Picture Nr. 1
Shri Skanda (Subramanya/Karrtikeya) with His Parents Shiva & Shakti & Divine Brother Ganesha:
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Picture Nr. 2
Skanda is blessing every being:
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Subramanya/Skanda painted for Franks (myself) newest Vedic book:
Skanda
By
SRI
SWAMI SIVANANDA
PROSTRATIONS and humble salutations to Lord Subramanya, the Supreme Being, who is the
ruler of this universe, who is the indweller of our hearts, who is the second son of Lord
Siva, who is the beloved of Valli and Deivayanai, who bestows boons easily on His
devotees, who is the embodiment of power, wisdom, love and bliss.
The great demon, Tarakasura, was oppressing the celestials. He drove them out from
heaven. All the gods then went to Brahma to appeal for help.
Brahma said to the gods, 'O Devas, I cannot destroy Taraka, as he has obtained My
Grace through severe penance. But let Me give you a suggestion. Get the help of Cupid, the
God of Love. Induce him to tempt Lord Siva, who remains absorbed in His Yoga Samadhi. Let
Lord Siva unite with Parvati. A powerful son, Lord Subramanya, will be born to them. This
son will destroy the demon that harasses you.'
Indra, the chief of the gods, thereupon requested Cupid to go with his wife, Rati, and
his companion Vasanta (the season of spring), to Mount Kailas, the abode of Siva. Cupid
carried out the instruction at once, for it was already springtime. Standing behind a
tree, Cupid shot his arrow of passion towards Siva, whilst Parvati was placing some
flowers in His hands. The moment their hands met, Siva experienced a distracting feeling.
He wondered what it was that disturbed His Yoga. He looked around and saw Cupid crouching
behind the tree.
The Lord opened His 'third eye', the inner eye of intuition, and Cupid
was burnt to ashes by the fire that emanated from it. That is why the God of Love is also
called Ananga, which means 'bodiless'.
After burning Cupid, the Lord ascertained by His Yogic vision that the birth of Lord
Subramanya was absolutely necessary to destroy the powerful Taraka. Siva's seed was thrown
into the fire which, unable to retain it, threw it into the Ganges, which in turn threw it
into a reed forest. This is where Lord Subramanya was born; hence, He is called
Saravanabhava--'born in a reed-forest'. He became the leader of the celestial
hosts and the destroyer of Taraka as Brahma had ordained.
Lord Subramanya is an incarnation of Lord Siva. All incarnations are manifestations of
the one Supreme Lord. Lord Subramanya and Lord Krishna are one.
Lord Krishna says in the Gita: 'Among the army generals, I am Skanda'.
The Lord manifests Himself from time to time in various names and forms, for the sake
of establishing righteousness and subduing wickedness.
Lord Subramanya is a ray born of the Divine Consciousness of Lord Siva. Valli and
Deivayanai are His two wives. They represent the power of action and the power of
knowledge respectively. He is a Godhead easily accessible in this dark age of ignorance
and lack of faith. In this He is no different from Hanuman. He gives material and
spiritual prosperity and success in every undertaking of His devotees, even if they show a
little devotion to Him. He is worshipped with great devotion in South India. Lord
Subramanya's other names are Kumaresa, Kartikeya, Shanmukha, Guha, Muruga and Velayudhan.
In His picture, Lord Subramanya holds a spear in His hand, just as Lord Siva holds the
trident. This is an emblem of power. It indicates that He is the ruler of the universe.
His vehicle is the peacock. He rides on it. This signifies that He has conquered pride,
egoism and vanity. There is a cobra under His feet, which indicates that He is absolutely
fearless, immortal and wise. Valli is on His one side, Deivayanai on the other. Sometimes
He stands alone with His spear. In this pose He is known as Velayudhan; this is His
Nirguna aspect, which is free from the illusory power of Maya.
