Introduction
Valli is a young woman of the Kurava (hunting) people in Tamil devotional tradition, whom Murugan (Kartikeya) courts and marries after long pursuit in various disguises. Her story is central to Tamil Murugan devotion and is largely distinct from the Sanskrit epic account of Kartikeya's marriage.
This article follows Tamil devotional tradition.
Family
- Husband: Kartikeya
The courtship
Valli, raised by a hunter chief as a foster daughter, grew up devoted to Murugan without realising he would become her husband. Murugan, smitten with her, approached her first as an old ascetic and then as a hunter, and, in a well-known episode, enlisted his brother Ganesha, who took the form of a wild elephant to frighten Valli into Murugan's arms for protection, so that he might win her trust.
Marriage
Their eventual marriage is celebrated widely in Tamil Nadu, and the hill shrine of Palani and other Arupadaiveedu temples are closely associated with the Valli-Murugan story, told and re-told in Tamil devotional poetry and folk performance.
Alongside Devasena
Valli is honoured together with Devasena as Murugan's second wife, the two marriages together representing, in the Tamil tradition, both his divine and his earthly, folk connections.