In Lord Murgan’s temples, the six-day Skanda Sasti (Kanda Shasti, sasti) festival begins on November 13, 2023(Monday). The main ritual of Soorasamharam is on the sixth day, November 18, 2012 (Saturday). Śrī Subrahmanya Valli Teyvanai Tiru Kalyanam is on November 19 2023 (Monday). Shasti is the sixth day from new moon day.

Kanda Sasti 2023 Dates

Tiruchendur Yaga Salai Puja

Devotees will throng all Lord Murugan’s temples especially at the seashore temple at Tiruchendur on these six days. The function will begin with yaga salai puja on November 13, 2023. In many temples a sacred flag will be hoisted to indicate the beginning of function. This is followed by kappu kattuthal (sacred thread tying) ritual. Priests will tie sacred thread to Lord Muruga and devotees. Devotees tying kappu will stay in the temple until the function ends.

Kanda Sasti Fasting

Many devotees will observe fasts in varying forms. Some will take only fruits, some only milk and liquid foods, some take one meal a day, some only water on all six days. Some devotees will fast only on the sixth day. The devotees fast based on what they can observe.

Spiritual lectures will take place on all days, right from morning until evening in temples. Devotees will read Kanda Puranam, chant the hymns of Lord Muruga especially Kanda Sasti Kavacham on all six days. Special abhishekam, archanai, puja and deeparadhanai will be held daily. In some temples Laksarchanai will be done to Muruga.

Skanda Puranam

According Kanda Puranam, once three asuras Soorapadman, Singamugasuran and Tharakasuran were causing great troubles to the celestial Devas. To destroy them Lord Shanmuga took avatar form from the third eye of Lord Shiva. Lord Muruga accepted the vel ayutham (spear weapon) from Goddess Parvati and proceeded along with Virapagu Devar and other devas to Tiruchendur to fight Soorapadman and his demon army.

During war Lord Muruga transformed Singhamugasuram as vahana of Goddess Shakti. Soorapadman after fighting tried to escape by hiding himself as a mango tree in the seabed. Lord Muruga split the mango tree and converted one half as peacock vahana and other half as ‘ceval’ or rooster banner.

After giving peruvazhvu (great blessing) to the asuras, Lord Muruga freed the devas. The destruction of three asuras symbolises the destruction of anavam (ego), kanmam and maya (illusion).

Surasamharam

Sponsor annadanam at Tiruchendur during Kanda Sasti

For more pictures of Kanda Sasti, go to Kanda Sasti picture gallery.

On the day of Soorasamharam, more than 5,00,000 devotees will throng the seashore temple at Tiruchendur. 

The events leading to destruction of three asuras by Lord Muruga will be enacted on the seashore. After the destruction of Soorapadman, abhishekam will be held for the mirror image of Lord Shanmuga. Then Lord Muruga will perform puja to Lord Shiva. The next day celestial wedding between Lord Muruga and Goddess Teyvanai and Goddess Valli will be performed.

Tiruchendur Temple Timings

Note: This is based on Pooja Schedule in previous years. Its only for reference. The actual timings will be announced by the Temple only at the arrival of Festival.

November 13, 2023 (Monday) Day 1: Kanda Shasti Festival Begins

• 1 am IST (early morning) Temple Opens
• 1.30 am Viswaroopa Darisanam
• 2 am Udayamarthanda Abishekam to Sri Subramanya Swami (Moolavar)
• After 5.30 am Sri Jayanthinathar Yaga Salai Purapadu Yaga Salai Ezhuntharulal
• 6.30 am Yaaga Salai Pujai
• 10 am Uchi Kaala Abishekam to Moolavar
• Abhishekam to Sri Jayanthinathar
• Uchi Kaala Deeparadhanai to Moolavar
• 12 pm Deeparadhanai at Yaagasalai to Sri Jayanthinathar, Kaapu Katuthal
• 12.45 pm Sri Jayanthi Nathar in Thanga Chaparam proceeding from Yaagasalai to Shanmuga Vilasa Mandapam amidst chanting of ‘Vel Vaguppu’, ‘VeeraVaal Vaguppu’, MelaVaadhyam. After this Deeparadhanai is done
• Sri JayanthiNathar will bless devotees in Thanga Chaparam at Shanmuga Vilasa Mandapam in the afternoon
• Around 4 pm Evening Abhishekam to Jayanthinathar at Sashti Mandapam
• Yagasalai Pujai
• Sayaratchai Deeparadhanai to Moolavar
• Deeparadhanai to Sri Jayanthinathar at Sashti Mandapam
• Raakala Abhishekam to Moolavar
• Night Thanga Ther (Golden Chariot)
• Ekanda Deeparadhanai to Moolavar

