Sunday, January 31, 2016

Palani Murugan Temple – Kanda Sashti Festival

Palani Murugan Temple – Kanda Sashti Festival
This is a very important festival at Palani, during the 6 days in the month of Aippasi (7th Tamil month). This is based on the mythological story of Lord Muruga killing the demons. On this day only (once in a year) the Lord comes down the Hill, and after vanquishing the demons, ascends the Hill again. This is associated with Kandha Shasti. The four demons (Gajamugan, Tharagan, Singamugan and Surapadman) are won by the Lord. It is a grand sight to see the dramatic representation of this. On this day devotees observe total fasting as they consider that this will offset all their sins.
Sashti or sixth day of the full moon and the sixth day of the new moon are favorite days for Lord Muruga. Several devotees of Muruga observe partial or full fast on each Sashti day and throughout the Kanda Sashti period.
The Sashti falling in on the waxing moon period in the month of Aippasi (October-November) is the day on which Muruga is believed to have killed a super-demon called Sura Padman. This is commemorated in the six-day festival of Kanda Sashti as a symbol of perpetual destruction of evil by God.
Skanda Sasti, the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Aippasi, is celebrated in Saivite temples all over Tamilnadu, and with an extra measure of grandeur in temples dedicated to Subramanya. Skanda Sasti commemorates the destruction of evil by the Supreme General Kartikeya, son of Shiva, and is celebrated with the dramatic enactment of Soora Samharam.
Each of these six days is, by custom, set apart to recite the glory of Muruga from one of the six scriptures in His praise—Tirumurukatrupadai, Kandar Kalivenba, Kandar Anubhuti, Kandar Alankaram, Kanda Sashti Kavacam, and Kanda Puranam. Giant-sized images of four asuras are moved on uplifted chariots and these encountered and destroyed by the Lord.
For this festival and for this only, the Utsava deity of Chinnakumarar comes down from the hill temple, kills the asuras at four direction corners while on a festive procession round the hill and triumphantly returns to his abode in the hill. This is on the sixth day, i.e. Sashti day. All the other events of the festival take place in the hill temple.

On the seventh day, Muruga marries Valli. This divine marriage is celebrated both in the hill temple and in the Periyanayaki Temple.