2020- Kandha Sashti...

Skanda Sashtii or Kanda Sashti, is the most important festival dedicated to Lord Subramanya. Kanda Sashti is observed mainly by Tamil Hindus. During Kanda Sashti, devotees observe six days fasting which starts from first day or Pirathamai ( called prathamā in northern Hindu calendar ) of Aippasi lunar month and ends on the sixth day which is known as Soorasamharam day. Soorasamharam is the final and the most important day of the six days festivities. It is believed that Lord Subramanya defeated Demon Surapadman on the very same day and the festival of Soorasamharam is observed every year to mark the victory of good over evil.

Saint Arunagirinathar was a devotee of Lord Subramanya...upon the instructions of the Lord, he had sung many Tamil poetic songs on the Lord.... as saint Arunagirinathar left for his heavenly abode he took the form of a parrot... this is when he sang the powerful "Kandhar Anubhuthi" which is a set of 51 shlokas in Tamil....

As parrots are good at repeating, it is believed that these hymns were sung by the Lord Himself...

In this rangoli, Mrs. Raji Krishnan has sung the first 5 shlokas. of 'Kandhar Anubhuthi for the background song......

Lord Subramanya is also known as "Muruga"

The Tamil writing says "Muruga Muruga Muruga.. "..as the "KandharAnubhuthi" hymns start and end with chanting "Muruga" 16 times...

The message the peacock is carrying is "Om Saravanabhava"

The powerful mantra of Lord Subramanya...

Lord Subramanya's weapon is the spear called "VEL" and His transport is the Peacock....

I have tried to depict some of them...

The Vel, Peacock, Saint Arunagirinathar as a parrot, the Moola Mantra (Om Saravanabhava) and the name of the Lord (Muruga)..