Subrahmanya (Saravanabhava) - The Shanmukha Devata

suBrahmanya - the sHanMukha dEvata

https://archive.org/details/subrahmanya-skanda-the-shanmukha-devata


SKANDHA SHASHTI (Subrahmanya Shashti)



Worship of Lord Subrahmanya a Vedic God is prevailing in Sanatana dharma since time immemorial.

Widely known as son of Lord Shiva, Subrahmanya was commander-in-chief of army of Gods (Devasenapathi) who killed the demon Tharakaasura.

He is called Subrahmanya (Su+BraHmanya) the one who is highly chaste, one who has understood the Brahman (absolute reality) and blossomed by Brahma JnaAna the supreme knowledge. He is considered as Brahmachari (Bachelor).

He is also known as Kumara because He always looks like a teenager (youth). Lord Subrahmanya is considered as a personification of charm, youth, masculinity, valour, vitality and wisdom. He is an incarnation of Manmatha.


Subrahmanya is popularly known as KaArthikeya; the one whose birth star is Krittika which is a cluster of six stars whose feminine energies (divine mothers) have brought Him up. Since He was suckled by six divine mothers He is also known as ShanMaAthura.

The six faces of Lord Subrahmanya (Shanmukha) are indeed widely believed to represent the five senses and the mind that coordinates them. This symbolism emphasizes the path to perfection by controlling these faculties.

He is also called as Guha, the one who dwells in caves; invariably we find mountains and caves as the abode/temples of Lord Subramanya. He is Guha the in-dweller in the hearts of his devotees. He is the one who knows and imparts the secret knowledge (Guhya Vidya) that leads to illumination and destruction of ignorance. "Guha" reflects both his hidden origins and his profound spiritual nature as an inner guide and source of wisdom.


SarAvaNabHava is another popular name of Lord Subramhanya the one who has emerged out from the powerful divine energy (Tejassu) of Lord Shiva that was initially held by Agni (Fire God) and dropped into the holy Ganga (Ganges) that was later pushed into a lake called Saravana and shoved to the reedy bushes on its banks. Saravana lake is believed to be the makeover of the divine mother Goddess Parvathi Devi. Since He has emerged out on the laws of Saravana He came to be known as SaraVanabHava. Bhava means born.

Since He was born from the divine energy that got spilled/ shoved He is known as SkandHa. He is Ayonija.

In Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram (sloka # 36), Lord Vishnu is extolled as “SkAnda – SkaNdadhAraH” the one who is the commander of the forces of wisdom, great thoughts, light and delight and unstoppable destructive force for all taMasik people like asurasas and other evil-doers.

He is the internal commander in our conflict with the good and the bad; guiding us towards the spiritual strength, wisdom and discriminative power.

Lord Sri Krishna says in Bhagawadgita (Vibhuuti Yoga) that He is SkaNdha among the commanders’-in–chief.
“SenaAneEnaAm AhaM SkAnda” - Subrahmanya (SKANDHA) is Vibhooti roopa of Sri Krishna.

An exclusive Purana named after Lord Subrahmanya called SKANDHA PURANA scripted by Bhagawan Vedavyaasa forms part of the 18 great Puranas called Ashtaadasa Maha-Puraanas.

While Peacock is the Vaahana (mount) of Lord Subrahmanya, we find Rooster (Kukkuta) on his flag and portrayed as holding a Spear as his weapon.

Kukkuta believed to be representing Ego (Tarakasura) which was subdued by Lord Subramanya.

Kukkuta gives a wake-up call at dawn; Lord Subramanya with Kukkuta as His dhwajah awaken our consciousness (Kundalini) for gnyaAna - bhakti - vairagya. Subrahmanya is Mano-Vairagya-ChakraabHimaAni Devata.

Lord Subrahmanya is assumed as a Sarpa Devatha. But, in fact He is not a Sarpa Devatha. He has protected the Serpentine clan from Garuda's scare by invoking the blessings of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha. Subramanhya sought Sarpa rupa to do narsimha dhyana, aradhana without any terrestrial disturbance.


In Madhwa sampradaya, Subrahmanya is considered as an incarnation of ManMatha and is placed fairly higher in cadre (8th Kakshya) of hierarchy (as per Taratamya) in line with Indra having Narayana Aavesha.

Lord Subrahmanya has a unique place among the Devathas. He is associated with all the three Trinal Lords (Trimurthi) - Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwara.

· As incarnation of Manmatha (son of Lord Sri Hari)
· As Sanatkumara (Brahma Maanasa Puthra)
· As Skandha (son of Lord Shiva)

apart from...

· As Bharatha (brother of Lord Sri Rama)

· As Samba (son of Lord Sri Krishna & Jambavati
· Devi) during Dwapara Yuga;

· As Pradyumna [(incarnation of Manmatha) son of Lord Sri Krishna & Rukmini Devi]

· As Sudarshana – (incarnation of Manmatha)

Anusandhana while worshiping Lord Subramanya...

