'Army of the devas', IAST: Devasenā, Tamil: தேவசேனா, romanized: Tēvacēṉā) is the Hindu goddess of aspirations, and the consort of the war god Kartikeya (Murugan).
In the Tamil iteration of the Skanda Purana, she is portrayed as the daughter of the god Vishnu, who is later adopted by Indra.
In Tamil accounts, Devasena is generally depicted as an antithesis of Valli, her sister-wife; together they complete the deity.
In Tamil Nadu, Devasena does not enjoy independent worship, but is venerated as Murugan's consort in most of his temples.
She plays a greater role in the Tirupparankunram Murugan Temple, believed to be the site of her marriage.
[7] Once, while the sisters are enjoying leisure at the banks of Lake Manasa, the asura (demon) Keshi abducts them so that he could marry them.
Indra, who is searching for an ideal Devasenapati (commander of the army of the gods), reaches the place where Devasena is held captive.
Devasena asks Indra to find her a husband (pati) who can protect her and defeat the gods, the demons and the yakshas.
[11] The Tamil manuscripts of the Sanskrit scripture Skanda Purana mentions Devasena and Valli as the incarnations of the daughters of Vishnu, Amritavalli and Sundaravalli, respectively.
Appeased by her penance, Indra adopts her as his daughter, and marries her to Murugan in an arranged marriage, following custom, after the latter triumphs over the asuras (demons).
The Kanda Purana describes Devayanai (Devasena) as the daughter of Indra, without any mention of adoption.
[13][14] An alternate ending found in Sri Lankan lore describes Murugan as staying on in the forest with Valli after their wedding at Kataragama, where his temple stands.
[15] Unlike the Skanda Purana which talks about harmony between Devasena and Valli, the Paripatal – part of Tamil Sangam literature – speaks about conflict, resulting in a battle between Devayanai's royal soldiers and Valli's hunter clan, which the latter win.
[16] In the Jayantipura Mahatmya, the details of which correspond to most of those found in the Skanda Purana tale, Devasena and Valli are married to Kartikeya from primal times.
However, in this version, the god condemns Valli to be born on earth as punishment for mocking her sister Devayanai.
[17] The Thirumurugatrupadai from Sangam literature describes Murugan being accompanied by his chaste wife Devayanai and honoured by a procession of devas and rishis (sages).
Both the consorts are identified with the soul (Atman), while their husband (pati, Lord) represents God.
It praises him as the god who is allowed to have two wives, Devasena – the daughter of Indra and Valli, a hunter princess.
[25] As per another interpretation, Devasena is an embodiment of how virtuous people should live considering her steadfast and uncompromising fight against evil.