The six heads represent the six rays or attributes, namely, wisdom, dispassion,
strength, fame, wealth and divine powers. They indicate that He is the source of the four Vedas,
the Vedangas and the six schools of philosophy. They also indicate His control
over the five organs of knowledge as well as the mind. They denote that He is the Supreme
Being with thousands of heads and hands. His head turned in all directions signifies that
He is all-pervading. It indicates that He can multiply and assume forms at will.
Lord Subramanya's temples can be seen in Udipi, in Tiruchendur, in the Palani Hills, in
Ceylon, and in Tiruparankundrum. Lord Subramanya spent His days of childhood in
Tiruchendur and attained Mahasamadhi at Kathirgamam. If you go to Kathirgamam with faith,
devotion and piety, and stay in the temple there for two or three days, the Lord will
grant you His vision. You will get rich spiritual experiences. A huge festival is held in
the temple every year on Skanda Sashti. Thousands of people visit the place. Massive
amounts of camphor are burnt on this occasion.
Skanda Sashti falls in November. It is the day on which Lord Subramanya defeated the
demon Taraka. On this day elaborate festivals are held with great pomp and grandeur.
Devotees organise Bhajan and Kirtan programs on a grand scale. Thousands are fed
sumptuously. Many incurable diseases are cured if one visits Palani and worships Lord
Subramanya there. In South India, the Lord's Lilas are dramatized on the stage.
In addition to the Skanda Sashti, devotees of Lord Subramanya observe weekly and
monthly days in His honour. Every Friday, or the Kartigai Nakshatram day every month, or
the sixth day of the bright fortnight,--all these are sacred days for His devotees. The
sixth day of the month of Tulam (October-November) is the most auspicious of them all.
This is the Skanda Sashti day.
In many places the festival commences six days prior to the Sashti itself and concludes
on the day of the Sashti. During these days, devotees recite various inspiring hymns and
read stories connected with Lord Subramanya. They worship the Lord and take Kavadi. They
go on pilgrimage to the various Subramanya shrines.
The Tirumurukatrupadai has been composed in His praise by the famous Nakkerar.
He who studies this eminent work daily with devotion and faith, gets certain success in
life as well as peace and prosperity. The Tiruppugal is another well-known book in
Tamil, which contains the inspiring devotional songs of Arunagirinathar in praise of Lord
Subramanya. The Kavadichindu songs are also in praise of the Lord. The Skanda
Sashti Kavacham is another famous hymn in praise of Lord Subramanya and is sung
particularly on festive occasions.
Perhaps the most potent propitiatory rite that a devotee of Shanmukha undertakes to
perform is what is known as the Kavadi. The benefits that the devotee gains from offering
a Kavadi to the Lord are a million-fold greater than the little pain that he inflicts upon
himself.
Generally, people take a vow to offer the Lord a Kavadi for the sake of tiding over a
great calamity. Though this might, on the face of it, appear a little mercenary, a
moment's reflection will reveal that it contains in it the seed of supreme love of God.
The worldly object is achieved, no doubt, and the devotee takes the Kavadi; but after the
ceremony he gets so God-intoxicated that his inner spiritual being gets awakened. This is
also a method that ultimately leads to the supreme state of devotion.
The Kavadi has various shapes and sizes, from the simple shape of a hawker's storehouse
(a wooden stick with two baskets at each end, slung across the shoulder) to the costly
palanquin structure, profusely flower-bedecked and decoratively interwoven with peacock
feathers. In all cases the Kavadi has a good many brass bells adorning it and announcing
it as the Kavadi-bearer draws it along. As the Kavadi-bearer very often observes silence,
the bells are the only eloquent signs of a Kavadi procession.
The two baskets hanging at each end of the Kavadi contain rice, milk or other articles
that the devotee has vowed to offer the Lord. The more devout among them, and especially
those who do it as a Sadhana, collect these articles by begging. They travel on foot from
village to village, and beg from door to door. The villagers offer their articles directly
into the basket of the Kavadi. The Kavadi-bearer continues begging until the baskets are
full or the avowed quantity is reached, and then offers the Kavadi to the Lord. Some keen
devotees undertake to walk barefoot from home to one of the shrines of Lord Subramanya,
bearing the Kavadi all the way and collecting materials for the offering. He has to walk a
hundred miles sometimes! The people who place the articles in the baskets also receive the
Lord's blessings.
