Introduction

Within the Hindu calendar, the addition of an additional month, often known as Adhik Maas or Purushottam Maas, helps align the lunar and photo voltaic calendars. This yr, in 2023, Adhik Maas falls between July 18th and August sixteenth, coinciding with the sacred pageant of Adhik Maas Skanda Sashti.

The Adhika Maas Skanda Sashti falls on July 23, Sunday.

On this weblog, we are going to discover the importance and rituals related to the mix of Adhik Maas and Skanda Sashti, and the way devotees can search blessings throughout this auspicious time.
Adhik Maas, additionally known as Purushottam Maas or Mal Maas, holds a particular place within the Hindu calendar. Throughout this extra month, devotees imagine that any spiritual exercise and good karma carried out yield manifold outcomes. It’s a time to interact in selfless actions with none expectations, and the advantages reaped throughout this era are thought of distinctive. Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, is worshipped as the primary deity throughout Adhik Maas, and his blessings are stated to be abundantly bestowed upon devotees.

The Legend Behind Adhik Maas:

The legend behind Adhik Maas explains why this extra month, which was initially thought of “unclean,” gained significance and divine approval. In response to the legend, when the lunar calendar was established, every of the twelve months was assigned a ruling deity apart from the additional month, Adhik Maas.
Feeling distressed and uncared for, Adhik Maas, also called Mal Maas, approached Lord Vishnu for assist and refuge. Moved by Adhik Maas’s plight, Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, embraced the month and bestowed upon it the identify “Purushottam Maas,” which means the “wonderful month” or the “month expensive to the Supreme Being.”
On this act of embracing Adhik Maas, Lord Vishnu proclaimed its significance and elevated its standing. He declared that any religious practices undertaken throughout this month would yield extra fruitful outcomes in comparison with different months. These practices embrace Japa (recitation of sacred mantras), Homa (ritual choices to the sacred fireplace), Vrat (observance of fasting), and Katha (recitation or listening to of holy scriptures and tales).
By assigning himself to Adhik Maas and giving it the identify Purushottam Maas, Lord Vishnu emphasised the significance of this month and emphasised the efficiency of devotional acts carried out throughout this era. The legend highlights Lord Vishnu’s compassion and his willingness to uplift and sanctify the month that was initially thought of much less auspicious.
Devotees imagine that by participating in religious practices with sincerity and devotion throughout Adhik Maas, they’ll obtain better blessings, religious progress, and constructive outcomes. It’s a time to accentuate one’s religious efforts and search the divine grace of Lord Vishnu, the preserver, and sustainer of the universe.

Skanda Sashti: Honouring Lord Muruga

Skanda Sashti, a outstanding pageant primarily celebrated in Southern India, reveres Lord Skanda, also called Lord Muruga or Kartikeya. Lord Skanda is the son of Lord Shiva and the brother of Lord Ganesha. Skanda Sashti is noticed on the sixth day (Shashti) of the lunar cycle. Devotees quick and provide their unwavering devotion to Lord Muruga, the God of struggle. The pageant commemorates his victory over the demon Soorapadman and his siblings Tarakasura and Simhamukha.

The Historical past and Significance of Skanda Sashti:

