(also known as Kartikeya, Skanda, or Subrahmanya) and his victory over the demon king Surapadman
The story begins with the cosmic necessity of Murugan's birth. The Devas (celestial beings) were tormented by the demon Surapadman, who had gained invincible boons through severe penance. Unable to tolerate the tyranny, the Devas approach Lord Shiva for help. From the third eye of Shiva, six sparks of fire emerge, which are carried by Agni (the Fire God) and deposited in the Ganges. They eventually settle in the Saravana Poikai (a reed forest), where six divine children are born and nursed by the six Kartika maidens. Eventually, Goddess Parvati embraces the six children, who merge into one deity with six heads (Shanmukha), representing the five senses and the mind, under control. kandha puranam in english pdf