Skanda Sashti – The Day Dedicated To Lord Shanmukha
Posted on November 1, 2008 in Festivals by naveen
Skanda Sashti is the sixth day in the Tamil month, Aippasi. Skanda Sashti is celebrated throughout Tamilnadu and in some places of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. It is the most grand event to celebrate in temples dedicated to Lord Subramanya Swamy.
When is Skanda Shashti ?
Skanda Shashti is celebrated on the six day in the bright half of the month, Aippasi which generally comes between October15 and November 15. In 2008, Skanda Shashti falls on 4th December, Thursday. On 4th November, Tuesday devotees celebrate Maha Sashti.
Who is Lord Skanda ?
Lord Skanda is the younger son of Lord Shiva. Lord Skanda is also called as Lord Subramanya or Murugan or Sanat Kumara or Kumara Swamy or Shanmukha or Karthikeya. Lord Skanda is one of the purposeful divine incarnations.
Appearance of Lord Subramanya :
Lord Skanda’s banner is the cock and the vehicle is peacock. His shaktis or powers are – Valli and Devasena (Devayani) who are his wives. According to Skanda Purana, Lord Skanda incarnated as the powerful principles of ether, air, fire, water and earth are combined with the divine power of Lord Shiva (Shiva Tejas). Hence, Lord Skanda has six faces and called as Shanmukha (A being with six faces). Lord Skanda holds his principle weapon Spear (Vel) very straightly.
Myth or Legend Behind Skanda Sashti :
The stroy of Skanda Sashti describes the purpose of divine incarnation of Lord Skanda. Once all the Gods including Lord Indra defeated in the hands of demon ‘Tarakasura’. And all the Gods went to the creator Brahma and prayed to him. Lord Brahma said that only the spark of Lord Shiva can produce the hero who will destroy the powers of evil. But, Lord Shiva was in a deep meditation and no God was able to disturb him.
With the help of Goddess Parvati, Manmadha (God of Love), Agni, Vayu, Ganges and Sara Vana (forest of arrow like grass), Gods succeeded to tend Lord Shiva to produce a ‘Divya Tejas’ (divine power) with six faces. Thus, Saravanabava was born.
Shanmukha became the General (Deve Senapathi) of the God’s army. Shanmukha fought with the armies of demons – Simhamukha, Surapadman and Tarakasura in a six day battle and demolished all the demons on the sixth day. The rakshasas were annihilated and the Gods were liberated. Hence, the sixth day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Aippasi is celebrated as Skanda Sashti.
Skanda Sashti Celebrations in Temples of Murugan :
Throughout the world mainly in Tamilnadu, in temples of Lord Murugan Skanda Sashti is celebrated with utmost fervour. In Tamilnadu, most popular temples of the God are – Tirupparankundram, Tiruchendur, Palani, Swami Malai, Tiruttani and Palamuthirsolai.
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