VAIKASI VISAKAM

 

This year VAIKASI VISAKAM falls on the Saturday, 18^th May 2019. Vaikasi Visakam is the day of incarnation of Lord Murugan. Vaikasi Visakam is celebrated on the day when the Nakshatram Visakam coincides with the full moon or Pournami in the month of Vaikasi or Rishabham month.Vishakam is the name of the 16th of the 27 nakshatrams or constellations consisting of six stars. Lord Murugan is said to be six faced, riding a peacock, dressed in red. In his two right hands he holds a cock and a bell and in his left hands a victory flag and a Vel (spear) and it is believed to have link with the Visakam nakshatram. Murugu (முருகு) means beauty, fragrance, eternal youthfulness and divinity. The six heads of Shanmugan (Murugan) represent six attributes. They are

• Jnana (wisdom)
• Vairagya(detachment)
• Bala (strength)
• Keerti(fame)
• Shree(wealth)
• Aishwarya(divine powers)

 

Planetary position to Gain Blessings

On 18 May, 2019, the Moon will be in the star Vishaka, ruled by Jupiter, as well as the sign Libra ruled by Venus. The Nakshatra Vishaka relates to ‘Vyapana Shakti,’ meaning the power to manifest what you seek. Thus, this planetary position makes this day powerful to worship Lord Muruga.

Moreover, the association of the Moon with Jupiter amplifies the energy to connect with Muruga and seek blessings to defeat negativity, create positivity and multiply abundance.

Venus (the ruler of Libra) will be sharing the sign Aries with Mercury and will be in opposition to the Moon in the sign Libra. The favorable planetary energies of Venus and Mercury in the sign of Aries ruled by Mars makes the day compelling to overcome your negative emotions, win over enemies and manifest your dreams.

Murugan Moola Mantra à “Om Sharavana-bhavaya Namaha”

Chanting of moola mantra is very sacred and if with devotion we chant we can get Murugan's blessings.

Legend behind Vaikasi Vishakam

• Origin of Soorapadman and his brothers

Sukrachariar, Guru of the Asuras, is the son of Bhrugu and Puloma. Assurendra approached Sukrachariar and expressed his worries about the growing strength and triumphs of the Devas. Sukrachariar summoned Surasai, the daughter of Asurendra, and gave her the magical powers and the name Mayai. He asked Mayai to go to Rishi Kashyapa one of the saptarishis and bear many offspring through him. They will be stronger than the Devas. She agreed for the cause of her clan and assumed the guise of a beautiful maiden and went to Mount Meru and visited Rishi Kashyapa. Kashyapa fell under the spell of her and agreed to her condition that he must match to the form whatever she chooses.

Kashyapa took a beautiful form. Mayai got a son, Soorapadman. From their sweat 30,000 asuras were born.

Next they took the form of lion. Singamukan was born with thousand faces of lion and two thousand arms. From their sweat 40,000 asuras were born with lion faces.

Next they took the form of elephant. Tarakasuran was born with elephant's face and four tusks. From their sweat 40,000 asuras were born with elephant faces.

Next they took the form of goat. Ajamukhi was born with elephant's face and four tusks. From their sweat 30,000 asuras were born with goat faces.

This went on and and with more creations like Yali, Tiger, Horse, Deer, Cow, Bear, Pig, Kooli, etc. Thus 60,000 asuras were born, Mayai and Rishi Kashyapa resumed their original form and were happy to see three sons, a daughter and lakhs of asuras.

Rishi Kashyapa then advised his children to meditate and do penance and told the story of Chiranjeevi Markandeyan. Mayai ridiculed and said these advises are for the rishis who seek salvation. She advised her children to get wisdom and wealth. She warned that Devas are their enemies. She asked them to go to Uttarabhumi and worship Lord Shiva. Mayai left Kashyapa. Rishi was grif striken. His father Brahma told to continue to meditate and do fall pray to lust.

• Soorapadman's Penance and Lord Shiva's Blessings

Soorapadman and others went to north and did immense penance. When still Lord Shiva not appearing he himself entered the yaga kundam and his brother Tarakasur cut his limbs and put into the fire but they started growing. Many other asuras also sacrificed their lives. Singamukan did not want to live without his brother and got ready to jump into the fire. Lord Shiva appeared as a brahmim and consoled him and told he would bring them back to life. River Ganga was made to flow into the yagakundam and all the asuras came out alive.

Lord Shiva gave up his disguise and was on his Nandi Vahana and along with His consort Parvati. Soorapadman fell at His feet sang His Praise. Lord Shiva was blessed him.

