Symbolism and Significance of Number Six (Shashta) - Hindu Perspective

Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

 Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vaasudevaaya!

Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaaya Namaha!

In Hinduism number six (6) has a unique significance; pronounced as Shan; Shat; Shad; Shasta; Shashtan; Shashti etc. correlated to key concepts and terminologies of Hindu philosophy. Some of them are;

Shanmukha

Lord Subramanya popularly known as Shanmukha or Shadaanana is symbolized as having six faces. It is believed that six faces represent the five senses and the mind. He is also known as Shan-maathura; as He was brought up by six mothers known as Kruttikas who suckled Him; hence, He is also known as Kaarthikeya.

Festivals associated with Shashti are Skandha Shashti in honour of Lord Subramanya. It is also known as Subramanya Shashti that occurs on the sixth day of bright fortnight in the lunar month of Maargasira maasam.

Shad-Guna

Lord Vishnu is free from all imperfections; possessor of auspicious, best and unlimited number of attributes (Sarvalakshanalakshanyah); six of which viz. jnaana, bala, aishvarya, viirya, shakti, and tejas are known as Shadguna; six good qualities of excellence. In Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram; in the very first sloka we find Lord Vishnu described as Vashatkarah; the one who possesses divine and auspicious qualities like; comprehensive control over everything (sovereignty); all capabilities to do and undo anything and everything; all accomplishments (Yashass); bountiful riches and prosperity, all knowledge in full form; and total dispassionateness (non attachment);

Ari-Shadvargas:

Ari means enemy; Shad-Varga means six factions. Kaama (lust, craze, desire), Krodha (anger, hatred), Lobha (greed, miserliness, narrow minded), Moha (delusory emotional attachment), Mada or Ahankara (pride, stubborn mindedness), Maatsarya (envy, jealousy, show or vanity, and pride) are the Arishadvargas. Also known as Shadripu (six enemies); they are the internal enemies which are negative passions of mankind, responsible for all kinds of difficult experiences in our lives.

These negative characters prevent mankind from realizing the ultimate reality. When these negative passions overrule, egoism gets manifested which is the biggest enemy of humans. A man with egoism becomes self centered and ignorant of his surroundings. 

Shoka (sorrow); Moha (temptation); Jara (old age); Mrityu (death); Kshudha (hunger); and Pipaasa (thirst) are known as Shad-Urmi; six waves of excitement (emotional and physical feelings) of the Shad-ripu.

In Sri Vishnu Sahasranama stothram sloka # 88 we find Lord Vishnu being described as Shatrujit – Shatrutapanah; that means He is the destroyer of all evil forces who can conquer any army; who is a terror and who can create panic in the enemy camp.  Such Lord Vishnu is not only a slayer of external enemies; He is also a destroyer of internal enemies’ viz. the Arishadvargas. He is an Ari (Shatru) to Arishadvargas.

Shad-anganyaasa - Kara-nyaasa

Nyaasa literally means symbol or location. In the concept of Nyasa; putting or investing parts of the body and hands with manthras is; to purify (cleansing up) the body; to attain power to perform a manthra japa.  It is a preparatory stage for any manthra saadhana. We usually find and perform Nyaasa during Sandhyavandana before performing Gaayathri japa. In Karanyaasa; six different parts of the palm and fingers are touched and in Shad-anganyasa where we touch six different parts of the body.  This ritual is done so that the whole body of the meditator becomes charged with divine power and it has a scientific background.

Shat-Karma

Six types of duties prescribed for a Brahmin are: learning and studying of Vedas; preaching (teaching) of Vedas; giving charity; accepting charity; performing sacrifices (homa/yagna); offering sacrifice (homa/yagna);

In Bhagavadgita 18^th chapter (Moksha Sanyasa Yoga) sloka # 42 Lord Sri Krishna says that; serenity (shama), self-restraint (dama), austerity (thapas), purity (shoucham), forbearance (kshaanti); uprightness/straightforwardness (aarjavam), are the six qualities (duties) a Brahman should nurture; that portrait him as a complete Brahmana besides knowledge, wisdom and faith in the Divinity.

Shat-Shaastras:

Siksha, Kalpa, Vyaakarana, Nirukta, Chandassu, and Jyotisha are the six types of learning known as Vedaangaas.

Shat-darshanas

Six Hindu schools of philosophy are; Saamkhya, Yoga, Nyaaya, Vaiseshika, Mimaamsa and Vedaantha

Shat (Six) Sakha Karthas of Kali Yuga

As per the legends; in Kali Yuga six Kings will create new eras (Sakhas) which will be named after them. They are,

Yudhistira Sakha (Dharmaraja): His calendar started in the year 3102 BC continued for 3044 years.

Vikrama Sakha: His calendar started in 57 BC continued for 135 years

Salivahana Sakha (current period): His calendar started in 78 AD and will continue for 18000 years.

Vijayabhinandana Sakha (future coming): His calendar will start in 18078 AD and will continue for 10000 years.

Nagarjuna Sakha (future coming): His calendar will start in 28078 AD and will continue for 4, 00,000 years.

Kalki Sakha (future coming): His calendar will start at the end of Kali Yuga 4, 28,078 AD and will run for 821 years when the Kali Yuga will come to an end.

Shad-Ruthus (six seasons)

A Hindu Lunar year is divided into six seasons of two months each known as Ruthus viz. Vasantha Ruthu followed by Greeshma; Varsha; Sharad; Hemantha; and Sisira Ruthu.

