Skanda Shasti
Skanda Shasti or Kanda Shasthi is the most important festival dedicated to Lord Muruga or Karthikeya. It is observed in the month of Aippasi (October-November) that commemorates the victory of Lord Skanda over the Demon Surapadma.
It is believed that any devotee visiting the 6 abodes of Muruga, at least once in the lifetime gets the full measure of the Lord’s grace. Skanda Sashti, the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Aippasi (Oct 15 – Nov 15), is celebrated in all the “Shaivite temples” across Tamil Nadu with grandeur and pomp. Skanda Sashti celebrates the destruction of evil by the Supreme General Karthikeya, the younger son of Shiva. The celebration includes a dramatic enactment of “Soora Samhaaram” each year (a play where Muruga kills the demon).
The Story of Skanda Shasti
This story of the birth of Skanda or Kumara boggles the imagination. Tormented by the asura (demon/anti God) Surapadma, the devas with Indra as the leader sought the help of the creator, Brahma. Brahma proclaimed, “only the spark of Shiva can produce the hero who will defeat the powers of the evil” Unfortunately, Shiva, the “king of the yogis” was in deep state of meditation. None of the Devas dared to disturb him… least of all convince him to create a progeny.
Upon Brahma’s suggestion, they sought the help of Parvathi and Kama (the God of Love). Parvathi agreed to help, and engaged herself in a severe penance to attract Shiva’s attention, while Kama engaged himself in the “suicidal mission” of arousing Shiva from His Samadhi.
The penance of Parvathi and the sacrifice of Kama paid off finally. Shiva was aroused from Samadhi. He opened his forehead eye and created Six Great Fire Sparks emitting heat energy. Now once again Devas could not endure the heat energy of these fire sparks. So they once again sought Lord Shiva’s grace. He called Lord Agni (God of Fire) and Lord Vayu (God of Air) to carry that great fire sparks. But the fire sparks were so powerful that they dropped them in the holy Ganges. When the fire sparks cooled down, it changed to six beautiful babies and lay on six beautiful lotus flowers. Lord Shiva arranged six beautiful maidens called ‘Karthigai Pengal’(Women of Karthiga) to look after the babies. When the babies attained a certain age Lord Shiva blessed them and made them as one person (i.e.) God Muruga. Then Lord Shiva asked His son Lord Muruga to proceed to the world of Devas on His mission of subduing the demons and freeing them from the cruel bondage of Surapadma.
Indra was restored to his kingdom and gave his daughter Devayanai in marriage to Skanda. In order not to discriminate between the rich and the poor, Muruga also married Valli the gypsy damsel.
The Legend and the Six Battle Houses
As Lord Muruga emerged as six sparks of flame from the third-eye of Lord Shiva, he always defeats the evil forces to save his devotees and disciples. The popular south Indian maxim goes, “Wherever there is a mount, there is a shrine for Lord Muruga; the omnipresent!”
Lord Muruga has six famous abodes in Tamil Nadu which are collectively known as ‘Arupadai Veedu‘. In Tamil ‘Aru’ means six and ‘Veedu’ means home. Every abode of Lord Muruga commemorating an event mentioned in the puranas(old stories). Thiruparankundram, Thiruchendur, Palani, Swamimalai, Thiruthani and Palamuthircholai are His six abodes.
Murugan Mantra
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