Gyaanashaktidhara Skanda
valliikalyaaNa sundara
devasenaa manaH kaanta
Kaartikeya namo astute
OM subrahmanyaaya namah
Subramanya Shasti being one of the most significant festivals celebrated in our families, I took to fasting with just one meal sans onions and garlic. Fasting today, is a means of giving your being an opportunity to sense the aura of the whole divine commemoration with Subramanya. The whole legend of Shasti revolves around a fight between a demon named Surapadma who was exploiting his indomitable superpowers which he recieved as a boon & Murugan. Owing to all the breaches of the demon, Lord Shiva and Parvati, then manifested the six faced child which actually are six different children made to one, i.e. Lord Muruga with their powers. Lord Muruga or also Karthikeya, fought against the demon and it subsided on the sixth day with the defeat of the demon. The sixth day fell on the Shasthi thithi of Shukla Paksha. So, this war is celebrated and it is believed to be a day of rebirth for Lord Subramanya, the snake headed supreme being.
Devotees today wake up early, bathe, fast, wear new clothes and offer milk to Naga Banas or Huttas (Anthills where snakes are believed to dwell). It is believed that some of Dhana or offering made in the form of rice and jaggery to the needy or temples offering prasada will have more significance. My offering was made, cooked and fed to someone today! In the picture, Salem Sanna rice and Achchu Bella from a local farmer.
