“The awakening of the Third Eye, which is the pineal gland, is a gift from God. The awakening happens in degrees, in stages. At least, we will get a preliminary understanding and some people may open it in a dramatic fashion. And I’ve seen that happening to people who never have heard anything about the Third Eye.” – Dr. Pillai
What Is Skanda Shasti?
Skanda Shasti is a sacred six-day festival dedicated to Lord Muruga—also known as Skanda, Kartikeya, or Subramanya—the divine warrior son of Shiva and Parvati. Traditionally celebrated as Muruga’s victory over demonic forces, Dr. Pillai reveals a deeper mystical dimension:
Each of the six days of Skanda Shasti corresponds to the awakening of one of the six chakras, each linked to one of Muruga’s sacred temples (Arupadai Veedu) in Tamil Nadu, India.
Through these six days, spiritual seekers can awaken their Kundalini energy, open the Third Eye, and connect to Muruga as the Guru of all Gurus.
Skanda Shasti and the Six Chakras
During Skanda Shasti, we honor Lord Muruga, a divine figure who helps guide us towards spiritual awakening. Skanda Shasti is not only a festival of celebration but also a sacred opportunity to awaken the six chakras—the energy centers within our body. Each chakra is connected to one of Muruga’s six sacred temples in Tamil Nadu, and these temples serve as spiritual powerhouses for transformation.
As we meditate on these chakras, we align ourselves with Muruga’s divine energy, allowing us to awaken higher consciousness, spiritual wisdom, and divine grace.
Discover each of the six chakras and the sacred temples of Muruga.
1. Root Chakra – Palani
Location: Base of the spine (coccygeal center)
Temple: Palani Hills
Sound: Om
Spiritual Significance: The Root Chakra represents our foundation, stability, and connection to the earth. It is the source of wisdom and strength. Through Palani Temple, Muruga helps us anchor ourselves firmly in the material world and find inner strength.
Spiritual Practice: To awaken this chakra, focus your attention on the base of your spine and chant Om. This practice helps ground your energy and strengthens your connection to divine wisdom.
2. Sacral Chakra – Tiruchendur
Location: Below the navel
Temple: Seashore temple of Muruga
Spiritual Function: The Sacral Chakra governs our emotions, desires, and creativity. It is often influenced by desires, attachments, and emotions such as jealousy and anger.
Spiritual Practice: In the sacred temple of Tiruchendur, Muruga uses his Vel (spear) to conquer the demons of lower impulses and negative emotions. Meditate on Muruga’s presence and visualize the divine spear clearing your emotional blockages, allowing purity and balance to flow.
3. Navel Chakra – Swamimalai
Location: Around the navel
Temple: Swamimalai
Sound: Om
Spiritual Significance: The Navel Chakra is the seat of inner power, strength, and wisdom. Here, Muruga once taught Lord Shiva the divine meaning of the sound Om. This teaching symbolizes the illumination of inner wisdom and the removal of ignorance.
Spiritual Practice: Chant Om while meditating on Swamimalai Temple, which helps awaken your spiritual strength and releases karma. This practice aids in personal growth and understanding the deeper meanings of life.
4. Heart Chakra – Anahata
Location: Center of the chest
Sound: Ah
Spiritual Significance: The Heart Chakra is the center of compassion, love, and connection to the divine. Dr. Pillai teaches that the sound Ah connects us to the universal force of love, compassion, and omnipresent energy.
Spiritual Practice: Chant the sound Ah with focus on your heart center. This will awaken universal compassion and link you to divine intelligence, fostering peace and harmony both within and around you.
5. Throat Chakra – Pazhamudircholai
Location: Throat region
Temple: Hill shrine near Madurai
Spiritual Function: The Throat Chakra governs communication, self-expression, and the dissolution of ignorance. It is often blocked by karmic patterns related to speech and truth.
Spiritual Practice: At Pazhamudircholai Temple, Muruga assists in clearing karmic limitations, especially those associated with communication. Meditate on Muruga’s divine light, focusing on your throat area. This practice will help purify your speech and align your words with divine truth.
6. Third Eye & Crown – Thiruttani
Location: The center of the forehead (Third Eye) and top of the head (Crown)
Temple: Thiruttani
Spiritual Significance: The Third Eye Chakra is the center of higher intuition and spiritual insight. It is where we access divine wisdom and cosmic awareness. The Crown Chakra is our connection to the divine, transcending the limitations of the physical world and linking us with universal consciousness.
Spiritual Practice: At Thiruttani Temple, Muruga’s divine presence illuminates the Third Eye and Crown Chakras. Meditate here, focusing on the pineal gland in the center of the forehead, and visualize Muruga’s light opening your inner vision. This practice allows you to experience a deeper connection with the divine and opens the doorway to higher consciousness.
Grace: The True Secret of Chakra Awakening
While mantras and chakra meditations are vital, Dr. Pillai emphasizes that grace is the ultimate key to transformation.
“All these practices are not going to give you the results just by doing them once or twice. Grace is the most important thing. The easiest way to get grace is to have the grace of the Guru.” – Dr. Pillai
He illustrates this with two stories:
Muruga’s Saint and the Begging Bowl
A saint who meditated on Muruga for a lifetime attained enlightenment only after surrendering his final attachment—his begging bowl. Muruga revealed that true grace flows when all attachments are released.
Making the Guru Real
Dr. Pillai explains:
“The most important thing is, I have to become real, you have to make me real. If you make me real, then everything will happen quickly. It is the same for any God or Guru—Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad—if you make them more real than your problems, transformation happens.”
Why Skanda Shasti Is the Most Powerful Time for Spiritual Growth
Skanda Shasti is not only a festival of Muruga’s victory over negative forces; it is also the spiritual window to awaken the chakras, meditate on the sounds Om and Ah, and seek Muruga’s grace as the Guru of Gurus.
“The study is the central theme. If with this understanding you approach the chakras and practice them, then they will become more real to you. Otherwise, it will be just working on a technology. The technology is needed. But primarily you need the grace and that’s very important.” – Dr. Pillai
Daily Practice for Skanda Shasti
Here’s how to experience the benefits of Muruga’s grace during the festival:
- Meditate daily on each chakra with its corresponding Muruga temple in mind.
- Chant Om for the Root, Sacral, and Navel Chakras.
- Chant Ah for the Heart Chakra.
- Focus on the Third Eye, visualizing Muruga’s light illuminating your pineal gland.
- Reflect on grace—surrender the ego and open yourself to divine guidance.
Through these sacred steps, Skanda Shasti becomes more than a celebration—it becomes an inner pilgrimage from the base of the spine to the crown of consciousness.
Join Dr. Pillai Virtually for the 3-Day Skanda Shasti Retreat
Experience 3 Empowerments, Sacred Theater, and Rituals to invoke Washington Muruga, the God of the Golden Age.
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