Sena Devasenā

Sena, whose full name is Devasenā (“the divine army”), is the wife of Kārttikeya. She was given to him in marriage when he became Senāpati, the commander of the army of the devas.

The Skanda Mahā Purāṇa says she is the daughter of Mṛtyu (Death). The Mahābhārata says she is the daughter of Prajāpati. The Mahābhārata also says she is Ṣaṣṭhī, Lakṣmī and five other powers at once.

Who she is in the Skanda Purāṇa

Sena is the daughter of Mṛtyu (Death). The devas gave her in marriage to Kārttikeya. Kārttikeya is Senāpati, the one who leads armies in the greatest battles. Her name Sena means “army”.

This is from the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 27.

In the Tamil Śaiva tradition

In the Tamil Śaiva tradition, Kārttikeya has two wives, Valli and Devasenā. Devasenā is called Deivayānai in Tamil. Kārttikeya is also called Murugan.

The account in the Mahābhārata

In the Skanda Utpatti (“the birth of Skanda”) in the Vana Parva, Chapter 223, Devasenā is the daughter of Prajāpati. The rākṣasa Keśī had carried off her sister Daityasenā. Devasenā’s cry reached Indra. He fought Keśī, drove him away with the vajra (his thunderbolt) and rescued the captive. Indra then brought Devasenā before Brahmā. Brahmā said that the great warrior about to be born, Skanda, would take Devasenā as his wife.

Skanda was born. He fought with Indra and was made Senāpati. Then Indra kept this word and gave Devasenā to Skanda as his wife. Bṛhaspati performed the wedding rites.

At this point the Mahābhārata tells that Devasenā has seven forms at once. She is:

• Ṣaṣṭhī, the presiding devī of the sixth tithi (lunar day), who protects children
• Lakṣmī, who gives prosperity
• Āśā, hope
• Sinīvālī, the auspicious day of the new moon
• Kuhū, the dark new moon
• Sad-vṛtti, right conduct
• Aparājitā, the unconquered

This is from the Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapters 223 to 229.

Sources

• Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 27
• Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapters 223–229