Nov 14th 2023 (Tuesday) to Nov 17th 2023 (Friday) Day 2 to Day 5

• 3 am IST Temple Opens
• 3.30 am Viswaroopa Tharisanam
• 4 am Udayamarthanda Abishekam to Sri Subramanya Swami (Moolavar)
• 7 am Yaaga Salai Pujai in the morning
• Uchi Kaala Abishekam to Moolavar
• Abhishekam to Sri Jayanthinathar
• Uchi Kaala Deeparadhanai to Moolavar
• 12 pm Deeparadhanai at Yaagasalai to Sri Jayanthinathar
• 12.45 pm Sri Jayanthi Nathar in Thanga Chaparam proceeding from Yaagasalai to Shanmuga Vilasa Mandapam amidst chanting of ‘Vel Vaguppu’, ‘VeeraVaal Vaguppu’, MelaVaadhyam. After this Deeparadhanai is done
• Sri JayanthiNathar will bless devotees in Thanga Chaparam at Shanmuga Vilasa Mandapam in the afternoon
• Around 4 pm Evening Abhishekam to Jayanthinathar at Sashti Mandapam
• Yagasalai Pujai
• Sayaratchai Deeparadhanai to Moolavar
• Deeparadhanai to Sri Jayanthinathar at Sashti Mandapam
• Raakala Abhishekam to Moolavar
• Night Thanga Ther (Golden Chariot)
• Ekantha Deeparadhanai to Moolavar

Nov 18th, 2023 (Saturday) Day 6: Surasamharam

• 1 am IST (early morning) Temple Opens
• 1.30 am Viswaroopa Darisanam
• 2 am Udayamarthanda Abishekam to Sri Subramanya Swami (Moolavar)
• 6 am Yaaga Salai Pujai
• 10 am Uchi Kaala Abishekam to Moolavar
• Abhishekam to Sri Jayanthinathar
• Uchi Kaala Deeparadhanai to Moolavar
• 12 pm Deeparadhanai at Yaagasalai to Sri Jayanthinathar
• 12.45 pm Sri Jayanthi Nathar in Thanga Chaparam proceeding from Yaagasalai to Shanmuga Vilasa Mandapam amidst chanting of ‘Vel Vaguppu’, ‘VeeraVaal Vaguppu’, MelaVaadhyam. After this Deeparadhanai is done
• Sri JayanthiNathar will bless devotees in Thanga Chaparam at Shanmuga Vilasa Mandapam in the afternoon
• 2 pm Abhishekam, Alankaram to Sri Jayanthinathar at Sashti Mandapam
• 3 pm Saayaratchai Deeparadhanai
• Around 4.15 pm Sri Jayanthinathar Kadarkarai Eluntharulal
• Around 5.30 pm Soorasamharam
• After Soorasamharam: Alankaram, Deeparadhanai to Sri JayanthiNathar, Valli Ambal, Deivanai Ambal in Santhosha Mandapam
• Giri Prakara Ula, Thirukovil Serthal
• Chaya Abhishekam will be held inside Temple at 108 Mahadevar Sannidhi. ‘Chaya’ in Sanskrit means image. Mirror will be placed in front of Sri Jayanthinathar and abhishekam will be done to his image in the mirror. After Chaya Abhishekam, Sashti Poojai Thagadugal Kattuthal
• Raakala Abhishekam to Moolavar
• Ekantha Deeparadhanai to Moolavar

Nov 19th (Sunday) Day 7 Thirukalyanam

• 3 am Temple Opens
• 5 am Sri Deivanai Ambal Thabasu Kaatchi Purapadu
• 4.35 pm Sri Kumaravidanga Swamy Ambal Tholmaalai Maatrum Nigalchi
• After 11 pm (midnight) Thirukalyanam

November 20th (Monday) Day 8

Night: Sri Kumaravidanga Peruman in Thanga Mayil Vahanam, Sri Deivanai Ambal PooPallaku Pattanapravesham

Nov 21st (Tuesday) to Nov 23rd (Thursday) Day 9 to Day 11
Evening: 6 pm Oonjal Utsavam Sri Kumaravidanga Peruman, Sri Deivanai Ambal Unjal Kaatchi at Thirukalyana Mandapam

November 24th (Friday) Day 12
Evening: 4.30 pm: Manjal Neeratu Swami Ambal Thiruveedhi Ula Thirukovil Serthal

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