Lord Muruga - Skantha sasti - Demon Surapathma being blessed

Both lord Ganesha and lord Muruga have been the two sons of Lord Shiva. But in contradiction, lord Muruga had not been taken birth as usual (not from the fetus), His birth had been for the purpose of the destruction of the 'Asuras' (demons).

When the Devas (celestial beings) were suppressed and got ruined by the Asuras (demons), all of them first appealed to lord Brahmah, the god of creator, who in turn had diverted them to lord Vishnu, the god of protector. He had also taken incarnations or 'Avatars' in order to save the pittied devas from the powerful demons.

Some times, there were situations such that some demons were more power enough and uncontrolled by even the lord Vishnu. In that type of case, lord Shiva, the supreme power had to be interfered for the destruction of those Asuras.

Here we are going to see one such type of phenomena that had been the core factor for the creation of lord Muruga.

Once upon, there lived one demon called 'Surapathma', having the super natural powers, being got due to his fierce penance towards lord Bramah, that no body in the three world (earth, heaven and underworld) could hardly destroy him except the power of lord Shiva.

Having all the powers within him, the demon surapathma became arrogant enough had ruined the devas, sages, rishies and the munis of having great thapus. He had imprisoned the king of the devas, lord Indra and the other celestial deities of the eight directions and more.

The Devas were suffered a lot under the imprisonment of the demon Surapathma. In that prison, all the devas had prayed in order to get relieved from the sufferings made by the demon Surapathma, to lord Shiva.

Having seen their pitiable conditions of devas, lord shiva had been ready for the creation of the lord Muruga , the Savior of the devas, hence He would have been called as "Deva Sena" (the lord of the devas) later on.

Lord Shiva opened his third eye at His forehead (called 'Netrikan' in Tamil). There came six balls of fire which couldn't be tolerated by the lord 'Agni' (god of fire), to whom the six balls of fire had been handed over. Lord Agni, in turn, having not tolerated the heat, gave it to the 'Ganges' (holy river Ganga) and she in her turn, poured them onto the six lotus flowers, which had been floating on the "Saravana poigai" (pond).

That six balls of fire had transformed into six infants and they had been taken care by the six maids of "Karthigai", hence, later on lord Muruga has been called as "Karthikeyan". There came goddess Sri Parvathi Devi with lord Shiva, and She embarrassed Her six sons and made them as one called as Karthikeyan.

Sri Parvathi Devi gave Her son lord Muruga with a special weapon called as "Sakthivel" for perishing the demon Surapathma. Then all the devas and the rishies were showering the flowers on them, for they would have been saved from the perils of the demon Surapathma.

Lord Muruga accompanied with "Veerabagu thevar" (great celestial warrior and messenger of lord Muruga) and his brothers with the army of devas reached the seashore of "Thiruchendur" where at the midst of the sea, the demon Surapathma had constructed his fort city "Veeramagendragiri".

As a custom before a war, the messenger of lord Murga, 'Veerabagu thevar' had been sent to make the demon to surrender,if not it would be declared as the war between lord Muruga and the demon Surapathma.

The demon refused to surrender and dishonored the messenger 'Veerabaghu thevar' and he was ready for the war. Before he entered into the battle field, for him, his brothers named 'Tharagasura, Singamuga' had gone and killed by the lord Muruga.

At last the demon Surapathma had entered into the battle field and he had done a lot of gimmicks, which were all defeated by lord Muruga. Then, finally he transformed into a tree and stood as still. So lord Muruga had thrown His special weapon called "Sakthivel" onto the tree and pierced into two pieces.

Lord Muruga, having poured mercy on him, made the two pieces as transformed into "Cock" and "Peacock' and made them as His 'Flag' and 'Vagana' respectively.

Actually the place where the demon had been killed was Thiruchendur. Not only here but also in all temples in Tamil Nadu, every year, the very next day to Deepavali (a grand festival celebrated all over India) has been celebrated as the day of "Skandha sasti", followed by six days. The 6^th day, has been the day of "Skantha sasti", on which the demise of the demon Surapathma had been taken place.

I had gone to Ramanathapuram (also called as Ramnad), which is prior to the gateway of Rameshwaram. One famous Murugan's temple is here in Ramnad, called "Vzhividu Murugan", at here i want to take the photographs on the day of that "Skanthasasti", since that temple's trustee has been one of my relations. With their permission i have taken these photographs. I hope all you enjoy these rare photographs taken very near to the main shrine.

Now the photo gallery session of the temple "Vzhividu Murugan" begins :

By around 7.15 p.m, the function has been come to an end and I also returned to my house at Madurai, which is roughly 2^1/2 hours journey from Ramanathapuram. I hope all enjoy this Skanthasasti festival and to every body the blessings of lord Muruga be poured on.

Yours lovingly

Selvaganapathy (raakachi)