Vaikasi Visakam

Poornima or the full moon of Vishakha month is dedicated to Lord Muruga. Visakam or Vaishaka is one of the ideal nakshatras to celebrate Lord Muruga. This Poornima is also celebrated as Buddha Poornima in Buddhist culture.

Vaikasi Visakam 2023

Skanda Purana talks volumes about Lord Muruga, events associated with His birth, childhood, His bravery in war, His penance and His kundalini yoga skills. Lord Muruga was created from the Third eye of Lord Shiva in the form of 6 fiery flames that later became six baby boys. These six babies were taken to their foster mothers or Karthigai Pengal- Celestial maidens by Lord Agni and Lord Vayu. They nurtured and cared for the six babies until their boyhood.

Once they attained boyhood, Goddess Parvati in the form of Vameshvari, amalgamated all six boys into a single boy with six heads and named him Shanmuga- A lord with six faces. His six faces are Sadyojata Mukha, Vamadeva Mukha, Aghora Mukha, Tatpurusha Mukha, Ishana Mukha and Adhomukha. Skanda Purana talks about the Lord’s overwhelming courage and valour, his battlefields and his siddhi powers. He went onto win huge battles with demons and guard Pleiadeans, unveil Kundalini techniques to the mankind.

Lord Muruga is depicted as King in dark blue complexion holding a Vel, besides Him are two consorts Devayanai and Valli. His vehicles or vahana are peacock and rooster. There is also a serpent found near His feet. The peacock symbolises vanity and pride. The serpent represents Ahankara-ego, the very carnal personality of being that leads towards mundane pleasures. Rooster indicates victory over ignorance. And His weapon Vel, that was handed over by Goddess Parvati symbolises removal of evil influences and negative tendencies that possibly shield us from the true Divine Self.

Vel has been referred as VeeraVel, VetriVel, JnanaVel and ShakthiVel depicting its various abilities. Lord Muruga is all forms of Shakthi and Yoga. Vel denotes pure wisdom- Jnana Shakti, Lord Muruga is a sheer form of Will power, an epitome of Divine Love, Ichcha Shakti. He has formulated techniques of Kundalini yoga and understood energy world better, Kriya Shakti.

Chanting SaRaVaNaBhaVa is very powerful mantra and helps us reap great benefits on this day– this mantra is well utilised by Sage Agastiyar.

Sa- Attracts goodness and positivity.

RA – Brings Wealth and abundance

VA – destroys adharma, diseases, and financial instabilities

NA – Deters competitions, foes; foresees and suppresses problems before they surface

BHA – nurtures charm and flamboyance.

VA – Halts evil influences from poorly placed planets of Horoscope.

Rituals

This festival is very famous in South India and people follow this vrat with utmost devotion. The devotee takes a holy bath early hour or in the brahma muhurtha. The house is cleaned and the pooja altar is set up. Devotees fast all day on Krithigai and break their fast after evening pooja. An Idol or a picture of Lord Muruga is placed in the centre or on a pedestal with flower decorations. Traditionally, people make a live lamp out of rice flour and jaggery called Maa Vilakku, lighting it with ghee is very considered auspicious. Perform hydration ceremony (Abhishekam) to the idol, offer flowers or garlands. Lamps, Incense sticks or Dhoop, sandal paste, Holy ash, neivedhyam- preferrably milk payasam are offered to Lord Subrahmanya during arati. Pooja rituals are performed both morning and evening. Slokas chanted include Tamizh slokas like Kanda Shasti Kavacham, Kanda Sashti Kavacham, Subramanya Bhujangam and Subramanya Ashtotra.

Benefits

Vaikasi Visakam festival dates between 2020 & 2030

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