Skanda sashti is an important festival dedicated to Lord Muruga.Skanda sashti is observed in the tamil month of Aippasi (october - November), this year skanda sashti is celebrated from October 18 to 23rd. Soorasamharam is on the sixth day and on the seventh day ie.,on 24th October is tirukalyanam of Lord Murugan. Skanda Sashti commemorates the destruction of evil by the Supreme General Kartikeyan, son of Shiva, and is celebrated with the dramatic enactment of Soora Samhaaram. The events leading to the vanquishment of Surapatuma are demonstrated on the seashore on the evening of the Sashti-day by actual representations of giant-sized images of four demons (asuras) are moved on uplifted chariots , and these are symbolically encountered and destroyed by Lord Murugan .
For this festival only, the deity of Chinnakumarar comes down from the hill temple, kills the demons (asuras) at the corners of the four direction while on a festive procession around the hill, and triumphantly returns to His abode in the hill. This is on the sixth day, i.e., the sashti day. All the other events of the festival take place in the Palani hill temple.
Story of Skanda Shasti : It is the story of the birth of Skanda or Kumara and the fulfillment of the purpose of His divine incarnation.
The mighty demon, Tarakasura, had been oppressing the celestials very much. He drove them out from heaven. All the devas with Indra as their head , went to Brahma to appeal for help. Lord Brahma said that he cannot destroy Tarakasura, as he has obtain My grace through severe penances. The creator said " only the spark of Shiva can produce the hero who will defeat the powers of the evil" Unfortunately, Shiva The king of yogis was lost in a deep state of meditation and samadhi. None of the Devas dared to disturb him least of all convince him to create a progeny.
Upon Brahma's suggestion, they sought the help of Parvathi and Kama (the god of love). Parvathi agreed to help and engaged herself in severe penance to attract Shiva's attention. Kama also agreed to help and engaged himself in the suicidal mission of arousing Shiva from His state of Samadhi. Kama shot his arrows of love at Shiva who was eventually disturbed and the fire of anger from his third eye burnt Kama into ashes.
The penance of Parvathi and the sacrifice of Kama paid off. Shiva was aroused from his Samadhi. However, none could bear the sparks of His fiery seed. It fell into the mouth of Agni, and afterwards received by Ganges, who in turn threw it into Sara Vana ( forest of arrow like grass). Thus Saravanabava was born. He was also Skanda - Shiva's power of chastity preserved through penance. Skanda was raised by the six mothers of the divine constellation of Krithikai . Karthikeya divided himself into six babies to be nursed by six mothers. When Parvathi came and gathered all the six babies, He became Shanmukha - the one with the six faces and one body. Shanmukha became Kumara - the powerful virile adolescent who was also the beautiful and the handsome ( Muruga) . He was made the General (Deva Senapathi) of the God's army. Skanda received from his mother Parasakthi an all powerful Vel (lance). Hence He is also Sakthi Velan. He engaged the armies of Simhamukha, Surapadman and Tarakasura on a six day battle and vanquished all of them on the sixth day. The Asuras were annihilated and the Devas were liberated.Offering of Kavadi on Skanda Sashti is a form of popular worship. The Lord spent his childhood in Tiruchendur and took Mahasamadhi at Kathirgamam. If anyone goes to Kathirgamam (Sri Lanka) with faith, devotion and piety, and stays in the temple for two or three days , the Lord himself grants his vision to the devotee."
Upon Brahma's suggestion, they sought the help of Parvathi and Kama (the god of love). Parvathi agreed to help and engaged herself in severe penance to attract Shiva's attention. Kama also agreed to help and engaged himself in the suicidal mission of arousing Shiva from His state of Samadhi. Kama shot his arrows of love at Shiva who was eventually disturbed and the fire of anger from his third eye burnt Kama into ashes.
The penance of Parvathi and the sacrifice of Kama paid off. Shiva was aroused from his Samadhi. However, none could bear the sparks of His fiery seed. It fell into the mouth of Agni, and afterwards received by Ganges, who in turn threw it into Sara Vana ( forest of arrow like grass). Thus Saravanabava was born. He was also Skanda - Shiva's power of chastity preserved through penance. Skanda was raised by the six mothers of the divine constellation of Krithikai . Karthikeya divided himself into six babies to be nursed by six mothers. When Parvathi came and gathered all the six babies, He became Shanmukha - the one with the six faces and one body. Shanmukha became Kumara - the powerful virile adolescent who was also the beautiful and the handsome ( Muruga) . He was made the General (Deva Senapathi) of the God's army. Skanda received from his mother Parasakthi an all powerful Vel (lance). Hence He is also Sakthi Velan. He engaged the armies of Simhamukha, Surapadman and Tarakasura on a six day battle and vanquished all of them on the sixth day. The Asuras were annihilated and the Devas were liberated.Offering of Kavadi on Skanda Sashti is a form of popular worship. The Lord spent his childhood in Tiruchendur and took Mahasamadhi at Kathirgamam. If anyone goes to Kathirgamam (Sri Lanka) with faith, devotion and piety, and stays in the temple for two or three days , the Lord himself grants his vision to the devotee."
During these six days, devotees recite various inspiring hymns and read stories connected with Lord Subramanya.They go on pilgrimage to the various Subramanya shrines.
Links for Kandasashti Kavacham :
Source : http://www.kytemple.org/skanda.html
