See It In Your Home

Lord Karttikeya is the son of Shiva and Parvati. Known for the splendour of His person, He is the guardian of war and, in some regions, celebrated as the presiding deity over aesthetics (the latter has a lot to do with Devi Sarasvati, who is considered His sister in those same cultures). The murti of Karttikeya that you see on this page is in keeping with His traditional, popular iconography.

The handsome Karttikeya stands straight upon a double-tiered lotus-engraved plinth. Note the stateliness of His form and the plenitude of adornment on His person. His vahana (divine mount) is the peacock, a beauteous creature known for its richly coloured plumage. It stands behind its lord and master, its long neck turned sideways and directed frontally. Its slender body covers the width of the pedestal upon which it stands.

The Lord is possessed of four arms (He is the chaturbhujadhari). In the posterior hands He bears traditional Shaivite implements, while the anterior hands convey fearlessness and divine blessing. The strikingly handsome features of His face are framed by an engraved crown above, layered necklaces down the decolletage, and karnaundalas (danglers) that graze His clavicles like slithering snakes.