Soorasamharam (Skanda Sashti) 2026

Puja Vidhi: Sri Lanka (Saiva Tamil)

Who Should Do This Vrat?

• Saiva Devotees of Muruhan: Sri Lankan Tamil Saiva families, in Sri Lanka and in their temples abroad, keep the six-day Kantha Sashti Viratham in honour of Lord Muruhan (Aarumuhar, the six-faced Lord), going to the temple on all six days.
• Those Taking the Long Vow: Devotees who take up the fast as a vow keep it for six years without a break.
• Those Who Cannot Fast: Devotees who are unable to fast keep their thoughts on Muruhan through the six days.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Sankalpam: Taken in the early morning of the first day of the fast, after the bath and prayer.
• Sooran Por: The battle with Soorapanman is enacted at the temple in the evening of the sixth day. Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.
• Sixth Night: Keep awake through the night that follows the Sooran Por.
• Paranai: The fast is broken on the morning of the seventh day, after the morning puja and the Sahasranama archanai at the temple.

About the Festival

Soorasamharam is the close of the Kantha Sashti Viratham, a six-day fast kept by Sri Lankan Tamil Saivas and their temples abroad in honour of Lord Muruhan, and it ends with the Sooran Por, the enactment of his battle with Soorapanman. It takes place on the Shashthi (sixth day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.

The Vrat Katha (Story of the Sooran Por)

The temples enact the Sooran Por each year as the high point of the six days. It tells how Soorapanman and his two brothers, Singamukhan and Tarakasuran, together with their armies, were subdued by Lord Muruhan.

Tarakasuran, the elephant-faced, comes out to fight first, and his head is cut off by the Vel, the Lord's spear. Singamukhan, the lion-faced, comes next and is killed.

Soorapanman, mighty from his long penance and helped by his mother Maayaa, fights on with magic. He makes the battlefield blindingly bright at one moment and pitch dark at the next, but all his tricks are subdued by the Nyaana Vel (the Vel of wisdom).

Unable to win, Soorapanman turns himself into a mango tree deep under the sea. The Vel splits the tree, and its two halves become the peacock and the rooster, who stay with the Lord for ever. The Saiva rules read the fast itself as a tapas that frees the soul from the three bonds of Anavam, Kanmam and Maayaa.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the morning puja:

• Sacred Ring: A ring of Tharppai (Darbha grass) to wear on the finger for the Sankalpam
• Nightly Food: Milk, fruit, tender coconut water, or a few peppercorns (Milahu), one of these for each night
• From the Temple: The Kumbam (sacred water pot) is set up by the temple for the devotees, so you need not prepare one at home
• For the Paranai: A cooked meal to eat with the other devotees, and Tulsi leaves and water for use if the meal cannot be taken at the right time

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Eve of the Fast and the Sankalpam

1. On the eve of the first day, eat only one vegetarian meal, and at night take only milk or fruit.
2. On the first morning, rise early, bathe and pray, then go to the temple. You may make the Sankalpam (solemn vow) alone or in a group under the priest.
3. Wear the Tharppai ring on your finger, do Pranayamam (controlled breathing), knock your forehead lightly with your knuckles in honour of Pillaiyaar (Lord Ganesha), and take the Sankalpam to keep the Kantha Sashti Viratham.
4. The Saiva rules also have you tie the Kappu (sacred thread) at the temple after the Sankalpam.

Step 2: The Six Days of the Vrat

1. Rise early each day, bathe and pray to Muruhan, ideally six times a day.
2. Because a Kumbam is hard to keep at home, go to the temple on all six days.
3. Read or listen to the Kantha Puraanam, sing or listen to the Kantha Sashti Kavasam and the Kantha Guru Kavasam, and keep chanting the Lord's name.
4. Do not sleep by day during the six days.

Step 3: The Nightly Fast

1. Take no meal by day. Each night, after the prayers, take only a little milk, or fruit, or tender coconut water, or a few peppercorns; choose one.
2. On the sixth night take a different one of these, as a sign that the fast is completing, and nothing else.
3. If you cannot keep this fast, eat one meal a day for the first five days and fast fully on the sixth day.
4. If you cannot fast at all, keep your thoughts on Muruhan.

