Skanda Shasti Vratham

The Skanda Shasti or Kanda Shasthi Vratham is an important observance. It is especially for Lord Muruga. The festival is observed in Aippasi. Devotees fast during these six days. Although the festival is dedicated to Lord Murugan, Shukla Paksha Sashti in the lunar month of Kartika is the more significant one of the two. Devotees fast for six days. This lasts on the Soorasamharam day. The day after Soorasamharam is Tiru Kalyanam. The day after Soorasamharam is known as Subramanya Shashti, or Kukke Subramanya Sashti. It falls during lunar month Margashirsha.

Skanda Sashti 2017 Dates

October 20, 2017 – Skanda Shasti Begins

October 21, 2017 – Kanda Shasti fasting Day 2

October 22, 2017  – Kantha Shasti fasting Day 3

October 23, 2017  – Skanda Sasti fasting Day 4

October 24, 2017  – Skanda Sasti fasting Day 5

October 25, 2017  – Skanda Sashti Soora Samharam (Skanda Shashti fasting Day 6)

October 26, 2017  – Tirukalyanam

Skanda Sashti 2016 Dates

October 31, 2016 – Skanda Shasti Starts

November 1, 2016 – Kanda Shasti fasting Day 2

November 2, 2016 – Kantha Shasti fasting Day 3

November 3, 2016 – Skanda Sasti fasting Day 4

November 4, 2016 – Skanda Sasti fasting Day 5

November 5, 2016 – Skanda Sashti Soora Samharam (Skanda Shashti fasting Day 6) – Monthly Sashti Fasting

November 6, 2016 – Tirukalyanam

Rules of Skanda Shasti Vratham

The following are some general rules to observe during these six days:

1. Non-vegetarian food is avoided totally.
2. Devotees who follow the viratham eat once a day, either in the morning, evening or night. It will be a snack rather than a meal.
3. Some eat rice and avoid other things. Some avoid garlic and onions.
4. Devotees can have water, milk or fruit juice. The ideal thing would be a complete fast from all solid food although liquid and semisolid food is welcome.
5. Those who fast make it a point to read scriptures on Lord Muruga or recite the Kanta Shasti Kavasam or Subramaniya Bhujangam.
6. Devotees need to visit a Lord Muruga temple every day over the six days.

Benefits of Skanda Sashti Vratham

Fasting on this day is often seen as a prayer for success in education. Unmarried women are blessed with good husbands. Married women are blessed with children. Parents are blessed with good offspring.

Medical Benefits

Besides its spiritual benefits, Shasti vratam has various medical benefits too. It cleanses the body of all impurities, and cures the body of a lot of dangerous diseases.

Story of Skanda Sashti

The Skanda Shasti is the story of the birth of Lord Muruga. Tortured by Tarakasura, the devas led by Indra went to the world of the creator. The creator said that only the spark of Shiva could produce the hero who would defeat the powers of the evil. Unfortunately, Shiva was lost in a deep state of meditation and samadhi. None of the Devas dared to disturb him. Upon Brahma’s suggestion, they sought the help of Parvathi and Kama. Parvathi agreed to help and engaged herself in severe penance to attract Shiva’s attention. Kama agreed to help and engaged himself in the suicidal mission of arousing Shiva from His state of Samadhi. Kama shot his arrows of love at Shiva who was eventually disturbed and the fire of anger from his third eye burnt Kama into ashes.

All of this paid off. Shiva was aroused from his Samadhi. However, none could bear the sparks of His fiery seed. It fell into Agni’s mouth, and was received by the Ganges after that. Saravanabava was thus born. Skanda was raised by the six mothers of the divine constellation of Krithikai (pleiades) . Karthikeya divided himself into six babies to be nursed by six mothers. When Parvathi came and gathered all the six babies, He became Shanmukha – the one with the six faces and one body. Shanmukha became Kumara – the powerful virile adolescent who was also the beautiful and the handsome ( Muruga) . He was made the General (Deva Senapathi) of the God’s army. “….Of the army generals I am Skanda.”..(The Gita). Skanda received from his mother Parasakthi an all powerful Vel (lance). Hence He is also Sakthi Velan. He engaged the armies of Simhamukha, Surapadman and Tarakasura on a six day battle and vanquished all of them on the sixth day. The Asuras were annihilated and the Devas were liberated. The sixth day (Sashti) of the waxing moon ( sukhla) in the month of Ashada ( Oct/Nov) is celebrated as Skandha Sashti.

Temples Dedicated to Lord Murugan

Following six abodes, which are known as Arupadaiveedu, are the most important shrines for Murugan devotees in Tamilnadu, India.

Palani Murugan Temple (100 km south east of Coimbatore)

Swamimalai Murugan Temple (Near Kumbakonam

Thiruthani Murugan Temple (84 km from Chennai)

Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple (10 km north of Madurai)

Sri Subrahmanya Swami Devasthanam, Tiruchendur (40 km south of Thoothukudi)

Thirupparamkunram Murugan Temple (10 km south of Madurai)