Valli

Valli
Affiliation	Devi
Abode	Skandaloka
Consort	Kartikeya
Mount	Deer

Vaḷḷi (Tamil: வள்ளி "Creeper, Sweet Potato Plant") is a Hindu goddess and the consort of the god Murugan.

Vaḷḷi is used to refer to many tribal or indigenous peoples' goddesses in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and by the Rodiya and Vedda peoples of Sri Lanka.

Vaḷḷi is also known as Pongi at Vallimalai and the pond from which she drew water to quench the thirst of Murugan is still there. This pond, though in an open ground, does not receive the rays of the sun. Vedda still inhabit Kataragama region and there are temples dedicated to the mountain god Murugan in this region of Sri Lanka.

In ancient times, the mountainous regions in South India were ruled by various tribes. The chief of the Kuravar tribe, Nambi Rajan and his wife prayed to the mountain god Murugan for a girl-child. Their prayers were answered, resulting in the birth of a girl named Valli. She grew up as the princess of the mountain tribe. Some myths state that Valli was born from a doe when a sage laid eyes on it during a momentary lapse in his meditation.

In her previous birth, Valli and her sibling Deivayani (another consort of Murugan) were the daughters of the god Vishnu. Both undertook severe austerities to become the consorts of Murugan, who gave them the boon of marriage in their next birth. At a young age, the sage Narada informed Valli's father that she was a shakti of Murugan.

According to Sri Lankan mythology, the events occurred among the Veddah people near Kataragama, Sri Lanka. However, South Indian Puranas state that Kataragama was the place where Murugan stationed his army during his war with Surapadman.

Valli had her heart and soul dedicated to Murugan and would always pray with fervent devotion and love, to be with him. Once, the tribal chief planned to develop a field for growing millet, and assigned Valli in charge of its protection from pests. Moved by Valli's devotion, Murugan met her in the form of a handsome tribal hunter, who had lost his way on a hunting chase. This form of Murugan called the 'Veduvan Kolam' is worshipped at the Palaniapaar temple at Belukurichi. Valli did not recognize the stranger and promptly asked him to leave the place. Seeing the chief arriving at the field with honey and fruits for Valli, Murugan turned himself into a tree. After the chief and his followers left, the god changed back into his hunter form and proposed his love to Valli.

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