Skanda Sashti Viratham/Vrath is a six day fast observed once a year in dedication to Lord Murugan during the Tamil month of Aippasi [Oct -Nov]. Sashti Viratham is also observed every month during the Sashti Thithi for one day starting early in the morning and ending the next day morning.
The fasting
of Skanda Sashti begins on the first day of the new moon which usually falls on
the day after Deepavali and observed for six days from Prathamai Thithi to
Sashti Thithi. Viratham/Vrath in
Sanskrit means ‘Vow’ which is not merely fasting. The actual meaning of Viratham/promise
which the devotee observes is to purify his/her mind through meditation,
worship Lord Murugan with great devotion, sticking to clean habits, not telling
lies, not getting anger etc. Devotees make it a point to visit Murugan Temples
during these 6 days, chant kanda sashti kavasam, do special prayers, offer food
for the poor and please Lord Murugan and get his blessings.
Other articles that might of your interest…
SkandaSashti Viratham 2023 dates
Origin of Skandha Sashti Festival/Sashti Viratham
How to do the Sashti Pooja at home
How/Ways to Observe Skanda Sashti Viratham/Fasting
Each
devotee observes Sashti fasting differently but there are certain set of common
rules and regulations followed by everybody during the fasting days.
·
Fasting
begins with sunrise with the blessing of Sun God. It is broken on the next day
morning sunrise after praying to Sun God.
·
When
observing the fast, we must recite Kanda Sashti Kavasam, Subramaniya Bhujangam,
Vel Maaral, Vel Pathigam or atleast small hymns from Thirupugazh.
·
Reading
or hearing stories of Lord Murugan or Kandha Puranam.
·
Devotees
also try to visit Lord Murugan temple during the fasting days. Reciting “Ohm
Saravana Bava” 108 times a day will bring peace and prosperity in our life.
·
Meditation,
worship, abstaining from telling lies, avoiding fights etc must be followed.
Fasting is a method to bring about self-control and self-discipline in us.
·
Fasting
is not just about food, but it is an attempt to instill positive thoughts and
discipline. Fasting is an approach to fight against impurities like anger, impatience
and negative thoughts. But all this is possible only with the blessings of Lord
Murugan. So before starting the fasting pray to Lord Murugan to give full strength
[ both physical and mental] to complete the six day fasting with out any
hindrance.
·
Non-Vegetarian
food is completely avoided during this period.
·
Some
people also avoid garlic and onions.
·
During
Sashti some devotees observe complete fasting by just drinking water, that is
not possible for everybody due to health reasons. So, some devotees take a
single meal a day [oru pozhudhu viratham]
·
Some
people prefer to take the meal during noon and others at night.
·
Some
devotees confine to fruits, tender coconut water, and juices during the 6-day
period.
·
During
the fasting days, offer food for the poor and help others as much as possible.
·
The
fasting ends on the sixth day which is the soorasamharam day. The next day is
the Thirukalyanam, where Lord Murugan marries Devaiyaanai, the daughter of Lord
Indra.
Four
different types of Fasting are observed during Skandha Sashti
Oru
Pozhudhu/Pagal Viratham [One Day Fasting]
Paal
Viratham [Milk Fasting]
Elaneer
Viratham [Tender Coconut Fasting]
Milagu
Viratham [Black Pepper Fasting]
Oru
Pozhudhu/Pagal Viratham [One day Fasting]
Devotees
observe fasting during that day, will have one meal either in the morning or
noon or night after doing the prayer. But it is better to have the meals during
noon time, so that you can have milk/fruit in the morning and night. This is
called as oru pozhudhu viratham
Paal
Viratham [Milk Fasting]
Paal
Viratham is one type fasting in which the devotees are allowed to have only
milk during this type of fasting and no other food is allowed. This milk should
especially be the “Abishekam Milk” got from Murugan temple, but this is not
possible in all the situations. So, devotees offer Milk with little jaggery to
Lord Murugan at home or do paal abishekam to Murugan Idol [if you have it at
home] and have it after doing the pooja.
Elaneer
Viratham [Tender Coconut Fasting]
For Elaneer
Viratham, devotees can buy tender coconut from shop and offer it as neivedhyam
to Lord Murugan and do the pooja. After the pooja, the devotees can have this tender
coconut/elaneer during the noon time. During this fasting also nothing other
Elaneer can be consumed.
Milagu
Viratham [Black Pepper Fasting]
Milagu
Virathm/Black pepper fasting is the most difficult one among all the other
fasting methods. During this milagu fasting, devotees should have 1 black
pepper on the first day, 2 black peppers on the second day, 3 black peppers on
the third day, 4 black peppers on the fourth day, 5 black peppers on the fifth
day, 6 black peppers on the sixth day. Before having the black peppers, the
devotees have to keep the Black peppers in front of Lord Murugan, recite all
the slogans, do the pooja and then only have it. Devotees should have only
black peppers and water and no other food is allowed during this kind of
fasting. It is believed the Milagu Fasting cleanses our body, mind and soul and
keeps one hale and healthy.
Fasting
should be done whole heartedly and should not be done under any compulsion. If
you are sick and on medication, you need not adhere to intense fasting, just
stick to your regular routine and do the meditation and pooja with your whole
heart to get the blessings of Lord Murugan.
Benefits of Skandha Sashti Viratham
Sashti
Viratham is a very powerful, surrendering oneself to Lord Murugan and praying
with great devotion gives them lot of strength and power to fight the battle of
life.
If both
husband and wife observe this fast with great devotion, they will have baby the
following year. It is believed that Lord Murugan himself will be born in your
house.
Observing
this fast also helps in getting rid of all the obstacles we face in our marriage
life.
Sashti Viratham
is observed if one is facing troubles in getting their marriage fixed.
For calm,
peaceful and healthy life it is good to observe Sashti Viratham every year.
Other articles
that might of your interest…
SkandaSashti Viratham 2023 dates
Origin of Skandha Sashti Festival/Sashti Viratham
How to do the Sashti Pooja at home
I will be
updating with more articles related to Skandha Sashti festival in my upcoming articles.
Thank you all for visiting my space, please come back again for more interesting articles about Indian Festivals and Poojas here. Meanwhile check out interesting articles about Navarathri, Golu, Pongal and other Indian Festivals here.
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