Sri Subrahmanya Devathaanthargatha;
Bharatheeramana Mukhyapranaanthargatha;
Pradyumnaroopi SriManNarayana

While Lord SubrahManya is to be worshiped on all days of the week.
· Tuesday,
· Shashti thithi (6th lunar day) and
· Krittika star days are considered to be more sacred days for worshiping Him.

Skanda (SubrahManya) is AbhimaAni Devata for Shashti thithi.

For those who are again and again getting into troubles, losses, failures, doing krittika pooja, doing shasti pooja, doing Tuesday pooja to Skandha antargata Parmatma (with proper anusandhana) will give smooth life.

Skanda Pooja is, bhaya parihaara, naayakatva, Matru vatsalya, Sundara deha, Mangalya dosha parihaara, sarpa dosha nivarana.

SkaNdha ShasHti (Subrahmanya Shashti)

Dedicated to Lord Subrahmanya, sixth day (Shashti thithi) of the sacred lunar month Margasira maAsam is known as Skanda Shashti or Subrahmanya Shashti.

It is believed to be the day Lord Subramanya was born. As such He becomes the presiding deity of Shashti tithi.

If there is khanda (broken) thithi [<Panchami (+) >Shashti] and the day is coinciding with Sunday or Tuesday + Satabhisha Nakshathra + Vaidruthi Yoga it is known as ChaMpa Shashti.

Concept remaining same we find people following different customs and traditions according to their sampradaya on the day of Subrahmanya Shashti which is mostly a South Indian festival.

Yatha-shakti,
Brahmachari Pooja + Brahmana/Brahmachari Bhojana + Vastra Daana to Brahmachari along with Gopichandana and Yagnopaveetha + Dakshine
is considered meritorious on the day of SkandhaShashti.

Thaipusam is a special event of the day performed at all temples of Lord Subramanya especially in South. On this day devotees observe an austerity of carrying a Kaavadi (a semi-circular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod) to the temple of Lord Subramhanya as a mark of their owe fulfilling for averting a calamity.

Lord Subrahmanya is worshiped for marital prosperity, obtaining progeny; remedy for health problems especially skin diseases like leprosy, leukoderma, relief from enemies (both internal & external), relief from debts apart from overall prosperity and general well-being.

He is also worshiped for relief from malefic effects of Rahu/Kethu, Sarpa/Naga Dosha; Kuja (Angaraka) Dosha, delay in marriage etc. Skandha pooja removes fear (bhaya nivaarana).

We find temples of Lord SubrahManya spread across the country and even abroad; Some of the famous shrines exclusively dedicated to Lord SubrahManya are...
· Thiruttani,
· Palani,
· Tiruchendur,
· Tirupparakundram,
· Swami Malai and
· Pazamudhircholai
(in Tamil Nadu)
· Kukke Subrahmanya and
. Ghati Subrahmanya
(in Karnataka)

" ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯಸ್ಯ ಮಹಿಮಾ ವರ್ಣಿತುಂ ಕೇನ ಶಕ್ಯತೇ "
सुब्रह्मण्यस्य महिमा वर्णितुं केन शक्यते |
subramanyasya mahima varnitum kena shakyate |
[In Theertha Prabandha Sri VadiRajaru extols the glory of Lord Subramanya... सुब्रह्मण्यस्य महिमा वर्णितुं केन शक्यते | - who has the capacity to describe the merits of Lord Subramanya.]

Sri KrushnaArpanamAstu
naham karta harih karta
Hari Sarvottama - Vaayu Jeevottama
Sri GuruRaajo Vijayate

षडाननम् कुंकुम रक्त वर्णं
महा मतिम् दिव्य मयूर वाहनम् ।
रुद्रस्य सूनुम् सुर सैन्य नाथं
गुहम् सदा शरणमहम् भजे ॥
షడాననమ్ కుంకుమ రక్త వర్ణం
మహా మతిమ్ దివ్య మయూర వాహనమ్ ।
రుద్రస్య సూనుమ్ సుర సైన్య నాథం
గుహమ్ సదా శరణమహమ్ ప్రపద్యే ॥
ಷಡಾನನಮ್ ಕುಂಕುಮ ರಕ್ತ ವರ್ಣಂ
ಮಹಾ ಮತಿಮ್ ದಿವ್ಯ ಮಯೂರ ವಾಹನಮ್ ।
ರುದ್ರಸ್ಯ ಸೂನುಮ್ ಸುರ ಸೈನ್ಯ ನಾಥಂ
ಗುಹಮ್ ಸದಾ ಶರಣಮಹಮ್ ಪ್ರಪದ್ಯೇ ॥

Those who are interested in reading/downloading/sharing the above write-up in PDF format with additional information on...
Kukke kshetra as a ref. to Theertha Prabandha
Kukke Kshetra Purana (Skandha Purana)
Subrahmanya Shodasanaama Stothram;
Subrahmanya Dwadasanama Stothram;
Dasara padagalu on Subramanya devaru; etc.
may do so from the following link...



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