Lord Shiva made him the commander of 1008 worlds out of the 1000 crore worlds for a period of 108 yugam; gave him chariot, Indragnalam, Aagnachakra, Paasupadam and other weapons to win over the Devas; also gave him enormous strength.

Tarakaruran and Singamukhan also fell at the feet of Lord Shiva. They also got powerful weapons and were blessed to live long like the two shoulders of Soorapadman. The boon that all the three are immunie to destruction except by Lord Shiva's own force was also given.

• Sukrachariar's advise to Soorapadman

Soorapadman visited Sukrachariar to take blessings. Sukrachariar told that liberation or mukhti, rebirth are all myth. The kingdom given to him is immense and difficult even for the Devas to attain. Do not worship Brahma or Devas. Indran has killed coutless asuras. To take revenge he should enslave the Devas and prison them. Enjoy every pleasure in this birth itself. Visit all your 1008 world and keep representatives there and rule like an emperor.

Sukrachariar gave a vivid descriptions of Bhumandalam, Chandramandalam, Suryamandalam, realm of stars, habitat of saptarishis, sphere of Dhruva, Bhuvarloka, Devaloka, Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapaloka, Satyaloka, Vishnu's Vaikunta and Shivaloka.

• Soorapadman's Tour of Conquest

Soorapadman marched towards Alagapuri ,the city of Kuberan and looted all the wealth. Kuberan was helpless and his city lost its glory.

They proceeded towards Northeast but since Rudras were living there, they turned east and went to Indran's abode. Indran left his city and took refuge in Devalokam. Not finding him they set the whole city ablaze

One by one they conquered the city of Agni, the city of Yama, the city of Niruthi, Nagaloka, etc. All the seven worlds in Patalaloka came under asura's command.

Then they went to Vishnulokam. Vishnu gave a good fight and many asuras were killed. Vishnu sent Chakraayudam to finish Tarakasur but because of Lord Shiva's blessings it became powerless and adorned the neck of Tarakasur. Vishnu stopped fighting and made peace with him.

Soorapadman then visited Janalokam, Makalokam and Tharalokam and got the blessings. Finally he reached Satyalokam, the abode of Brahma. Brhama told him that he is his grandson and gave blessings and weapons.

All the Gods fermently prayed to Lord Brahma to save them. Brahma told only Shiva can help them.

• Incarnation of Murugan

 

Lord Murugan is born out of the Chaitanya of Lord Shiva. From the forehead, Lord shiva emitted six sparks of fire and were carried by Vayu and Agni to the Ganges which pushed them into Lake Saravanai filled with lotuses and reeds. In the Lake the sparks became six Divine children and were nursed by six Kaartika maidens. Maa Parvati embraced them and they became One with six faces and twelve hands. Thus Kartikeya was born.

Siva then said that as the

1. Son of the celestial beings who fed him, he would known as Kartikeya.
2. As Agni’s son he will be known as Mahasena.
3. As Ganga’s son he would be known as Kumara. 
4. As Parvati’s son he would be known as Skanda.
5. As the forest Saravana’s son he would be known as Saravana. 
6. Finally, “he will be known as my son in the name of Guha.”

Therefore Murugan was born with six names and six faces.

Kartikeya leaded the army to fight against the asuras. Soorapadman defeated them and held Sayanthan and other Gods captive. To fight the war Lord Shiva sent the eleven Rudras with eleven weapons. Goddess Parvathi gave him the Vel (Spear) to Lord Murugan on the Tai Poosam day. The Vel is the most effective weapon in Lord Muruga's ordnance.

• Defeat of Tarakasur

Murugan stayed in Thiruchendur with his army. Tarakan had created an illusionary mountain and trapped Veerabahu and other Gods. . A fierce fight took place between both of them. Kartikeya attacked Tarakasur and released his Shakti towards Tarakasur. Tarakasur died instantly.

• Defeat of Singamukan

Indra became a peacock and a vehicle for Muruga to fight the final war with Sinhamukan and Soorapadman. Murugan destroyed all the heads of Singamukan with the Vel.

• Soorasamharam

Soorapadman did not give up the battle easily. He took the disguise of a huge mango tree, Murugan split the tree in to halves. One half metamorphised in to a peacock which became Lord Murugan's vehicle and the other half became a rooster imprinted on the flag.Murugan defeated and killed Soorapadman on the Shashti Hence Skanda Shashti is widely celebrated to rejoice the victory of Lord over the Asura, Indra was immensely happy and he gave his daughter, Devasena in marriage to Muruga. The killing of Soorapadman is celebrated as Soorasamharam. The festival is grandly celebrated in Tiruchendur where it is said that the final battle between Murugan and Surapadma took place.