Step 4: The Sooran Por (Evening of the Sixth Day)

1. Go to the temple in the evening of the sixth day to see the Sooran Por.
2. After the Sooran Por, take part in the Abhishekam (ritual bath of the deity) and the Shanmuga Archanai (worship with the names of the six-faced Lord).
3. Elders bathe after the Sooran Por, especially those who wore the Tharppai ring.

Step 5: Bath and Vigil of the Sixth Night

1. After the evening puja, the temple sets up Kumbams for the devotees. It is ideal to bathe using the Kumbam water.
2. Do not sleep through the sixth night. Saiva elders keep awake, especially those who wore the ring at the Soorasamharam.
3. Spend the night in talk of Muruhan.

Step 6: Paranai on the Seventh Morning

1. After the morning puja at the temple, join the Sahasranama Archanai (worship with the thousand names) to Aarumuhar.
2. Bathe, see the puja of the Paranai (breaking of the fast), and feed devotees in the Maheshwara Puja.
3. Break your fast with the other devotees. If the meal cannot be taken at the right time, drink Tulsi water at that time.
4. After the meal, stay awake until nightfall.

Step 7: Keeping the Six-Year Vow

1. Keep the fast every year for six years, without a break.
2. If you wish to stop, inform the chief priest of the temple.
3. Close the vow with the Poorthi Pooja (the puja of completion).

Puja Vidhi: Kerala (Shashti)

Who Should Do This Vrat?

• Parents: Parents keep this vrat mainly for the welfare of their children, praying to Lord Subrahmanya (Murugan) for their wellbeing.
• Devotees of Subrahmanya: Devotees of the Lord also keep it to seek relief from Sarpa Dosha (an affliction linked to serpents).

When Should This Be Performed?

• Panchami (the Day Before): One meal only is eaten on this day. Check the Panchami timing for your city on this page.
• Shashthi: The fast (Upavasam) is kept on Shashthi until the noon naivedyam. Check the Shashthi timing for your city on this page.
• Breaking the Fast: The fast is broken at noon (Madhyahna, midday) with the naivedyam of the temple's noon puja (Ucha Puja). Those who keep the vrat for all six days end it in the evening, after the temple pujas.

About the Festival

Subrahmanya Shashthi is a deeply revered Kerala observance in which parents fast for their children and worship Lord Subrahmanya, also known as Murugan. It takes place on the Shashthi (sixth day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.

The Vrat Katha (Story of Subrahmanya and Soorapadma)

Once upon a time, a fierce war was fought between the asura Soorapadma and Lord Subrahmanya. In the midst of it, Soorapadma used his magic (Maya) to make himself and Subrahmanya invisible to the devas and to everyone else.

Goddess Parvati grieved deeply at not being able to see her son. The devas and the Devi gave up food and took up a vrat, praying for the Lord to be seen again.

On the day of Shashthi, Lord Subrahmanya destroyed Soorapadma and appeared before the devas. Seeing their enemy destroyed and the Lord before them, they ended their fast at noon and ate their fill. This is the story told of the Shashthi vrat, which devotees keep to this day.

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: The Day Before (Panchami)

1. Eat one meal only on Panchami.
2. Spend the day in Bhajan (devotional singing) in praise of Lord Subrahmanya.
3. Do not sleep during the day.

Step 2: Keeping the Fast (Shashthi)

1. Keep a full fast (Upavasam) on Shashthi, which is the best way to keep the vrat.
2. Do not sleep during the day.
3. Visit a Subrahmanya temple.

Step 3: Reciting the Hymns

1. Recite the Subrahmanya Bhujangam.
2. Recite the Skanda Shashti Kavacham.

Step 4: Breaking the Fast (Noon)

1. Break your fast at noon by eating the naivedyam of the temple's noon puja (Ucha Puja).
2. If you keep the vrat for all six days, stay at the temple for the pujas until evening and end the vrat then.

