Valli- Hindu GodDeity"The Hunter's Daughter"
Also known as: Valliyammai, வள்ளி, and Vallī
Description
A tribal girl guarding millet fields when the god Murugan descended disguised as a hunter to court her. When she rebuffed him, he enlisted Ganesha to charge at her as a wild elephant. She fled into the hunter's arms.
Mythology & Lore
The Millet Field
Valli was born into the Kuravar, a tribal hunter people of the Tamil hills. According to Tamil tradition, she was found as an infant in a pit dug for planting and adopted by the chieftain Nambirajan. She grew up guarding the millet fields from birds and animals.
The Hunter
Murugan descended from his hill shrine to court her. He appeared as a young hunter and approached her at the field, but Valli rebuffed him. Murugan enlisted his brother Ganesha, who charged at her in the form of a wild elephant. She fled in terror into the arms of the waiting hunter. He returned again disguised as an old ascetic, and again she turned him away. When Murugan finally revealed his divine form, Valli recognized the god she had long worshipped and accepted him. Her family resisted the match. Murugan prevailed.
Relationships
- Family