Chaithra & Vaisakha – Vasantha Ruthu

Jyeshta & Aaashaada – Greeshma Ruthu

Sraavana & Bhaadrapada – Varsha Ruthu

Aaswayuja & Kartheeka – Sharad Ruthu

Maargasira & Pushya – Hemantha Ruthu

Maagha & Phaalguna – Sisira Ruthu

Shad-Ruchi (six tastes)

Sweet, sour, salt, pungent, astringent, and bitter are the six tastes or flavours known as shadruchi or Shadrasas. On the Hindu New year day (Ugaadi) there is a tradition in South India of eating a sauce made with a combination of six ingredients that gives six different tastes (Shadruchi). These ingredients are Neem flowers, raw mango, jaggery, new tamarind, dry/green chillies, and salt.  In some places people use sugar cane instead of jaggery and pepper instead of chillies. It is popularly called as Ugadi Pachhadi in Telugu, Bevu-Bella in Kannada. The philosophy behind eating this sauce with six tastes is to say that life is not a bed of roses it is a mixture of sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, and surprise which has to be accepted together with equanimity.

Kapila Shashti

If there is a coincidence of Bhaadrapada Maasam, Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight), Sun in the constellation of Hastha and Moon in the constellation of Rohini, Shashti thithi, Sunday and Vyatheepaatha Yoga, that day is known as Kapila Shashti.  Any charity, worship, homa, sacred bath, pithru tharpana etc. performed on this day is said to be highly meritorious.

Shat-Thila karma:

Usage of Thil seeds (Sesame) in six ways during Uttaraayana Parvakaala is known as Shat-Thila Karma.  It is said that, on this day one should use Thil (Sesame) seeds in six ways viz…Thila Snana, Thila Deepa, Thila Homa, Thila tharpana, Thila Dana and Thila Bhakshana.

Shanmukhi Rudraaksha:

In the Rudraaksha concept, six faced Rudraaksha is known as Shanmukhi Rudraaksha that is said to represent Lord Shanmukha (Subramanya).  It is believed to bestow upon the wearer; good health, courage, learning, wisdom, knowledge and save from the worldly trauma. 

Hindu astrology & Number Six

Number six has a unique place in Hindu astrology; known as Shashtama bhava (sixth house); which is known as Shatru, roga and Runa bhaava in an astrological chart. It signifies mainly about enemies, diseases and debts.  At the same time it is also the house of fortune (bhaagyasthaana) to the 10^th house (Karma Sthaana). Virgo (Kanyaa Raasi) is the natural sixth house in the zodiac where Mercury (Budha) is the sign lord. Among the divisional charts, division number six known as Shashthaamsa (D-6); division number sixty known as Shashttyamsa (D-60); Shadvarga a combination of six divisions [Raasi (D-1), Hora (D-2), Drekkaana (D-3), Navaamsa (D-9), Dwaadasaamsa (D-12), and Thrimsamsa (D-30)] are all associated with number six.  All these divisional charts are employed in making predictions.

In electional astrology number six is associated with Friday the sixth day of the week whose day lord is Venus and the sixth lunar day (thithi) is Shashti whose presiding deity is Kumara Swamy (Lord Subramanya) and sixth star is Ardra whose ruling planet is Rahu and presiding deity is Lord Shiva.

 

Astro-Numerology & #6

Venus is the ruling planet of number six.  Those born with number six as their birth number are considered as very fortunate in their life.  They get unexpected help and guidance from unknown sources. They have a magnetic personality and are able to attract others. They are joyful, amusing, warm, positive and loyal to their family. They believe in “slow and steady wins the race”. At the same time they have a tendency to brood over their past, extravagant, and are after materialistic gains and artistic pursuits.

Sixth Sense

Number six also point to our sixth sense which is otherwise known as intuition. We perceive the gross or seen world through the five physical senses (i.e. smell, taste, sight, touch and sound), our mind (our feelings), and our intellect (decision making capacity). When it comes to the unseen world or the subtle world, we perceive it through the five subtle senses, the subtle mind and the subtle intellect - more popularly known as our sixth sense. When the sixth sense is developed or activated, it helps us to experience the subtle world or subtle dimension. This experience of the subtle world is also known as a ‘spiritual experience’.

A thing is called manifest when we can perceive it through one or the other sense organs. That which is beyond all sense organs is called un-manifest.  Yoga is a technique whereby the mind and intellect could be consciously brought to a steadiness and poise. For more information on Sixth Sense please click on the following link…

http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/articles/id/spiritualresearch/spiritualscience/sixthsense

In the concept of Ugaadi (Hindu New Year); we have a 60 year cycle starting from Prabhava and ending with Akshaya. In monthly ceremonies performed to the deceased; the sixth one is known as Shanmaasikam. In Hindu sampradaya especially in South India, there is a tradition of performing a vedic ritual known as Shashti-Poorthi or Shashti-abdhapoorthi; on a married person attaining the age of 60 and having wife alive. It is some sort of a re-marriage, a social and religious function. Shatpadi means a poem having six lines. Six techniques of yoga in Yoga Shaastra are Praanaayaama; Japa; Pratyaahaara; Dhyaana; Dhaarana; and Samaadhi.

Six sided figure Hexagon is known as Shadkona. It is said that Vajraayudha; the weapon of Lord Indra has six angles. Number six (6) is the second triangular number and first perfect number which is equal to the sum of all its divisors (1+2+3=6). In the concept of time element, a day of 24 hours is divided into 60 Ghatis comprising of 24 minutes each; with each minute having sixty seconds and each hour having sixty minutes.  

Sri Krushnaarpanamasthu

Readers’ views and suggestions are invited!!!