Vaḷḷi is used to refer to many local or Village gods in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in India and by the Rodiya and Vedda peoples of Sri Lanka.

Vaḷḷi is also known as Pongi at Vallimalai in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and the pond from which she drew water to quench the thirst of Murugan is still there.

According to the Kanda Puranam, the Tamil iteration of the Skanda Purana, Sundaravalli and Amritavalli, the daughters of Vishnu,[4] fell in love with Murugan upon meeting him, both expressing the desire to marry him.

[6] After performing a number of penances, the war god appeared before the sisters, informing them that he was engaged in a battle against the asura Surapadman, and would only be able to meet their desires after they had reincarnated in human form.

[7] Heeding his will, Sundaravalli reincarnated herself as Valli under a creeper in the Kurunji region, and was adopted as the daughter of a chieftain called Nambirajan, or Nambi.

Once, the tribal chief planned to develop a field for growing thinai (foxtail millet), and tasked Valli with protecting it from pests.

Moved by Valli's devotion, Murugan met her in the form of a handsome tribal hunter, who had lost his way on a hunting chase.

It was then that Valli realised that it was her beloved deity she had consented to wed. After the millet harvest was over, the chieftain, along with his daughter and entourage, returned to their native land.

The south-Indian manuscripts of the Sanskrit scripture Skanda Purana mention Devasena and Valli as the daughters of the god Vishnu in a previous life.

[9][10] An alternate version found in Sri Lankan lore describes Murugan as staying on in the forest with Valli after their wedding at Kataragama, where his temple stands.

[12] The Thirumurugatrupadai from Sangam literature only describes Murugan being accompanied by his chaste wife Devayanai, and honoured by a procession of gods and rishis (sages).

[13] 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 during the ancient period.

[14] In the Agni Purana, the image of Kartikeya is prescribed to be installed on a peacock and feature Sumukhi and Vidalakshi, who are also known as Devasena and Valli.