Skanda Shashti

          The festival of Skanda Shasti occurs on the sixth day of the bright lunar fortnight in the month of Asvayuja (Tamil Aippasi) which is usually during October or November. Skanda Shashti is the sixth day after Diwali, and is the conclusion of the six day festival. This celebration commemorates the victory of Skanda (Shanmukha, Murgan) over the demon Surapadman. For devotees of Skanda, this is the main celebration of the year, which is celebrated in a grand scale at all the temples of Murugan, especially at his six abodes: Thiruparankunram, Thiruchendur, Palani, Swamimalai, Tiruthani and Pazhamudhir Solai.

          According to legend, demon Surapadman performed rigorous penance and obtained rare boons. Armed with the power of these boons, Surapadman harassed Devas and human beings. Shanmukha obtained a “Vel” (spear with special powers) from his mother Devi Parvati and killed Tarakasura and Simhmukhasura. In the final battle, Lord Muruga sent his Vel towards Surapadman and split his body into two halves. As a show of compassion, Shanmukha then changed one half of Surapadman into a peacock (Muruga’s chariot) and other half into a rooster (flag of this chariot). All the Devas and humans were delighted at Lord Muruga’s victory and their freedom from suffering.

          At our Temple, we observe the Skanda Shashti Utsavam (Festival) from Monday thru Saturday, with Skanda Shashti day falling during one of the days. Each day, the priests do abhishekam and sahasranama archana for Shanmukha. On the Shashti day we perform homa and other special pujas. On Saturday, we start the day’s celebration of Skanda Shasti with homa followed by kalasa abhishekam and special bhajans. In the afternoon, children and adults watch the enactment of Sura Samharam. The utsava murti of Shanmukha goes around the Temple hallways (prakara) and obtains the Vel from Devi Parvati. Shanmukha is then taken around the main hall of the Temple to enact the fighting and annihilation of the images of Tarakasuara, Simhamukasura and Surapadman. This event is followed by a Samhara Abhishekam, Shanmukha Archana, a special marriage ceremony (kalyana utsavam) of Devasena and Sri Subrahmanyaswami and a grand procession on the peacock Mayura (mayil) Vahana. The final event of the celebration is held on Sunday with a special marriage ceremony (kalyana utsavam) of Valli and Sri Subrahmanyaswami.