KANDHAR SASHTI VIRADHAM

Ever since the Vedic age, the Hindus have believed that there is only one God but sages call him by different names. The Shaivites, who worship God in the form of Shiva also believe that God appears in various forms to grant us grace and accepted us as His devotees. The form popularly known as Kanthan or Murugan is one of His many forms. Kacchiyappar in his Kanthapuranam says that when the devas brought to Shiva’s notice their hardships and prayed for a son of the Lord to remove their sorrow, He took His ancient form with six faces, a form known only to the wise who meditate on Him. The sparks that emanated from these six faces become six babies’ which spotted in the lake called Saravana. Uma, the Shakti or the consort of Shiva embraced all the six babies together so that they were united in body but retained the six faces and twelve arms. This is said to be the reason why He is called Kanthan. Shiva explains this again while explaining the various names of Murugan. He also added that the Six-faced Lord (Arumugan) and He are one and the same. He is therefore everywhere. Though He has the body or form of a Child, He is Omniscient and capable of granting such boons as wealth. Beauty, greatness, true knowledge and salvation will be bestowed upon those who praise and worship Him. Thus Kanthan is the very power or energy of Shiva Himself and like Him, grants all kinds of excellence and the bliss of salvation to His devotees.

The world viratham or vrata means a solemn vow, the following of an ideal, fast religious austerity. Whatever meaning we accept, an element of vow or worship becomes an important factor. For example if we say that Rama followed the ekapatni vrata or monogamy, it means that he accepted, and held firmly to that idea. Even here, we have to admit that there is a sense of abstinence and purity. Viratha helps a person to control his desires by controlling his senses and subdue his mind so as to achieve the power of concentration. These would help him to lead a pure life and make his heart pure enough to become God’s abode. Then he can meditate on God and finally achieve salvation. Partial or complete abstinence from food is, considered as an important aspect of vrata. Of the fives sense, the tongue or the sense of taste is the finest, yet the most difficult sense organ to control. The other sense organs are not affected unless they are directly involved. For example, only when a person sees beautiful or ugly objects, his eyes are pleased or saddened; ears are pleased or displeased with the sounds they hear. But the tongue is different. The very mention even by others, or thought, of objects like the mango affect the tongue so that it salivates. Therefore, to subdue this sense organ abstinence from food is considered necessary. Tiru Vi. Kaliyanacuntaranar usually interprets fasting religious austerities as complete abstinence from food (upavacam).

According to him, the person who is fasting should not eat anything on the night before the day of fast, but drink water. From then on he should abstain from food throughout the next day and night. Whenever he feels dry he should drinks small quantities of pure water. If not his inner organs would becomes dry or heated and affected his health. Consumption of water helps one to urinate. If a sensation of heat is felt while passing urine he should increase slightly the amount of water consumed. If he does not have this complaint then it is a sign that he has carried out the fast properly. This is a suitable way for cooling his inner organs.

He also advises that the fast be broken gradually. He should not stuff himself with food that is heavy or rich. The stuffing of such food causes disease. First he should sip some water; after sometimes drink some skimmed yoghurt or fruit juice; a little later drink milk or porridge and only after that eat normal food. Thus his accept of fasting is based on what is the mind.

Surasamharam

Surasamharam

Legendhas it that at this holy place Lord Subramanya annihilated Surapadman,who along with his brothers Singamukha and Taraka, was reigning Triloka(the Heaven, the Earth and the Pathala). At the pinnacle of his fame, thedemon subjected the Devas to untold miseries. The distressed Devas ills. These were carried to the Himalayan lake Saravanathrough the Holy Ganges by Agni, the God of Fire. There they took the formsof six divine babies on lotus flowers. They were nourished by the Krithikanymphs. The six babies, on being embraced by Parvathi, Siva's consort,took one divine from with six heads and twelve hands and came to be knownas Shanmukha and Arumukha, the six-faced. In this form, the Lord reachedTiruchendur from Kailas on his mission of subduing the Asuras. Here, hedesired a shrine of Siva for his worship. Mayan, the celestial, was orderedto build the temple on the shores. The Lord plunged into the divine missionand fought the demon and his hordes for six days, on land, under the seaand in the air. The war saw the end of all except Surapadman, who rosein the form of a mango tree in the middle of the ocean. The Lord took Indraas his charger, challenged the demon in his island fortress and piercedthe Asura King into two. The body thus left out took the forms of a cockand a Peacock, but still would not give in. They too were fought to thefinish, and the demon, who was penitent before death, was forgiven by Muruga.In his infinite mercy the Lord gave Viswaroopa darshan and adopted thepeacock as his permanent charger, relieving Indra, and the cock as hisbanner. The Asura thus came to stay in the above two forms ever in thepresence of the Lord. To commemorate this victory, a festival called SkandaSashti is celebrated at Tiruchendur as well as in other shrines of LordMuruga for six days with all pomp and piety. On the concluding day, theepic battle Surasdmhara ( the annihilation of Surapadman ) is re-enactedin all its true form, witnessed by devotees in thier thousands. After thesuccessful mission, the Lord, it is said, turned again at Tiruchendur,halted and worshipped Siva at the temple built by Mayan.nvokedLord Siva for deliverance. Lord Siva extended his merciful eye of protectionand sent six fire ba

CHENDUR MURUGAN

Tiruchendur, situated in the Tuticorin District of Tamil Nadu, means 'beautiful holy town' in Tamil is a popular place of pilgrimage. Built by Viswakarma, Thiruchendur is the second Aarupadai Veedu (six sacred abodes -Tiruchendur, Tiruparangundram, Swamimalai, Pazhani, Pazhamudir cholai and Tiruttani) of Lord Muruga. The ancient Lord Arulmigu Subramaniaswamy Temple here is dedicated to Lord Muruga, one of the favourite gods in Tamil Nadu. It is a well - maintained temple with more than 20,000 devotees visitors daily.

Located on a small rocky headland on the shore of the Gulf of Mannar, this impressive temple presides over a sandy beach. The temple is located within 40 km from Tuticorin, 60 km from Tirunelveli and 80 km from Kanyakumari. Dating from the 9th century by the Pallavas, much of it was replaced early in the 20th century because of salt damage. It is also believed that this temple was originally a rock cut structure, cut out of a local hill, and later renovated with granite. There is some references to the deity inside the temple occur in some of the Tamil's oldest scriptures like Purananuru, Silappadikaram, Tirumurugatrupadai, Adi Sankarar Sri Subramanya Bhujangam, Kanda Puranam etc.

One of the specialty of this temple is that this is the only temple of Lord Muruga located on the seashore and other shrines of his, are situated amidst mountains and forests. The legend behind this temple is that, Lord Muruga won the battle with the demon Surapadma and worshipped Lord Siva in this seashore seeking forgiveness.

The temple is approached via long colonnaded walkway, 750 meters from the town's center flanked by shops selling puja items, garlands, fruits, religious music, cloths etc. Non Hindus are permitted to enter the central shine on payment of a small donation Rs.20.

Usually pilgrims bath in the sea before entering the temple. The temple is entered on the west through a nine storied 137ft high and 90 ft width white stone tower (Rajagopuram) called as Mela Gopuram. A famous landmark of the city, this can be visible from the ocean. Constructed 350 years ago by Sri Desikamoorthy Swami of the Thiruvavaduthurai Mutt, this pyramidal tower is covered with full of plaster figures, depicting the life of the saint Manikkavachakar. It has a bell fixed into the topmost storey, was presented by a British official. There are nine Kalasams at the top of the Mela Gopuram. But this west entrance is only opened during the temple's annual festival.