Skanda Sashti
Skanda Sashti festival falls on the sixth day of the bright lunar fortnight in the Tamil month Aippasi which usually occurs six days after Diwali festival during October or November. Skanda Sashti is the six day festival and is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Skanda; Surasamharam is the conclusion of the Skanda Sashti festival. The event of killing the demon Surapadman is called as Surasamharam. This day symbolizes the victory of good (Lord Muruga) over the evil (Demon Surapadman). This is the important festival for the devotees of Lord Muruga, which is celebrated in a grand manner at his six abodes (Thiruparankunram, Thiruchendur, Palani, Swamimalai, Pazhamudhir Solai and Tiruthani) and also at all the temples of Lord Muruga.
Birth of Lord Skanda
Demon Surapadman along with his brothers Taraka and Simhamukhasura performed rigorous penance and got an everlasting boon. They started harassing human beings, Devas and Gods. Lord Brahma and Vishnu approached to Lord Shiva and asked for help. Lord Shiva decided to give birth to Lord Muruga from his third eye in order to destroy the demon Surapadman and his brothers. Lord Muruga gets his powerful weapon ‘Vel’ from his Mother Parvati and killed the demons Tarakasura and Simhamukhasura. Lord Muruga threw his Vel weapon towards Surapadman and split his body into two halves in the final day of the battle. Lord Muruga changed one half of Surapadman body into a peacock and other half into a rooster. Peacock is Lord Muruga’s chariot and rooster is the flag of his chariot. Gods, devas and humans were joyfully celebrated the victory of Lord Muruga and that day is celebrated as the Skanda Sashti.
Skanda Sashti Vrat
Skanda Sashti Vrat is observed by the Hindu peoples to appease Lord Muruga. Devotees of Lord Muruga observe Vrat on each Sashti day and some people observe full or partial Vrat on Skanda Sashti day. This year, Skanda Sashti Vrat is on 25th October 2017. The Vrat starts at sunrise and ends at the next morning after worshipping Lord Surya Dev (The Sun God). People avoid non-veg food and spicy food on Sashti days. During the six days, few people choose only fruits and juices and some people eat only a single meal either in the noon or at night. Most of the devotees visit Lord Muruga temples on this day and reading Skanda Purana and chanting Skanda Sashti Kavacham is considered auspicious on this day.
Benefits of performing rituals on Skanda Sashti
Skanda Sashti will bring good career growth, financial growth, and spiritual bliss and give relief from the health problems. Skanda Sashti rituals is mainly recommended for the people who running their own business, married couples and also unmarried people for getting improvement in business and for maintaining good relationships and for wedding boon. Get the divine blessings of Lord Muruga by performing special pujas and rituals on Skanda Sashti day.
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