The legend of Lord Muruga, also called Lord Karthikeyan or Skanda, traces again to the divine manifestation of Lord Shiva’s third eye. In response to the legend, Lord Shiva emitted six sparks of immense radiance from his third eye. These sparks remodeled into six divine youngsters. The six Kartika sisters, often known as the Krittikas, had been entrusted with the care and nurturing of those divine infants.
Because the six youngsters grew, they ultimately merged into one extraordinary being with six faces, representing the instructions, twelve arms, and two toes. This merged type got here to be often known as Lord Karthikeyan or Lord Muruga. Lord Muruga symbolises divine knowledge, energy, valour, and compassion.
Lord Muruga, along with his formidable attributes, grew to become a revered deity and a revered warrior. He’s usually depicted as a younger, good-looking god using a peacock, his chosen vahana (car). The peacock symbolises grace and sweetness. Lord Muruga additionally carries a robust weapon known as the Vel, a divine lance related along with his victory over evil forces.
One of many vital feats of Lord Muruga was his defeat of the demon Surapadman, who had been inflicting immense chaos and struggling on Earth. In a fierce battle, Lord Muruga confronted Surapadman and finally vanquished him, bringing peace and concord again to the world.
Throughout this battle, as Surapadman was slain, two birds emerged from his physique: a peacock and a rooster. The peacock grew to become Lord Muruga’s vahana, representing magnificence and triumph, whereas the rooster grew to become an emblem of victory, depicted on his flag. This legend signifies the divine triumph of fine over evil and the restoration of righteousness.
The legend of Lord Muruga and his victory over Surapadman serves as an inspiration for devotees, highlighting the facility of righteousness, knowledge, and braveness in overcoming adversities. Lord Muruga is revered because the embodiment of divine qualities and is worshipped for blessings in varied points of life, together with knowledge, success, safety, and religious development.

Celebrating Adhik Maas Skanda Sashti:

Devotees observe sure rituals and practices throughout Adhik Maas Skanda Sashti to hunt the blessings of Lord Muruga. Listed below are some important points of the celebration:

Fasting:

Observing a quick for six days throughout Skanda Sashti is a customary observe for devotees. Throughout this era, they abstain from consuming sure meals as an act of purification and devotion. Some widespread dietary restrictions throughout this quick embrace avoiding meat, onions, garlic, and alcohol.
Onions and garlic, though they’re extensively utilized in cooking, are believed to own properties which will enhance bodily and psychological agitation. Therefore, they’re averted during times of non secular observances and meditation.
As an alternative of consuming restricted meals, devotees go for a weight loss plan that primarily consists of contemporary fruits through the six-day quick. Recent fruits are thought of pure and sattvic (pure and harmonious) in nature, which is believed to reinforce religious well-being and readability of thoughts.

Prayer and Worship:

Start by choosing an acceptable location in your house or a delegated puja room the place you possibly can arrange an idol or image of Lord Muruga.
Clear the realm and beautify it with flowers, rangoli (color powders), and different auspicious objects. Gentle a diya (oil lamp) close to the idol.
Take pure water or milk in a clear vessel and provide it to the idol as an act of purification and reverence. As a mark of respect and devotion, current new clothes to the idol of Lord Muruga. It’s customary to supply conventional apparel akin to a dhoti (males’s garment) or a saree (ladies’s garment).
Put together a easy and sattvic (pure) meal or prasad to supply to Lord Muruga. This could embrace dishes akin to rice, lentils, greens, and sweets. You possibly can place the meals in entrance of the idol or provide it on a banana leaf or a clear plate.
After the meals has been supplied to the deity, it turns into prasad—a blessed providing. Distribute the prasad to members of the family, mates, and devotees. Consuming prasad is believed to be spiritually purifying and brings blessings to those that partake in it.

Chanting Mantras:

Reciting highly effective mantras devoted to Lord Muruga is a big side of devotion throughout Skanda Sashti and Adhik Maas. Chanting these mantras with sincerity and devotion is believed to invoke Lord Muruga’s blessings and appeal to positivity in varied points of life.
“Om Saravanabhavaya Namah”: This can be a potent mantra devoted to Lord Muruga. “Om” is a sacred syllable representing the divine, and “Saravanabhavaya Namah” is an invocation to Lord Muruga, who’s also called Saravanabhava, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Chanting this mantra with devotion is believed to hunt Lord Muruga’s grace, safety, and blessings in overcoming obstacles, attaining knowledge, and attaining religious development.

