Lord Murugan

Lord Muruga  is called by various favourite names like Karthilkeya, Arumuga, Shanmuga, Guhan, Skanda, Subramanya and Kumara  by his ardent devotees

He is considered to be the son of Lord Shiva   and the brother of Lord Ganesh - the most famous elephant headed God

Kartikeya is a popular deity and is better known as Murugan.

Guru-Sishya Parampara is the teacher-disciple lineage. Being a civilization that respects experiential knowledge, we hold high respect for the teacher of such knowledge. It is separated from the socio-political structure and spans across social/political divisions since such knowledge is beyond those divisions. This is the institution that kept religion and theological practices and beliefs from occupying place in governance, and also kept the administrative structure from interfering with the institution of knowledge.

 Karthikeya acted as Guru treated God Shiva as his disciple. The reinitiation and reassertion of the knowledge takes place after an intense debate with regards to the pranava mantram (AUM) between Lord Brahma (who is the embodiment of creationary aspect) and Lord Karthikeya, during which Lord Brahma fails to adequately convey the meaning of AUM. 

Hence, Lord Karthikeya suspends Lord Brahma from his duties by imprisoning him. Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakthi object and Lord Shiva asks Lord Karthikeya if He(Murugan) is aware of the meaning. In response Lord Murugan says that He is well aware of it and that He will teach Lord Shiva the meaning of the mantram if He(Lord Shiva) will take Him (Lord Murugan) as His Guru. Thus Murugan imparts this universal mantra to His father.The Murugan here is also known as Swaminathan and "Thagapan Swami" (literally "Father God" - referring to the fact that Murugan taught His father and hence was His father's Guru.)

Lord Brahma challenged the power of Lord Murugan and dismissed Him as a child. Lord Murugan not liking this entered into a heated debate with Lord Brahma on His knowledge of pranava mantram “AUM”. When Lord Brahma could not explain the meaning adequately Lord Murugan suspended Him from His duties and imprisoned Him. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati intervened and asked Lord Murugan if He was aware of the meaning and will be willing to teach Lord Shiva the same. 

Lord Murugan agreed to teach, on the pre-condition that Lord Shiva will be the disciple and Lord Murugan His teacher. Lord Shiva agreed and made Lord Murugan sit on His shoulder and whisper the significance and meaning of “AUM” in His ear. Thus Murugan imparts this universal mantra to His father at this location. Hence, one can see the Lord Karthikeya depicted as Guru (teacher) and Lord Shiva listening as shishya