Introduction
Devasena, "army of the gods", is the daughter of Indra and one of the two wives of Kartikeya (Skanda), alongside Valli. Her marriage represents Kartikeya's place within the divine order, in contrast to Valli's marriage, which represents his connection to the human and hill-dwelling world in Tamil tradition.
Family
- Husband: Kartikeya
Marriage to Kartikeya
Devasena was given in marriage to Kartikeya after he was made commander of the divine army and had defeated the demon Taraka, cementing his position among the gods. In the Sanskrit epic and Puranic tradition, she is generally treated as his principal or sole wife.
In Tamil tradition
In South India, where Kartikeya as Murugan has two wives, Devasena (Deivanai) represents the celestial marriage arranged among the gods, while Valli, a woman of the hunting Kurava people whom he courts himself, represents human and earthly devotion. The two marriages together are understood to show Murugan's connection to both the divine and the human worlds.