Article: The Skantha Sashti Festival

Prepared by Dr. K. Thilagawathi

Auspicious days for Muruhan

The auspicious days for Muruhan: Fridays, the constellation of Kaarthihai and the Sashti thithi. As Lord Muruhan is the presiding deity for Mars, Tuesday is also auspicious to Him. Among these, it is the Sashti fast, especially the Skantha Sashti fast, that is discussed here.

Sashti: Sashti is based on thithi. The moon grows layer by layer (kalai) after the new moon, becomes full, and then fades layer by layer to end up as a new moon. The fourteen days between the new moon and full moon are known as the fourteen thithis; a thithi can be longer or shorter than a day. Sanskrit numerals are used to name the thithi.

Sashti means six; hence there will be two sashti thithis every month. The sashti thithi that occurs after the new moon is denoted as “sukkila patcha sashti” or “poorva patcha sashti”; in other words, it is the sashti that occurs on the brighter side of the moon, i.e., during the waxing moon. Although all sashti during the waxing moon are auspicious for Lord Muruhan, the sukkila patcha sashti that occurs in the Tamil month, Aippasi, (mid-October to mid- November) is the most auspicious. The six days after the new moon in the month of Aippasi are collectively allocated for the Skantha Sashti Fast. Devotees of Muruhan observe the fast during these six days.

The Puraanic Legend

According to Kantha Puraanam, the six days that Lord Muruhan fought against the demon, Soorapanman, are collectively observed as the Skantha Sashti fast.

Soora Samhaaram: Soorapanman had two brothers, Singgamuhaasuran and Thaaraahaasuran, and more than two hundred thousand siblings. He had one sister by the name of Ajamuki. Soorapanman and his two brothers performed austere penance and courageous sacrifices to Lord Siva and received from Him the boon that they shall rule the 1008 worlds for 108 yugas. The boon also prescribed that they could not be destroyed by anything or anyone, except for the power of Lord Siva Himself. Due to this great boon, Soorapanman increasingly became arrogant and started to torture the Devas and other beings.

Eventually, the Devas beseeched Lord Siva’s help. Desiring to respond to their prayers, Lord Siva, who was in a state of solitude and ecstasy, married Devi Paarvathi and brought forth six flames from His six eyes of wisdom. Lord Siva, who is depicted with five faces, revealed His sixth face at that point in time. Lord Muruhan appeared from these flames.

Before preparing for the war, Lord Muruhan sent a peace mission to Soorapanman, but it failed. Hence, Lord Muruhan waged war against Soorapanman. Vaayubahavaan was Muruhan’s charioteer. Thaarahaasuran was killed by Muruhan’s Vel, while Singgamuhaasuran died by Muruhan’s Kulisaayudham. Thaaraahaasuran returned to Swami Aiyappan to be his vehicle in elephant form while Singgamuhaasuran returned to Devi Kaali as Her lion. Soorapanman used all his might and magical powers to fight against Lord Muruhan, but with all of his efforts failing, he stood as a mango tree. This tree was then split into two by Muruhan’s Vel and transformed into a rooster and a peacock. But when the rooster and peacock attempted to attack the Lord, they lost their arrogance due to the graceful glance of the Lord. They then became His flag’s emblem and vehicle, respectively. After the war ended, the Devas regained their heavenly world and lived happily.

The Skantha Sashti Fast

The fast is observed for six days in the month of Aippasi, beginning from the day after the new moon, which is known as Pirathamai

1. Those who observe the Skantha Sashti Fast should be vegetarian and take only one meal on the eve of the first day of the fast. At night, they can consume milk or fruits.

   
   

2. Those who observe the fast should rise early in the morning on the first day of the fast, have their bath, offer their prayers to God and make their sankalpam. When a person decides that he/she is going to observe the fast in a particular manner, it is known as Sankalpam. The decision applies to the three faculties, namely, thought, speech and action. Sankalpam can be made on an individual basis or in a group. To perform the sankalpam in a group, usually devotees gather in the temple and do it under the guidance of the priest.Note: Sankalpam consists of wearing the ‘tharppai’ ring on the finger, doing the piranaayaamam (inhaling and exhaling air in a systematic manner), knocking the forehead with the knuckles as a gesture of worshipping Lord Pillaiyaar and uttering the sankalpam statements. These are done to direct the devotees along the proper manner of fasting.

   
   

3. During the six days of the Skantha Sashti, those who fast should arise from bed early in the morning, have their bath and offer special prayers to Lord Muruhan. It is ideal to pray to Muruhan six times a day. As it may be difficult for devotees to prepare the kumbam at home and invoke Lord Muruhan therein, the devotees should go to a temple and worship Muruhan on all six days. Apart from going to the temple and praying to Lord Muruhan, devotees should read or listen to the Kantha Puraanam, sing or listen to the Kantha Sashti Kavasam, Kantha Guru Kavasam, etc., and keep on chanting His name.

