Subramanya Shasti

 Skanda Shasti  / Subramanya Shasti / Champa Shasti

 

Skanda Mantra :

sEnaavidaaraka skandha mahaasEna mahaabala |
rudrOmaagnija Shadvaktra gaMgaagarbha namOstu tE |

ಸೇನಾವಿದಾರಕ ಸ್ಕಂಧ ಮಹಾಸೇನ ಮಹಾಬಲ | ರುದ್ರೋಮಾಗ್ನಿಜ ಷಡ್ವಕ್ತ್ರ ಗಂಗಾಗರ್ಭ ನಮೋಸ್ತು ತೇ | सेनाविदारक स्कंध महासेन महाबल । रुद्रोमाग्निज षड्वक्त्र गंगागर्भ नमोस्तु ते ।

 

Who is Skanda? –

  • Skanda is the avatara of Manmatha.
  • He is in the same kakshya of Indra.
  • He is the lord of War.  Indra did the abhisheka of him as the devasenaadhipathi after he killed Tarakasura. 
  • During Srinivasa Kalyana Srinivasa devaru nominated him to invite the audience, as he has six faces and can see all six directions.
  • He is the pravartaka for Skaanda matha
  • We have to worship Skanda with the antaryami roopa of Pradyamuna roopa of Srihari.
What are his other names ? –
Kumara, Skanda,  Shanmukha, Subramanya or Kartikeya
 

“ಚಂಪ ಷಷ್ಟಿ” :

ಮಾರ್ಗಶಿರ ಮಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಶುಕ್ಲ ಷಷ್ಟಿಯಂದು ಭಾನುವಾರ, ವಿಶಾಖ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ, ಮತ್ತು ವೈಧೃತಿ ಯೋಗಗಳು ಒಟ್ಟುಗೂಡಿದರೆ ಅದನ್ನು “ಚಂಪ ಷಷ್ಟಿ” ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ .

Subramanya Shasti is termed as “Champa Shasti” if Margashira Shukla Shasti falls on Sunday, Vishaka Nakshatra, and vaidhruti yoga.
  • He is called as Kumara – as he always looks like a small boy
  • He is called as Shanmukha as he has six faces
  • He is called as Kartikeya as he was brought up by six sisters named Kruttika.
  • He is called as Shanmatura as he was brought up by six mothers
  • He is called as SharavaNabava –  When he was born out of the tejasstu of Shiva, Agni held it. Even Agni, could not sustain the tejassu of Shiva tejassu, who kept it in Ganga.  Ganga also could not sustain, who kept it on the grass (Shara), that is why he is called as SharavanaBava. 
  • It is on this day that Sri Subramanya, who was born on Margashira shudda Panchami killed Tarakasura on the next day, shasti.
When is this Skanda Shasti celebrated? –
It will be celebrated on Margashira Shukla Shasti. This day is also called as Subrayana Shasti.
 
Why is Skanda Shasti celebrated? –
Subramanya likes this day very much, because it is on this that he killed Tarakasura.  If one does the skanda darshana, snaana  and daana on this, he will be  from  all his  brahma hatyaadi sins.  If one does this vratha, they have Sarpa bhaya nivruthi, satsantaana yoga, from skin diseases.
 
Why naagaaradhane on Subramanya Shasti ? How is  Subrayana Shasti celebrated? –
 
On this day we have to perform the pooja of  Subramanya. Subramanya swamy is worshipped in the form of five-hooded snake.   While doing the Subraya Shasti we have to do the pooja to mainly to Shankapaala, one of the serpant.
 
Subramanya protected the snakes,when they were in life trouble.  He then ordered that the snakes shall never be killed.  He also blessed them that the pooja of Skanda shall be done in the form of snakes only.    That is why on Subramanya Shasti day, naagaaradhane is being done.   On this day we have to remember and worship 8 snakes, viz.,  ಶೇಷವಾಸುಕಿತಕ್ಷಾಖ್ಯಾ: ಕರ್ಕೋಟೋಽಭೋ ಮಹಾಂಬುಜ: | ಶಂಖಪಾಲಶ್ಚ ಕುಲಿಶ: ಇತ್ಯಷ್ಟೌ ನಾಗವರ್ಯಕಾ: |
शेषवासुकितक्षाख्या: कर्कोटोऽभो महांबुज: । शंखपालश्च कुलिश: इत्यष्टौ नागवर्यका: ।
SheSha, Vaasuki, takShaka, karkOTaka, padma, mahaapadma, shaMKapaala, kulisha.
 
In the brahmachaari, we have to do the avaahana of sankarshana roopi paramathma.
 
