Skanda Sashti is close now. It starts on November 6 and continues up to November 11, a period of six days. Skanda is another name for Karthikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He is a mighty warrior god. His birth has an interesting story behind it.
There was a demon called Surapadma who had a boon that he could not be vanquished by any of the gods or humans present (when he received the boon). He began to torture everybody. When the gods approached Lord Brahma for a solution, he said only a progeny produced by Shiva could destroy the demon. Shiva was in deep meditation then and none dared disturb him. However, his consort Parvati decide to do severe penances and convinced Kama, the god of love, to arouse Shiva. Kama agreed to sacrifice himself in this suicidal mission and shot his arrows at Shiva. Shiva was eventually disturbed and in anger burnt Kama.
However, the seed was born that fell into the mouth of Agni who spit it into the Ganges. The holy Ganga, in turn, threw it on the grass on its bank. The baby was split into six beings. Parvati then came and collected them all and Karthikeya (the baby) became one. But this is the reason why he is also known as ‘Arumugam’ (six-faced one).
Karthikeya eventually formed an army of the Devas and destroyed Surapadma after a six-day battle with his vel (his mighty lance). Hence the name Vetri (victory) Vel. This day has come to be known as Soorasamharam. Indra, the king of the gods, married his daughter, Devasena, to Karthikeya out of sheer gratitude. Lord Muruga (another name for Karthikeya) also married Valli, a gypsy girl to show that he did not discriminate between the haves and the have-nots.
Skanda Sashti is thus a celebration of destruction of evil. Symbolically, it is a destruction of our ego, our bad thoughts, our greed and all negativity around us.
Praying to Lord Muruga is a wonderful way of gaining strength, fame, prosperity, powers beyond mortal thought, detachment from worldly objects and intellect. Lord Muruga always comes to the aid of his devotees.
Many people fast for the six-day duration in different ways. They also recite the Kanda Sashti Kavacham and other prayers in praise of Lord Muruga.
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