   
   

4. During the six days of the fast, devotees are to take a little bit of milk, fruit, young coconut water or a few seeds of black pepper (milahu) every night, after the prayers. Devotees are to choose any one of the above that is suitable for them, and on the morning of the seventh day, they are to break their fast along with other devotees. This is known as ‘paaranai’.

   
   

   Note: On the sixth night, devotees should take something that is different from what they have been taking during the previous five nights. For instance, if one has been taking milk for the first five nights, he/she may take young coconut water for the sixth night. One who has been taking young coconut water for the first five nights may take milk or pepper on the sixth night. This is supposed to be the indication that one is completing his/her fast. Thus, one is not supposed to consume anything else during the sixth night i.e. before breaking their fast in the morning of the seventh day. In the morning of the seventh day, there will be a Sahasranaama Archanai for Lord Aarumuhar, after the morning poojaa. It is good for the devotees who fast to participate in the Sahasranaama Archanai. It is preferable for the devotees to break their fast after the Sahasranaama Archanai.

   
   

5. Devotees are not supposed to sleep during the daytime throughout the six days. Our Saivite elders would not sleep during the sixth night, too. Those who have been wearing the ‘tharppai’ ring during the Soora Samhaaram, would stay awake throughout the sixth night. Moreover, after having taken the meal in the morning of the seventh day, it is ideal to keep awake until nightfall. It was also habitual for our Saivite elders to bathe after the Sooran Poar, especially if they had been wearing the tharppai ring during the occasion.

   
   

6. The Skantha Sashti fast ought to be observed for six years, continuously. If one wants to stop observing the fast after six years, he/she should inform the chief priest in advance and do the ‘poorthi poojaa’ according to his guidance. After the Soora Samhaaram, there will be an abishegam and Shanmuhaarchanai for Lord Aarumuhar. After this, once the evening poojaa is completed, kumbams will be set up on behalf of the corresponding devotees and special prayers will be conducted. It is ideal for devotees to bathe using the kumbam water.

The fast described above is the ideal one. Those who are not able to fast in such a strict manner may still fast by taking one meal a day, for the first five days and fast on the sixth day. Those who are not able to fast should constantly keep their thoughts focused on Lord Muruhan.

Soora Samhaaram at Sri Kandaswamy Temple

Soorapanman and his two brothers – Singgamuhaasuran and Thaaraahaasuran – along with more than 200,000 other siblings and their armies, were subdued by Lord Muruhan. The highlights of this battle have been enacted at Sri Kandaswamy Temple in the evening of the sixth day of the Skantha Sashti Festival for decades.

Here are the scenes enacted at Sri Kandaswamy Temple:

• On the eve of the day of Sooran Poar, Soorapanman surveys the battlefield and its vicinity.

• On the day of Sooran Poar, Lord Kanthan arrives in His chariot in preparation for the battle.

• Lord Kanthan’s younger brother – cum – Commander-in Chief, Veeravaahu dhaevar, and Soorapanman take turns to survey the battlefield.

• Thaarahaasuran, the elephant-faced ‘asuran’, comes first to fight the Lord; his head is cut off by Lord Muruhan’s Vel. (Devotees can see Veeravaahu dhaevar coming in front of Lord Muruhan and exhibiting his joy whenever Lord Muruhan defeats Thaaraahaasuran, Singgamuhaasuran and Soorapanman).

• Singgamuhaasuran, the lion-faced ‘asuran’ comes next and is killed by Lord Muruhan.

• Finally, Soorapanman comes to battle with the Lord. He had been blessed with immense power because of his austere fast and worship to Lord Siva. That, together with the help of his mother, Maayaa, he tries to confuse the Lord Himself by using his magical power.

• As Lord Muruhan attempts to defeat him, Soorapanman uses his magical powers to fight Lord Muruhan. At one time, he would make the entire vicinity glare with light (this is indicated by bringing him with fire). At another time, he would make the entire vicinity pitch dark (this is depicted when he is brought fully covered by a black cloth). However, all of his tricks are subdued by Lord Muruhan’s ‘Nyaana Vel’.

• Finally, Soorapanman comes again in his original form. Since he is not able to win over the Lord, he becomes a mango tree and hides deep under the sea. When Lord Muruhan’s ‘Nyaana Vel’ splits the tree into two halves, one half becomes a peacock and the other a rooster. The peacock and rooster receive the divine fortune of permanently being with the Lord thereafter, in accordance with Soorapanman’s prior request to the Lord.

These are the events of Soora Samhaaram that are reenacted at Sri Kandaswamy Temple.

The Philosophy Underlying the Soora Samhaaram

The essence of Saiva Siddhantha Philosophy is contained in the Soora Samhaaram performed by Lord Kanthan. Soorapanman and his brothers represent the three impurities that bind the soul to materialistic life:

Soorapanman = Egotism

Singgamuhaasuran = Deeds (Karma)

Thaaraahaasuran = Maayaa (The Bond)

Among the three impurities, souls may be released from karma and maayaa, when they acquire a certain amount of spiritual wisdom, but even if one has become completely enlightened with spiritual wisdom, the egoistic feeling of “I” will pop out the moment a person even slightly relaxes their spiritual inclination. This is why many kinds of challenges are shown to occur before subduing Soorapanman. The ego can only be subdued by God’s grace; it never perishes.