ಶೇಷಾದಿ ಸಕಲ ಸರ್ಪಾಂತರ್ಗತ ಪ್ರಾಣಸ್ಥ ಸಂಕರ್ಷಣ ಪ್ರೀತ್ಯರ್ಥಂ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚಾರ್ಯಾರಾಧನಂ ಕರಿಷ್ಯೇ | ಶೇಷಾಯ ನಮ: ಶೇಷಂ ಸ್ವಾಗತಂ | ಶೇಷಸ್ಯ ಇದಮಾಸನಂ | ಶೇಷ ಇದಂ ತೇ ಪಾದ್ಯಂ | ಶೇಷಂ ಭವತ್ಸು ಆವಾಹಯಿಷ್ಯೇ | ಶೇಷಾಯ ನಮ: | ಗಂದಾದಿಸಕಲಾರಾಧನೈ: ಸ್ವರ್ಚಿತಂ |
शेषादि सकल सर्पांतर्गत प्राणस्थ संकर्षण प्रीत्यर्थं ब्रह्मचार्याराधनं करिष्ये । शेषाय नम: शेषं स्वागतं । शेषस्य इदमासनं । शेष इदं ते पाद्यं । शेषं भवत्सु आवाहयिष्ये । शेषाय नम: । गंदादिसकलाराधनै: स्वर्चितं |

Shankapalantargata bharatiramana mukyapranantargatha sri Sankarshanaya nama: |

We have to chant “Om ram skandhaaya nama: Om” while inviting Subramanya.

In this way, we have to do the avaahana of Sheshantargata sankarshana roopi paramathma in the brahmachaari, do the paada prakshalana, give him gopichandana, yajnopaveeta, panchapaatre, phala, vastre, dakshine.

We have to chant “Dhanu:shaktidharO dhyEya: kaamadO bhayanaashana:” for dhyana shloka.

His vehicle – Mayura

Why on this day, Brahmacharis will be invited for bhojana? –

Subramanya has the other name Kumara.   He likes young brahmacharis as they will not be having any dwesha-asuya, and their heart will be pure.  Skanda will be invited to have avaahana on Subramanya on these brahmacharies, and will take the sampoorna pooja done to brahmacharies.  Major bhakshyas done on this day will be from Urid dall.  Brahmachari to be given Vastra, Dakshine, etc.

Birth of Skanda –
Satidevi, after having immolated herself in the Daksha Yagna, was reborn as Parvathidevi, as the daughter of Himavanta.  In the meantime, Rudradevaru did a yogic penance  in the Himalayas.
 
Who is Tarakasura?
Tarakasura is the son of Vajranga (Son of Kashyapa-Diti) and Varangi.    He did severe penance to Brahma and pleased him and sought the boon that no one shall be more powerful than him and with the second boon was that his death could come only from a son born to Shiva.  Tarakasura knew that Rudradevaru had already lost his wife Satidevi and he was in deep penance and he thought the Rudra can’t have son all of a sudden.

After getting the great boons, Taraka was killing all the kings and spoiling the hermitages of sages.

All sages, devategalu, unable to sustain the hindrance by Tarakasura, went to Brahmadevaru, who in turn sent Bruhaspati to negotiate with Tarakasura, but he refused and war was fought between Gods and demons, in which Gods were defeated.

As Shiva was in a severe penance, he was not ready to accept the pleading of Parvati for her marriage with Shiva.

Then Devategalu approached Kamaputra Manmatha, with a plan to stop the meditation of Shiva.  Kamadeva arrived in front of Shiva alongwith Ratidevi, and shot five arrows of flowers at the heart of Shiva.  His intention was to make Shiva look at Parvathi and enable their marriage, which in turn would result in a son for the killing of Tarakasura (as per boon).

But when Rudra devaru’s penance was broken, he was terribly angry and open his third eye on his forehead, and a fierce blazing flame came out of his third eye and Manmatha was burnt to ashes.

The spark of fiery seed of Rudradevaru was unbearable and even Agnideva could not bear them, who threw to River Ganga, wherein it was born as six children.  Parvathi combined these six children to one with six faces and six  Kruttikaas came forward to feed the child (each kruttika feeding six different faces of Skanda).  That is why Skanda is called as Karthikeya, and as Shanmukha.

He then killed Tarakasura and helped the devategalu.

Subramanya in Tirtha prabandha by Sri Vadirajaru –

ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ

ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯಸ್ಯ ಮಹಿಮಾ ವರ್ಣಿತುಂ ಕೇನ ಶಕ್ಯತೇ |

ಯತ್ರೋಚ್ಚಿಷ್ಠಮಪಿ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಠಂ ಶ್ವಿತ್ರಿಣ: ಶೋಧಯತ್ಯಹೋ || ೩೭ ||

ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಹತ್ಯಾದೋಷಶೇಷಂ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣಾನಾಂ ಹರನ್ನಯಂ |

ವಿರೋಧೇ ತು ಪರಂ ಕಾರ್ಯಮಿತಿ ನ್ಯಾಯಮಮಾನಯತ್ || ೩೮ ||

ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ ಸ್ತುತಿ –

ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ ಸುರಾಗ್ರಗಣ್ಯ ಕುಜನಾರಣ್ಯಜ್ವಲತ್ಪಾವಕ ಪ್ರಬ್ರೂಯಾತ್ ತವ ವಿಕ್ರಮಂ ಭುವಿ ಕವಿ: ಕೋ ವಾsಮರೋ ವಾ ದಿವಿ |

