okamido

Is the connection between Alexander and the Indian war god, Skanda-Murugan, true and due to interaction, or is it only part of the Romance? Information is somewhat scarse (or I am not looking at the right spot).

okamido

No one?

Wow, say something like Greece is better than India, and all of the indiophiles come out of the woodwork screaming for blood. I guess it was true that the Indians created a god from Alexander, and I can think of no one better for them to worship.

Parashuraman

Don't know how there can be a connection since Murugan is a tamil god from deep south india.

okamido

Thanks for answering, Parashuraman. Have you ever come across the first name, "Skanda", or is it completely foreign?

Also, since Murugan is deep south, there are absolutely no instances of him having been acknowledged or worshipped in the north?

Naomasa298

Wiki says the Kushans struck coins bearing his image, and they controlled territories that had previously belonged to the Greco-Bactrian kingdom. Perhaps they worshipped a diety who later become conflated with Murugan?

okamido

So if Skanda is Alexander, the combination makes sense.

Parashuraman

I do have an uncle named Skandan, but he's the only one I know with that name . And we're from south india.

According to wiki, Skand or Murugan is worshipped mainly in the Eastern and Southern parts of India and since Alexander's influence was in the northwestern part, it's kind of hard to equate that they're one and the same.

Alexander is known as Sikandar in north india.

okamido

Now I can't remember what site I came across this question. Argh!!!!

okamido

Here it is. I wanted to get the opinion of our Indian members, and see if any of this is good.
Skanda: The Alexander Romance in India

Parashuraman

That site is of dubious credibility since it is a religious site and these pro-hindu and pro-tamil sites do tend to put a certain spin on things. But fantastic claims though.