Souls have to acquire spiritual wisdom combined with intense devotion to be released from these three impurities. Muruhan’s Vel represents spiritual wisdom. The destruction of Soorapanman and his brothers indicates the destruction of the impurities by means of spiritual wisdom. The fight between God and Sooran indicates the redeeming of souls from their impurities by God, due to His kind grace.

Soorapanman becomes a peacock and a rooster in order to indicate the two aspects of egotism, namely, the feeling of “I” and “my”. Moreover, the peacock and rooster also indicate that the ego can only be subdued but never destroyed.

There is one more significant point to be noted. When the human and celestial beings are defeated in their fight against the ‘asuras’ (demons), they completely surrender to God and request His help. Subsequently, God subdues the cruel ‘asuras’ and restores the heavenly world and comfortable life for the Devas. The ‘Sooran Poar’ reflects the great truth that we, too, should completely surrender to God, and ask for His Grace to help us overcome our negative qualities and acquire divine ones instead.

Why Should God Fight?

A rational question can arise, thus: The Lord is all-powerful; He is capable of destroying Soorapanman and his clan within a second by His very thought; so why did He have to fight for six days? Equally rational is the truth that God does not do anything without reason.

The author of Kantha Puraanam says ‘Sooran Poar’ is one of the divine games of the Lord. When Soorapanman, along with his mighty army, came to the battlefield on the sixth day, the Devas were taken aback by his mighty appearance. The king of the Devas, Indra, runs to Thirumaal (Vishnu) and expresses his fear. Thirumaal explains the Supreme nature of Lord Muruhan and wipes out the anxiety and fear of Indra. While relieving Indra’s anxiety, Thirumaal says thus: “If Lord Muruhan intends to destroy Sooran and his clan within an eye’s wink, He can do so with His smile, His anger, His words or His gaze; who else can perform such valiant deeds except the unparalleled Lord Himself?” The Tamil verse is as follows:

“Sooranae mudhaloar thammai imaipinil tholaikka unnin Mooralaal aduvan; konda munivinaal aduvan; vaaymaicCheerinaal aduvan; Naattaccheyhaiyaal aduvan; endraal Naerilaa mudhalvan vanmai yaavarae nihal(z)tthat paalaar?”

(unnin = if (one) thinks; mooral = smile; aduvan = He will destroy; munivu = anger; naattam = look)

The Almighty plays His divine games for the benefit of His devotees. Lord Muruhan fought against Soorapanman and his brothers to show the Devas and others the greatness of the penance performed by them and the power of the boons granted by Lord Siva. Lord Muruhan says to Singgamuhaasuran, “Singgamuhaa, do you think that I have been fighting with you thus far? I showed the Devas the greatness of the boons given to you by My Father. I pretended to fight thus far. Let us begin our serious fight hereafter.”

One more important point is to be noted. Soorapanman and his brothers were greater devotees of Lord Siva, than us. They went through severe penance for many years in order to have the vision of Lord Siva. When they found no sign of Lord Siva, they cut their limbs and threw them into the sacrificial fire. They were prepared to give their lives for the sake of Lord Siva by jumping into the flame. When such great devotees do cruel deeds, it becomes an obligation on the part of God to subdue unrighteousness, uphold righteousness and save the affected beings. Nevertheless, before punishing Soorapanman, Lord Muruhan sends a peace mission to him.

Lord Muruhan displays His omnipotence in many ways. On the fifth day of the Skantha Sashti festival, the Lord gave Soorapanman the spiritual wisdom to see His all-pervading Universal Form.

Visvaroobam is the all-pervading form assumed by God. Everything, inclusive of all deities, worlds, living things, rivers, mountains, planets, plants and creepers, will be contained in this form. There is nothing that exists which is not contained in this form.

Despite such grace and concern by God, Soorapanman did not give up his arrogance. Therefore, Lord Muruhan had to destroy Sooran in order to save the other souls; but Lord Muruhan accepted him as His vehicle (peacock) and His flag’s emblem (rooster) because of his commendable devotion. This clearly shows that the six-day battle is an illustration of God’s intense grace and kindness towards His devotees.

The Significance of the Fast

It is apparent that if devotees who observe the Skantha Sashti Fast desire to gradually acquire spiritual wisdom by being released from the impurities (the three impurities: egotism, good and bad deeds, and (maayaa) bond) by God’s grace, their desire will be granted. The stability of one’s blissful state is proportional to the amount of spiritual wisdom one gains and to the extent of putting the wisdom into practice. Apart from the acquisition of spiritual wisdom, if one desires to be married or beget a child, etc., Lord Muruhan will definitely fulfil their needs, because Lord Muruhan never fails to fulfil His devotees’ needs.

Kanthan Paatham Kanavillum Thunai Seiyum.