ಯ: ಪ್ರಾಗಪ್ರತಿಮಲ್ಲತಾರಕಮಹಾದೈತ್ಯಂ ಸುದೃಪ್ತಂ ಭವಾನ್ ವಿಪ್ರೌಘಪ್ರಿಯ ಸುಪ್ರಭಾವ ಸಮರೇ ಕ್ರೀಡನ್ನಜೈಷೀದ್ದ್ವಿಷಂ || ೩೯ ||

ಅನ್ನಂ ದದಾಸಿ ವಿದಧಾಸ್ಯಖಿಲಸ್ಯ ರಕ್ಷಾಂ ಕ್ಲಿನ್ನಂ ಪುನಾಸಿ ವಿಲುನಾಸಿ ಸಮಸ್ತದೋಷಾನ್ |

ಹೇ ಸ್ಕಂದ ವಂದ್ಯ ಭವತೋ ಭುವನೇ ಭವಾನೀಸೂನೇ ಕೃಪಾಜಲನಿಧೇ ಕತಮ: ಸಮ: ಸ್ಯಾತ್ || ೪೦ ||

ಪ್ರವರ್ತಿತಸ್ಕಾಂದಮತ: ಪೃಥಿವ್ಯಾಂ ಜಗತ್ಪತಿಂ ಶ್ರೀಪತಿಮಾತ್ಮನಾಥಂ |

ರಹಸ್ಯುಪಾರಾಧಯಿತುಂ ಗುಹಾದ್ಯ ಗುಹಾಂಶ್ರಿತೋsಸೀತಿ ಮಮ ಪ್ರಕರ್ಕ: || ೪೧ ||

ಶ್ರೀವಿಷ್ಣುತೀರ್ಥಮುನಿಮಿತ್ರ ಸುರಾರಿಜೈತ್ರ ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣಪಜ್ಜಲಜಭೃಂಗ ಕೃತಾಘಭಂಗ |

ಸಹ್ಯೇಶ ದೇಹಿ ಸಕಲೈರುಪಜೀವ್ಯಮನ್ನಂ ಸಂಹರ್ತೃ ಸರ್ವಭುವನಸ್ಯ ಕುಮಾರಮಹ್ಯಂ || ೪೨ ||

सुब्रह्मण्य क्षेत्र –

सुब्रह्मण्यस्य महिमा वर्णितुं केन शक्यते । यत्रोच्चिष्ठमपि स्पष्ठं श्वित्रिण: शोधयत्यहो ॥ ३७ ॥

ब्रह्महत्यादोषशेषं ब्राह्मणानां हरन्नयं । विरोधे तु परं कार्यमिति न्यायममानयत् ॥ ३८ ॥

सुब्रह्मण्य स्तुति –

सुब्रह्मण्य सुराग्रगण्य कुजनारण्यज्वलत्पावक प्रब्रूयात् तव विक्रमं भुवि कवि: को वाsमरो वा दिवि ।

य: प्रागप्रतिमल्लतारकमहादैत्यं सुदृप्तं भवान् विप्रौघप्रिय सुप्रभाव समरे क्र्‍ईडन्नजैषीद्द्विषं ॥ ३९ ॥

अन्नं ददासि विदधास्यखिलस्य रक्षां क्लिन्नं पुनासि विलुनासि समस्तदोषान् ।

हे स्कंद वंद्य भवतो भुवने भवानी- सूने कृपाजलनिधे कतम: सम: स्यात् ॥ ४० ॥

प्रवर्तितस्कांदमत: पृथिव्यां जगत्पतिं श्रीपतिमात्मनाथं ।

रहस्युपाराधयितुं गुहाद्य गुहांश्रितोsसीति मम प्रकर्क: ॥ ४१ ॥

श्रीविष्णुतीर्थमुनिमित्र सुरारिजैत्र श्रीकृष्णपज्जलजभृंग कृताघभंग ।

सह्येश देहि सकलैरुपजीव्यमन्नं संहर्तृ सर्वभुवनस्य कुमारमह्यं ॥ ४२ ॥

The kshetra Subramanya (kukke subramanya) is situated in South Kanara District of Karnataka, which is about 33 km from Puttur.   It is on the banks of the river Kumaradhaara.   The  kshetra is said to have the importance in historical and philosophically.    Sri Vadirajaru in his Tirtha prabandha says that the varNana of Subramanya kshetra is very very difficult to explain.   It is said that even the “kushta” disease (Leprosy) can also be cured, if one rolls over the leftovers of food consumed by brahmin, which is popularly called as “Made snaana”.  But the present day maDe snaana refers to roll over the food consumed by people (but it should be branhmins).

Vadirajaru prays Subramanya as the leader amongst the “Suraas”.  He is like the fire which burns the durjanaas,   He is the annaprada.  He is the protector of all.

Some important Subramanya kshetras – Kukke, Ghati,  Ramanathapuram,

Written by Narahari Sumadhwa
 

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