God Skanda and Skanda Sashti
Skanda is a Hindu God worshipped with lot of fervor and festivity in Tamil Nadu. In essence Lord Muruga helps us fight the demons inside us that manifest as vices such as negative emotions, pain of loss, disease, poverty and so on in our lives. The weapon in His hand, the Vel depicts the weapon that can pierce through our negative energies to bring us good insight and intelligence.
Skanda Sashti is a 6-day festival celebrated in the new Moon phase of the lunar month of Aippasi or Aswin between months of October- November. This event marks the victory of the Gods over the demons, triumph of the positive and creative energies over the negative and dark forces of nature. This celebration signifies that we need to arouse the warrior instinct in us to fight the unworthy, inferior and corrupt forces. It is the window of time when the energies of warrior Muruga is abundantly available on earth. By connecting to the Archetypal Being, the energy will be easily accessible in our lives.
This is the time of the year, when through ritualistic practices of worshipping God Muruga, you can dissolve mental impurities; undergo a spiritual evolution, and gain prosperity and happiness. Lord Muruga represent the energies of planet Mars.
Participate in Skanda Sashti Rituals
Skanda Sashti 2014
Skanda Sashti in 2014 will begin on 24th of October and end on 29th. Muruga is the Martian energy and this year, the planet Mars will be in the sign Sagittarius. This is really a good placement of Mars because Sagittarius is a fire sign and ruled by planet Jupiter. The fiery planet Mars in a fire sign creates very powerful energy. As the energies of Jupiter and Mars are compatible, Mars energies will flourish without any inimical forces to resist. With this position of Mars, Skanda Sashti will be very powerful this year. Lord Muruga will be with all Siddhi powers and will fulfill the desires of His devotees and answer all the efforts undertaken through rituals and prayers
Custom of Observing Skanda Sashti
During the 6-day Skanda Sashti festival Lord Muruga is worshipped in a grand way. His devotees observe six days of fasting and spend the days in meditation and other devotional practices. Constant consciousness of Muruga finally makes the devotees strong and fearless to wage a battle of life - a fight to hold onto good energies and happiness. In the process of doing so, devotees emerge as righteous beings. Only a pure body and mind can receive positive vibrations of nature.
Acquire the Martian Energy
Mantras dedicated to Muruga:
Repeated chanting of mantras creates intense consciousness within us. The numbers of times you repeat a mantra your desires get reinforced. Mantra for Lord Skanda:
- Om Sharavana-bhavaya Namaha.
- Skanda Sashti Kavasam, a hymn composed by Saint Devaraya Swamigal. His verses on Muruga relates about various accomplishment of Muruga as a hero.
Regular chanting of any one of the hymns are said to fulfill strong desires.
Receive Muruga's Positive Vibrations
Mythological story on Skanda Sashti:
Skanda is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and the younger brother of Lord Ganesha. He is also known as Muruga, Kartikeya and Subramanya. In Hinduism, Muruga, is the Commander of a divine army which crushed the indestructible demons Tarakasura and Surapadman.
Once the Gods were being harassed by demons Tarakasura and Surapadman. Gods begged to Shiva for His help. Shiva and Parvati sent their son Muruga, endowing him with divine powers to fight the demons. Muruga defeated the demons after fighting them in a battle for six days.
The sixth day is therefore celebrated with pomp and grandeur in most of the temples. In Muruga temples, the incident of victory over asura is enacted by staging effigies of four asuras which are depicted to be slayed by the lance or Vel of Muruga.
Such acts signify triumph of God’s consciousness that create possibilities to overcome hurdles and gain success in your missions.