The Kavadi-bearer is required to observe various rules between the time he takes up the
Kavadi, and the day of the offering. He has to perform elaborate ceremonies at the time of
assuming the Kavadi, and at the time of offering it to the Lord. He also puts on the dress
of a Pandaram, a Saivite mendicant. It consists of a saffron-coloured cloth, a conical
scarlet cap, and a cane silver-capped at both ends. Lord Siva, the Supreme Pandaram
Himself, loves to wear this dress. The Pandaram lives on alms only. The bare chest of the
Kavadi-bearer is covered with several rudraksha malas.
The Kavadi-bearer observes strict celibacy. Only pure, Sattwic food is taken; he
abstains from all sorts of intoxicating drinks and drugs. He thinks of God all the time.
Many of the Kavadi-bearers, especially those who do it as a spiritual Sadhana, impose
various forms of self-torture. Some pass a sharp little spear through their tongue, which
is made to protrude out of the mouth. Others may pass a spear through the cheek. This sort
of piercing is done in other parts of the body also. The bearer does not shave; he grows a
beard. He eats only once a day. The spear pierced through his tongue or cheek reminds him
of the Lord constantly. It also prevents him from speaking. It gives him great power of
endurance.
The Kavadi-bearer enjoys a high state of religious fervour. He dances in ecstasy. His
very appearance is awe-inspiring; there is divine radiance on his face. Devotees often
experience the state of feeling union with the Lord. Sometimes the Deity enters them and
possesses them for some time.
The Agni-Kavadi is the most difficult offering. With the Kavadi hanging on his
shoulder, the devotee walks through a pit of burning coals. Hymns are sung in praise of
the Lord by those assembled all around the pit. Drums are beaten and incense is burnt. The
entire atmosphere is awe-inspiring. The true devotee enters into ecstasy and easily walks
over the fire.
At the Sivananda Ashram in India, Skanda Sashti is observed for six days, preceding and
including the Sashti day. Devotees of Lord Subramanya live on milk and fruit and do
rigorous Sadhana. They get up at 4am during Brahmamuhurta and meditate on the Lord.
On each of the six days, all the participants do Japa of the Mantra, Om
Saravanabhavaya Namah, as much as possible. They even greet one another with this
Mantra.
Yogis and learned scholars deliver lectures on Subramanya Tattwa, or the divine sport
of the Lord. During the evening Satsang, hymns in praise of Lord Subramanya are sung.
Readings are taken from my book, Lord Shanmukha and His Worship. Devotees sing
inspiring songs on the Lord.
An elaborate ceremonial worship is performed daily to the sacred image of Lord
Subramanya. On the last day a grand havan is performed. The evening Satsang is
devoted entirely to the adoration of Lord Subramanya.
Pray from the bottom of your heart: 'O my Lord Subramanya, O all-merciful Lord, I
have neither faith nor devotion. I do not know how to worship Thee in the proper manner,
or to meditate on Thee. I am Thy child who has lost his way, forgotten the goal and Thy
Name. Is it not Thy duty, O compassionate Father, to take me back? O Mother Valli, will
you not introduce me to Thy Lord? Thy love for Thy children is deeper and truer than that
of anyone else in this world. Though I have become Thy worthless and undutiful child, O
beloved Mother Valli, pardon me! Make me dutiful and faithful. I am Thine from this very
second; always Thine. All is Thine. It is the Mother's duty to correct, educate and mould
Her reckless child when it strays aimlessly on the wrong path. Remove the gulf or the veil
of delusion that separates me from Thee. Bless me. Enlighten me. Take me back to Thy holy
feet. I have nothing more to say. This is my fervent prayer to Thee and Thy Lord, my
beloved and ancient Parents.'
May Lord Subramanya shower His Grace upon you! May His blessings grant you peace, bliss
and prosperity!
JAI GURU DEV
Frank & Family
