THE STORIES OF LORD KARTHIKEYA – XI

Skanda Shashti and the War – Surasamharam

Skanda Shashti fell this year between October 24th and October 29th 2014 immediately after Diwali (New Moon day – Amavasya) on Oct 23rd. This period of six days is in honour of Lord Karthikeya and his incarnation in this temporal world. It is the day on which Lord Muruga defeated the demon Taraka. Murugan, representing the good, fights Tarakasuran, a demon who represents evil or the dark forces.

Skanda Shasti comes immediately after Navarathiri and Deepavali. Its symbolism is very similar to that of Deepavali and Navarathiri - Victory of good over evil. Narakasuran represents the dark forces and Lord Krishna represents the good. Similarly, Shakthi, the goddess representing the good, destroys the evil and dark forces represented by Mahishasuran after the nine-night festival, Navarathiri. Like Navratri for the war goddess Durga in all her forms Skanda Shashti is a 6-day festival in honour of the victorious war lord Subramanya who defeats the personifications of Evil Tarakasura and Surapadhman and their evil kith and kin.

The devout fast for this period and meditate on the glory of Lord Guha. Devotees recite the hymns Skanda Shasti Kavacham – the protective Armour of Lord Murugan – seeking Lord Devasenapathy’s blessings to protect against all evil forces such as the devils, goblins and protection of his body against all sickness.

The final battle occurs near the seashore at Tiruchendur (see point 5 in THE STORIES OF LORD KARTHIKEYA – IX – “Aru Padai Veedu: Six Battle Camps of Lord Karthikeya”) when the sea recedes at this time of year to accommodate devotees thronging the scene of the glorious victory - as it is said to have done to facilitate the victory for Lord Muruga during the final roundup of the surviving Demon lords (Asuras). The Tiruchendur Murugan temple is built on the spot where Lord Muruga defeated Soorapadman.

The ever merciful lord forgave the demon when he surrendered in death in the war: As Surapadman was split into two, and each half was granted a boon by Murugan. The halves, thus turned into the peacock (his mount – Lord Subramanya’s mount to replace the borrowed Irawat – white elephant - of the King of the Devas, Indira) and the rooster his flag, which also "refers to the sun."

Kartikeya had dug through the Krauncha mountain to kill Taraka and his brothers gaining the name Kraucadharanaya.

The war-lore goes that Lord Skanda bore the discus thrown by the demon Tarakasuran on his chest, and hence there is a hollow in the chest region of the image of Lord Subramanya in some temples. Legend also has it that Lord Skanda gifted the discus (Chakra) to his second father-in-law the divine protector Lord Vishnu.

Lord Subrahmanya was created to kill the demon Soorapadman, but first he had to kill the demon lord’s brothers Tarakasura, the demon with an elephant face, and Krauncha, the demon in the form of a mountain. In spite of taking many forms to try and confuse the young warrior the two demons fail and fall before the arrows of Lord Muruga.

After the six days of war the victorious Lord Subramanya is wed to the daughter of Lord Indira - this follows soorasamharam (6th day of Skanda Shashti) and is called Thirukalyanam – literally “wedding of Lord” Kumara. This year it fell on October 30 th.

— 7 & 8 November, 2014, Friday/Saturday

Posted on December 5th