SKANDHA SASTI FESTIVAL

SKANDHA SASTI FESTIVAL
Tamil Nadu and Kerala states celebrate 6 days festival at the month of October-November for Lord Skandha. He is also known as Murugan and Subhramanya.

WHO IS SKANDHA?

He is the son of Shiva-Parvathy. He is the symbol of the Shivasakthy bhava. Skandha is considered to be the holistic bliss of Shivasakthy.

Saint Vyasa has celebrated the deeds of Skandha in his Skandha puranam.

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE WORD SKANDHA?

The word Skandha means ‘’one who is the abode of kindness and beauty’’.

LEGEND OF SKANDHA: The 3 great demons SOORA PADUMA- GAJAMUHA SOORA AND SINGA MUGA SOORA got many boons from Bharama and started ruling the entire universe.

They misused the powers and freedom which they possessed. They have also imprisoned Indra and his people from heaven. Indra’s wife Indrani meditated upon Shiva and Shiva promised to save all the angels from the demons.

The demons were blessed with a boon that only a son born from a man should kill them. So Shiva opened his third eye and produced a flame of energy.

This flame was carried by the god of wind ‘’vaayu’’ and god of fire ‘’Agni’’ to river Ganga.

Goddess Ganga received the flame and incubated in 6 lotus flowers. The flame was transferred into 6 embryos and nourished inside the flowers. So Skandha is also known as ‘’KAANGAY YA’’. 6 maidens known as ‘’Kaarthigai strees’’ were appointed by Shiva to care the embryos. So he is also name as ‘’KAARTHIGAYYA’’.

On Vaikaasi vishaka day the embryos were developed into 6 babies. They were brought up by the 6 maidens and finally Parvathy Devi hugged them and made as one child. Shiva named him as ‘’Skandha’’.

Skandha enjoyed his childhood in Kailash and when the time came to kill the demons, Parvathy gave him her sakthy as the ‘’sacred spear’’. This is the symbol of ‘’ pure wisdom’’.

THE SIX DAYS WAR:


Skandha went to Veera Mahendrapuri which was the capital city of the demons. For 6 days from the new moon day he mediated upon Shivasakthy and fought with the 3 demons.

On the 6th day [ sasti – 6th day after ammavyasa] by dusk he killed the elephant headed demon Gajamuha soora.

The second brother Simhamuha soora took the form of a hill in the midst of the oceans. It was also known as ‘’Krownja giri’’. He has swallowed all the angels.

Skandha threw his spear and made the hill as pieces. Finally he faced the Padma soora who can take any form as he like.

THE CLIMAX SCEEN IN THE MIDST OF THE SEAS:
The war went on for many hours and finally the demon took the form of a mango tree in the midst of the oceans. Skandha broke the mango tree and made the demon to surrender to his feet and made him to shed his ‘’self ego’’.

Then Skandha transferred the demon as a beautiful peacock and his brother as a cock. The peacock became his mount and the cock accepted to be his flag.

This is the legend behind Skandha sasti. Skandha married Indra’s daughter Devasena or Devayaani after the war. Later he too married other girl Valli.

SIX GREAT ABODES OF SKANDHA: There are six sacred most shrines for Skandha in Tamil Nadu. They are known as ‘’AARU PADAI VEEDU’’. These places are considered to be the 6 forts for Skandha where he fought with the demons.

There are several 1000s of shrines for Skandha where the festival will be observed with divinity and fun.In each shrine the festival will be observed with unique beauty and spiritual meaning.

The most interesting scene can be seen in SIKKAL near Nagapattinam in TamilNadu. Here the Lord’s face will be spilling the sweating when he receives the sacred spear from his mother.

SPECIALITY BEHIND SKANDHA’S WAR:

Skandha has shown that our self ego cannot be removed completely, but it can be transformed as creative and positive energy with which we can serve this world. So the demons were totally transformed as beautiful peacock and cock. Peacock is the most celebrated bird in TamilNadu as the mount of Skandha.

SOORASAMHARAM:

On new moon day in all temples the sacred flag will be hoisted to open the festival with staunch fasting. People who observe the fasting wait for the flag hoisting ceremony and they take bath and tie the sacred thread on the right wrist.

Thiruchendoor near Thirunelveli is the place which is considered to be the battle field where Skandha killed the demons. So this shrine celebrates the festival with the maximum spirit.

People who live far away from the shrine wait for the call and news for the time to open the fasting.

On the sixth day dusk, Skandha performs rituals to his brother Ganesha, uncle Vishnu and parents. Then he receives the sacred spear from his mother Parvathy and leads to the sea shore where the war will be dramatized and viewed by lakhs of devotees.

The war is known as ‘’SOORA SAMHARAM’’. Immediately after the festival, people take bath in the sea and finish the fasting.

HOW TO UNDERGO SKANDHA SASTI FASTING?

On ammavyasa day take bath and offer poojas to Lord Ganesha. Then begin the fasting from next day. Fasting can be done based on your health and work.

Types of Sasti fasting:
1. People drink only one tumbler of milk a day.
2. People drink a cup of milk with fruits.
3. People take food once a day.
4. People avoid food at night.
5. People take wheat food at night.
6. People do not eat anything for 6 days.
7. People eat cooked rice with coconut paste without salt once in a day.

THE MOST IMPORTANT FASTING: It is the process of cleansing the body and mind after Deepawali feasts. But apart from all these it is the process of cleaning the mind and realizing the ‘’self’’.

Then every day take bath twice and chant the sacred most scripture called ‘’SKANDHA SASTI KAVASAM’’. It is available in all forms.

The main name of Skandha has to be chanted 108 times every day. It is ‘’OM SARVANA BHAAVAYA NAMAHA’’. This is called as ‘’sataakshara mantra’’.

Perform any type of rituals to Skandha and also sing and praise of Lord. You can visit any Skandha shrine also for rituals.

Every day try to observe your mind. Try to remove at least one unwanted thought from your mind and try to feel the ‘’self’’ within you.

On sasti day observe silence as possible as you can and try to visit any near by shrine for SOORASAMHARAM event. You can also watch to the TV for the direct telecast.

Observing the self within us is the main event. After the SOORASAMHARAM, take bath and offer poojas to Skandha and eat fruits only.

Next day cook fresh vegetarian food and offer to Skandha and feed few poor people and complete your fasting.

*This fasting is mostly observed for child birth and diseases.

Let us observe the Skandha sasti and attain all boons we wish from Muruga.

Thankyou!