The ''Kavadi'' ("burden") itself is a ...

, in which his veneration is regarded to be a prerequisite.

Legend

According to legend, Sage

Agastya Agastya was a revered Indian sage of Hinduism. In the Indian tradition, he is a noted recluse and an influential scholar in diverse languages of the Indian subcontinent. He is regarded in some traditions to be a Chiranjivi. He and his wife ...

wanted two hills, Shivagiri and Shaktigiri, to be transported to his abode in the south, and commissioned his disciple, the asura Idumban, to carry them. Idumban bore the hills slung across his shoulders by inventing a tool called the kavadi. The tool was made of the staff of

Brahma Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...

, which was employed as a pole, and two divine serpents, which were employed as ropes. When he became fatigued after carrying the hills, he placed the kavadi near

Palani Palani or Pazhani () is a town in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu state in India. It is located about west of Dindigul, south-east of Coimbatore, north-west of Madurai, from Kodaikanal. The Palani Murugan Temple or Arulmigu Dhandayut ...

to recuperate. Meanwhile, Murugan, having journeyed to Palani after losing the

jnana palam Jnana palam (), also rendered Gnana Palam, is the name of a divine fruit in Hindu mythology. It is associated with the myth of Murugan and Ganesha participating in a contest, and the former's sacred abode of Palani. Presented by the sage Narada ...

(fruit of wisdom) to

Ganesha Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva (Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions ...

, claimed the hills as his own. Unable to lift the hills and resume his journey, Idumban confronted the deity. In the combat that ensued, Idumban was slain, but was resurrected on the intercession of his wife, Idumbi, as well as Agastya. Restored to life, Idumban wished to serve for perpetuity as the

dvarapala A Dvarapala or Dvarapalaka (Sanskrit, "door guard"; IAST: ' ) is a door or gate guardian often portrayed as a warrior or fearsome giant, usually armed with a weapon - the most common being the Gada (mace), ''gada'' (mace). The dvarapala statue i ...

(door-guardian) of Murugan's shrine. The deity declared that Idumban would stand guard at the foot of the hill, and proclaimed that every devotee who worshipped him at the site would first venerate his dvarapala.

Gallery

File:Kaduveividuhi idumban3.jpg, Idumban at Kaduveividuhi File:Idumban 01.jpg, Image of Idumban File:SRILANGA DEVOTEES CAME KADUVETTIVIDUTHY IDUMBAN TEMPLE.jpg, Devotees from Sri Lanka come to the Kaduvettividuthy Murugan Temple, Kaduvettividuthy, Tamil Nadu. File:Kaduveividuhi idumban4.jpg, Idumban at Kaduveividuhi File:Kaduveividuhi idumban2.jpg, Idumban at Kaduveividuhi

References

{{Reflist, 30em Kaumaram Asura