Vel is a divine spear simply denoted as a symbol of Tamil God Murugan (also known by many other names such as Kumaran, skantha, Karthikeya, Subramaniyan) is the Lord of Victory and worshiping Vel is an ancient Hindu tradition since Sanga Kaalam.

 

It is believed that Lord Murugan was created to defeat evil Asuran Soorapathman  out of divine sparks  that emanated from the third eye of Lord Shiva and were placed on a pond called Saravana where six babies were born on lotus each. Six Krithikas, the stars of constellation of Pleiades nursed and raised the babies and when Goddess Parvati  took all six babies and hugged them into one being with six heads.

 

Goddess Parvati presented the Vel to her son as an embodiment of her  Shakthi or power in order  to vanquish the evil Asuran Soorapathman.  The annual Thaipusam festival  celebrates the occasion when Lord Murugan received the divine Vel from his mother. 

 

According to skantha Puranam, in the war against Soorapathman, Lord Murugan used the Vel to defeat all the evil forces. When a complete conquer for Soorapathman was imminent, the Asuran transformed himself into a huge mango tree to evade detection.  But Lord Murugan hurled his Vel and split the tree into two halves which  became Cockeral, the emblem of his victory flag and Peacock (symbolising the liberated soul) as his vehicle. Skantha Shasti (6 days of fasting followed by Deepavali)  marks this event and strictly followed by many Murugan devotees. 

 

While Lord Murugan’s  consorts -Valli and Thevayaanai, as the manifestation of His Ichcha Sakthi (emotive power) and Kiriyaa Sakthi (power of action), the Vel indicates Gnaana Sakthi. (the power of knowledge)

 

During Kavadi Aattam, is a ceremonial sacrifice and offering practiced by devotees during the worship of Lord Murugan, some of them pierce their skin, tongue or cheeks with Vel skewers while they undertake a procession towards Murugan temple.