The second son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is Kartikeya, also known as Kumara, Skanda, Subrahmanya, Shanmukha, or Muruga. He is the Lord of Righteousness, who protects dharma by destroying evil. Lord Shanmukha (depicted as a six-headed Deity, symbolizing five senses and mind must be in harmony for mental, intellectual and spiritual growth. He has two Consorts , Valli (symbolizing Icha Shakti, or desire) and Devasena (symbolizing Kriya Shakti, the power of action).

He also has in his hand a "Vel" (Jnana Shakti) which removes ignorance. The Vel is not a mere weapon. It is a Deity in its own right. The vahana of Lord Subrahmanya is peacock. This is a bird whose behavior is unpredictable, as its moods are influenced by weather conditions. A peacock therefore, symbolizes ego, which causes unpredictable behavior in human beings. Lord Muruga's use of the peacock as His vahana conveys the idea that control of one's ego is necessary for spiritual advancement.