Somaskanda stands for Shiva with Uma and Skanda. In the Somaskanda murti (or idol), Muruga, or Skanda son of Shiva and Uma (Parvati), stand between the divine couple. Symbolically, this unique murti extols the importance of family life and the importance of child in marriage.
There are numerous other symbolic meaning attached to this unique murti – some scholars are of the view that the three divine figures seated together represent sat, chit and ananda.
Another symbolic meaning suggest that the figures represent Iccha-Shakti, Kriya-Shakti and Jnana-Shakti respectively.
Again Shiva in the company of Uma and Skanda symbolizes universal parentage.
In his famous literary work of Kumarasambhavam, Kalidasa, suggests that the divine couple is the Father and Mother of the World and Muruga their son.
According to Shaivite rituals, a devotee must worship both Shiva and Uma together to receive the maximum amount of blessings.
The figure of Smaskanda is more popular in South India .
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