Shashti is a day of importance to Sri Murugan. It usually
falls a few days after Amavasai of the month. Sashti or sixth day of the
full moon and the sixth day of the new moon are favorite days for Lord Muruga.
Devotees undertake fasting and prayers on the occurrence of this day every
month for a period usually a year or three years. The occurrence of Shashti
during the Malayalam month of Thulam (October-November) is considered of
great importance and celebrated as Skanda Shashti. Devotees organise Bhajan
and Kirtan programs on a grand scale. Several devotees of Muruga observe
partial or full fast on each Sashti day and throughout the Skanda Sashti
Skanda Shashti festival celebrates the appearance of Lord
Murugan in this temporal world. It is the day on which Lord Subramanya defeated
the demon Taraka. Murugan, representing the good, fights Tarakasuran, a
demon who represents evil or the dark forces. It is interesting to note
that this festival 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.
Another feature found in the Skandapuranam (the story of Lord Muruga), is that its similarity in some aspects to Ramayana.
Like Sri Rama, Murugan also goes to war with Veerabadran and as in Ramayana,
Murugan sends off the defenseless Tarakasuran to return the following day
fully decked with weapons to fight him. Devotees fast for this period and
meditate on the glory of Lord Murugan. Married couples who do not have any
children offer their special prayers to seek Murugan's blessings for a child.
It is a period when Lord Murugan's devotees recite the hymns
Skanda Shasti Kavacham- the protective Armour of Lord Murugan. Skanda Shasti
Kavacham is a short composition of powerful hymns containing special mantras.
Through these matters, the composer, a sage cum poet Thevarayar, seeks Murugan's
blessings to protect him against all evil forces such as the devils, goblins
and protection of his body against all sickness.
Though he had composed six such kavachams or Armour of hymns
in honour of each of the six celebrated abodes of Murugan, the one composed
at Thiruchendur is most popular and is recited by devotees. This is because,
Thevarayar, who was despondent with his severe ulcer pain was cured at this
abode of Murugan.