Subramanya Shashti - Significance

Subramanya Shashti - Significance

Feb 29, 2024Soubhagya Barick

Champa Shashti or Subrahmanya Shashthi or the Skanda Shashthi is an important occasion for celebrations in the southern parts of India. Champa Shashti or Skanda Shashthi is being celebrated on 6th Dec, 2024.

PurePrayer presents a bird’s eye view of the celebrations of Champa Shashti, Lord Subramanya, and puja practices.

Subramanya Shashti Puja Samagri- 

Here are the list of commonly required items (puja samagri) for Subramanya Shashti puja:

  1. Idol or Picture of Lord Subramanya
  2. Kalasha (water-filled sacred pot)
  3. Coconut (with husk if possible)
  4. Betel leaves (10-20)
  5. Betel nuts
  6. Bananas (a bunch or as required)
  7. Fruits (mangoes, apples, pomegranates, etc.)
  8. Flowers (red or yellow flowers like jasmine, marigold, lotus, or any fragrant ones)
  9. Garlands (made of flowers or rudraksha)
  10. Agarbatti
  11. Camphor (for aarti)
  12. Deepa (lamp) – oil or ghee-based
  1. Rice (uncooked) – for rangoli and puja
  2. Turmeric powder
  3. Kumkum (vermillion)
  4. Sandalwood paste
  5. Akshata (rice mixed with turmeric and ghee)
  6. Honey
  7. Sugar
  8. Panchamrita (milk, curd, honey, sugar, and ghee mixture)
  9. Raw milk
  10. Ghee (Pooja Oil)
  1. Laddu or Modak (Lord Subramanya's favorite sweets)
  2. Payasam (kheer) or any special dish as prasadam
  3. Cooked rice and dal
  4. Vegetables (optional, as per tradition)

 

Champa Shashti Importance

Champa Shashti gains importance with Tarakasura Samhara, which is celebrated through-out India and especially, in the Southern parts of India like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and even Kerala. It is said, Lord Kartikeya adores the Champaka or Champa flower.

Champa Shashti also relates to a story of Lord Shiva (Khandoba) vanquishing a demon called Malhasur. Hence, Lord Shiva is also fondly called Malahanikareshwara. In order to address the Kuja Dosh or Mangal Dosh (Graha Dosh), worship of Subrahmanya or Karthikeya is one of the simplest solutions.

Margashira Masam 

The day of Shukla Paksha Shashthi of Margashira masa is celebrated with a great pomp in Tamil Nadu state. Kanda, Karthikeya, Murugan, or simply the Vela are the names that are recalled all over many times during Skanda Shashthi.

This is the day on which Lord Subrahmanya, representing the army of Gods, vanquished Tarakasura. Puranas mention that, Subrahmanya is the Avatar of Manmatha the ‘God of Love’. Another Avatar of Manmatha is Pradyumna as the son of Lord Sri Krishna.

PurePrayer presents a few interesting thoughts about Lord Subramanya. Read on.

Subrahmanya Mantra

|| षडाननं कुंकुमरक्तवर्णं महामतिं दिव्यमयूरवाहनं |

| रुद्रस्य सूनुं सुरसैन्यनाथं गुहं सदा शरणमहं प्रपद्ये ||

 

|| ಷಡಾನನಂ ಕುಂಕುಮರಕ್ತವರ್ಣಂ ಮಹಾಮತಿಂ ದಿವ್ಯಮಯೂರವಾಹನಂ |

| ರುದ್ರಸ್ಯ ಸೂನುಂ ಸುರಸೈನ್ಯನಾಥಂ ಗುಹಂ ಸದಾ ಶರಣಮಹಂ ಪ್ರಪದ್ಯೇ ||

 

|| ShaDAnanaM kuMkumaraktavarNaM mahAmatiM divyamayUravAhanaM |

| rudrasya sUnuM surasainyanAthaM guhaM sadA SaraNamahaM prapadye ||

 

‘Skanda Sashti’ or ‘Kanda Shashti’ has gained importance as women pray to Subramanya or kanda seeking a son like him. Skanda Sashti is celebrated by offering Pujas to Lord Subramanya in the form of a five-headed snake. Brahmachari {Unmarried) boys who have undergone Upanayanam are offered Puja and given ‘Daan’.  ‘Vastram’ (Clothes like Dhoti and Angavastram) and Tamboolam with Dakshina are offered. These boys are treated as the deity Subrahmanya himself.

 

Birth of Kartikeya According to Skanda Purana

Skanda Purana provides a detailed account of the birth of Kartikeya or Skanda, the defeat of the demon Surapadma, and many other related events. Surapadma, Simhamukha, and Tarakasura were the sons of the Sage Kashyapa and Surasa. Surapadma was defeated by Skanda, but seeking forgiveness for his sins of troubling the dwellers of different Lokas (worlds), Surapadma was granted the honor of becoming Lord Subrahmanya’s carrier, a peacock. 

Surapadma did a very long penance to Lord Shiva. He sought a boon that no one except Shiva’s offspring, born without shiva’s union with Parvati, in any nature, could either kill or defeat him. Kartikeya was born from the third eye on the forehead and became the commander of the army that fought with the demons which led to the removal of demons. Subrahmanya is fondly known as Murugan in Tamil literature.  Soorasamharam praising Lord Kartikeya has been a part of Tamil Sangam literature. Poet Nakkeerar has written ‘Thiru Murugarrupadai’ that mentions these sacred six abodes.

Ashlesha Bali Pooja 

Participated in Ashleshabali Pooja on Margashira Shashthi (Margali Shashti) on 6th December 2024 seeking the benevolence of Subrahmanya (Skanda) and the Nagadevatas. Performing Ashleshabali Puja on the day of Skanda Shashthi or Subramanya Shashthi has been a very old traditional observance offering obeisance to Lord Subrahmanya and Naagdevtas.

Ashlesha Bali Pooja Benefits

Ashlesha Bali Pooja is a special worship performed seeking protection and relief from Sarpa Dosh, Naga Dosh, Kuja Dosham (Manglik Dosh), and Kala Sarpa Dosh. Worship of snakes or ‘Nagaradhana’ finds mention in many Puranas. Ashlesha is one of the 27 constellations in the Hindu Sanatan Astrology. Ashlesha means ‘Unseparated’ or ‘Inseparable’. Ayyilyam or Aiyillam Nakshatra Shanti is another name for Ashlesha Bali Puja in Tamil and Malayalam.

Performing Shanti Poojas to those born in this constellation on the day of Skandha sashti is considered highly beneficial.

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Subramanya Sashti Date 2024 - Friday, December 6, 2024

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