What is Maha Shashti Vratham
Muruga also known as Subramanya or Skanda is a popular Hindu deity. He is one of the sons of God Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Muruga worship is very popular in Tamil Nadu. Shashti Tithi is special to Lord Muruga, it is an ideal day to worship him. Devotees observe fast on the Shukla Paksha Shashti day.
The Shashti thithi (6th day) of the Shukla paksha in the month of Kartika (October-November) is the most significant of them all. This day is hailed as ‘Maha Skanda Shasti’. During this day, Lord Murugan is specially worshipped in south Indian states and very grandly in Tamil Nadu.
It is a long-standing belief that a person offering prayers and observes fasting on Skanda Shasti will receive the choicest blessings of Lord Muruga.
2022 Monthly Shasti and Maha Skanda Shasti dates
The shasti Vratham falling during the Aippasi month is significant of all shasti days. This day is hailed as ‘Maha Skanda Shasti’.
| Date | Day | Sashti Viratham |
| 07 January | Friday | Sashti Viratham |
| 06 February | Sunday | Sashti Viratham |
| 08 March | Tuesday | Sashti Viratham |
| 06 April | Wednesday | Sashti Viratham |
| 06 May | Friday | Sashti Viratham |
| 05 June | Sunday | Sashti Viratham |
| 04 July | Monday | Sashti Viratham |
| 03 August | Wednesday | Sashti Viratham |
| 01 September | Thursday | Sashti Viratham |
| 01 October | Saturday | Sashti Viratham |
| 25 October | Tuesday | Sashti Viratham Starts |
| 26 October | Wednesday | Maha Skanda Sashti Viratham Starts |
| 31 October | Monday | (Maha Skanda Sashti) Tiru Kalyanam |
| 28 November | Monday | Shasti Viratham |
| 28 December | Wednesday | Sashti Viratham |
Procedure to Observe Maha Shasti Vratham
The Shasti fasting begins with sunrise. The fast is broken on the next day morning after praying to Lord Surya (Sun God).
1. Devotees observe fast during the 6-day period.
2. Devotees observing fast will consume food once a day (either in the morning or evening or night).
3. Devotees can consume water, milk, butter milk, tender coconut or fruit juice.
4. During the 6-day period devotees recite slokas and stotras of Lord Skanda during Morning and Evening.
5. Devotees have to visit Lord Muruga temple at least once in a day for these 6 days.
6. The Skanda Shasti fasting ends on the Sixth day and on the sixth day the devotees will visit Lord Muruga temple.
Rules of Observing Skanda Shasti Vratham
• Observer of the fast has to completely avoid intake of non-vegetarian food during the six-days period.
• If able to the observers of fast can also avoid garlic and onions.
• Those observing have to read scriptures related to Lord Muruga like Skanda Puranam and recite the Muruga devotional songs and stortras like skandha Shasti Kavasam, Subramanya Bhujangam and Kumarasthvam.
• Majority of devotees daily visit Lord Muruga temples during the fasting period.
• Some devotees who cannot fast intake single meal a day and some take the meal at noon and others at night.
• Fasting is not compulsory, if your health does not permit you can skip fasting and adhere to the other vrata procedures.
• Some section of devotees consumes only fruits and liquid food during the 6-day period.
Some Important Shrines of Lord Muruga
There are temples dedicated to Lord Muruga around the world. Below is an incomplete list of the famous temples of Lord Muruga. Try visiting any of these temples and receive the grace of the Lord.
• Subramanya Swamy Temple at Thirupparankunram, Tamil Nadu
• Subramanya Swamy Temple at Thiruchendur, Tamil Nadu
• Dandayuthapani Swamy Temple at Palani, Tamil Nadu
• Swaminatha Swamy Temple at Swamimalai, Tamil Nadu
• Subramanya Swamy Temple at Thiruthani, Tamil Nadu
• Subramanya Swamy Temple at Pazhamudircholai, Tamil Nadu
• Kanthaswamy Temple, Thiruporur, Tamil Nadu
• Murugan Temple, Vayalur, Tamil Nadu
• Vada Palani Murugan temple, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• Kandhakottam Kandhaswamy Temple, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• Subramanya Swamy temple, Marudamalai, Tamil Nadu
• Vallakottai Murugan Temple, Tamil Nadu
• Kumarakottam Subramanya Swamy temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
• Mayilam Murugan Temple, Tamil Nadu
• Subramanya Swamy temple, Sivanamalai, Tamil Nadu
• Siragiri Dandayudhapani, Chennimalai, Tamil Nadu
• Balamurugan Temple, Ratnagiri, Tamil Nadu
• Sri Kolanjiappar Temple, Vridhachalam, Tamil Nadu
• Sikkal Singaravelar Temple, Tamil Nadu
• Haripad Sree Subramanya Swamy Temple, Kerala
• Subramanya Swamy temple, Payyanur, Kerala
• Udayanapuram Subramanya Temple, Kerala
• Kukke Subramanya Temple, Karnataka
• Kataragamam Temple, Sri Lanka
• Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
• Kovil Montagne or Sri Siva Subramanya Thirukovil, Mauritius
• Sri Subramaniar Temple Batu Caves, Malaysia