Skanda Shashti Kavacham Music:

The Skanda Shashti Kavacham is a robust hymn composed in Tamil that extols the virtues and powers of Lord Muruga. It’s a devotional tune that praises the divine qualities of Lord Muruga and seeks His safety and blessings. Chanting or listening to the Skanda Shashti Kavacham is believed to thrust back negativity, shield in opposition to evil forces, and produce peace and prosperity.
The rhythmic repetition of those mantras helps to calm the thoughts, deepen focus, and create a religious reference to the divine. Devotees usually incorporate these mantras into their every day prayer routines, particularly throughout Skanda Sashti and Adhik Maas. Some might chant the mantras a sure variety of occasions, akin to 108 occasions or multiples thereof, to reinforce the religious vibrations and create a extra profound impression.

Temple Go to:

If attainable, go to temples devoted to Lord Muruga, akin to Tiruchendur or Kathirgamam in Sri Lanka. Search the divine darshan (sight) of Lord Muruga, and provide your honest prayers and devotion.
Visiting temples devoted to Lord Muruga throughout Skanda Sashti and Adhik Maas offers devotees with a profound alternative to immerse themselves in divine vibrations, expertise religious upliftment, and search blessings for his or her well-being and religious development.
Throughout the go to to those temples, search the divine sight of Lord Muruga by standing in entrance of the sanctum sanctorum or the primary deity. Witness or take part within the ritualistic bathing (abhishekam) of the deity with holy substances akin to milk, honey, sandalwood paste, and sacred water.
Current choices akin to flowers, fruits, coconuts, incense, and ghee lamps to Lord Muruga. Attend the arati (ceremonial waving of a lamp) and pujas (rituals) performed at particular occasions of the day. Stroll across the temple advanced in a clockwise course as a mark of reverence and devotion. This observe is named pradakshina.

Advantages of Adhik Maas Skanda Sashti Observance

Observing Adhik Maas Skanda Sashti and praying to Lord Muruga is believed to carry a number of advantages to devotees.

Looking for the blessings of Lord Muruga throughout Adhik Maas Skanda Sashti can improve love prospects and nurture harmonious relationships. It’s believed to bestow blessings for locating an acceptable life associate, resolving conflicts inside relationships, and fostering love, understanding, and happiness in marital life.
Worshipping Lord Muruga throughout Adhik Maas Skanda Sashti is believed to strengthen enterprise endeavours and assist profession development. Devotees search His blessings for fulfillment in ventures, monetary prosperity, {and professional} development.
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Observing Adhik Maas Skanda Sashti and providing prayers to Lord Muruga is believed to carry reduction from well being points. Lord Muruga is related to braveness, energy, and vitality, and it’s believed that His divine grace can promote good well being and supply safety from diseases.
Adhik Maas Skanda Sashti observance presents a big alternative for religious development and experiencing religious bliss. Devotees imagine that intense prayers and devotion to Lord Muruga throughout this era can purify the thoughts, awaken inside consciousness, and deepen religious practices.
Looking for the blessings of Lord Muruga throughout Adhik Maas Skanda Sashti is believed to draw monetary prosperity and abundance. Lord Muruga is usually related to prosperity, and His blessings are sought to beat monetary challenges and attain materials well-being.
Worshipping Lord Muruga throughout Adhik Maas Skanda Sashti is believed to guard one from damaging influences and obstacles. Lord Muruga is taken into account a warrior deity who symbolises braveness and victory, and His divine grace is believed to supply energy and safety in varied points of life.

Conclusion

The convergence of Adhik Maas and Skanda Sashti in 2023 creates a extremely auspicious interval for devotees to hunt divine blessings and have interaction in religious practices. Adhik Maas, with its distinctive grace, and Skanda Sashti, honouring Lord Muruga’s valour, present a possibility for devotees to expertise religious development, search prosperity, and strengthen their bond with the divine. By observing the prescribed rituals and approaching this era with unwavering devotion, devotees can invite plentiful blessings into their lives and expertise a deeper reference to the divine realm.