Puja Vidhi: Tamil Nadu (Soorasamharam)

Who Should Do This Vrat?

• Devotees of Murugan: Devotees of Lord Murugan (Subrahmanya) keep the six-day fast to seek his protection and relief from their troubles.
• Couples Desiring Children: Couples without children keep this vrat to seek Murugan's blessing for a child (Santan Prapti).
• Those in Need of Relief: Many also keep it when they pray for work, marriage, relief from debt, or any distress in life.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Kappu and Daily Worship: The Kappu is tied before sunrise on the first of the six days. Rise early each day to bathe, and do the puja at home in the morning and in the evening. Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.
• Soorasamharam and the Night Vigil: The Soorasamharam falls in the evening of the sixth day. At Tiruchendur the Lord, as Jayanthinathar, comes to the seashore without his consorts and slays Sooran in the enactment on the beach, and the Lord's reflection in a mirror is then given abhishekam (Chaya Abhishekam) to cool the victorious Lord. Stay awake through that night.
• Thirukalyanam: The wedding of Murugan and Deivanai is celebrated on the seventh day. At Tiruchendur Deivanai's penance is in the morning, the garlands are exchanged in the evening, and the wedding is held at midnight.
• Paranai (Breaking the Fast): On the morning of the seventh day, after the Thirukalyanam has been seen.

About the Festival

Soorasamharam, also called Kanda Sashti, is a much-loved Tamil observance in which devotees of Lord Murugan keep a six-day vrat leading up to the festival of his victory over the asura Soorapadman. At Tiruchendur the festival opens with the yagasalai puja (worship at the sacrificial hall), where the priests tie the Kappu on the Lord and on devotees, and the temple rites are performed by the priests for devotees to watch. It takes place on the Shashthi (sixth day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.

The Vrat Katha (Story of Soorapadman)

Long ago the asura brothers Soorapadman, Singamukhan and Tarakasuran performed severe penance (tapas) to Lord Shiva and received weapons and a boon that none but a son of Shiva could kill them. With this boon they oppressed the devas in the three worlds.

The devas appealed to Shiva. Six sparks of fire came from his third eye and were carried to the Saravana pond, where they became six babies, nursed by the six Krittika women. Mother Parvati embraced the six and they became one, Shanmukha, the six-faced Murugan. Parvati gave him the vel (spear), and as commander of the army of the devas he went to Tiruchendur with Veerabahu and the devas.

Murugan sent Veerabahu as his messenger, but Soorapadman refused to free the devas, and the war began. Murugan killed Tarakasuran and Singamukhan. Unable to win, Soorapadman hid in the sea as a great mango tree, and Murugan split it with the vel: one half became the peacock, his vahana (mount), and the other became the rooster on his banner. Before the end Soorapadman prayed tearfully for pardon, and the Lord blessed him. After the battle Murugan worshipped Lord Shiva at Tiruchendur.

The Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam explains that the devas praised and worshipped Murugan through the six days that the war went on, and those six days are kept as the Kanda Sashti vrat. The next day Indra gave Deivanai in marriage to Murugan. Since that day, devotees have kept the six days of Kanda Sashti with fasting and worship of Murugan, and his wedding is celebrated as the Thirukalyanam.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the morning puja:

• Bathing & Kappu: Water for the bath, turmeric water for sprinkling the house, and the Kappu (sacred thread)
• Purna Kumbha: A pot of water, mango leaves, Darbha grass, sandal paste, and Haldi (turmeric)
• Image & Lamp: A picture of Murugan with a garland, and a lamp (Diya)
• Tilak & Flowers: Sandal paste, Haldi, Kumkum, Tiruneeru (sacred ash), and flowers such as Arali, Sevanthi and Sampangi
• Food Offerings (Naivedya): Milk, fruit, Modakam (cooked in ghee with jaggery), and Panchamirtham
• For the Recitation & Paranai: The text of the Kanda Sashti Kavasam, and a meal to offer to six devotees

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Kappu and the Fast (Before Sunrise)

1. On the day before the vrat begins, wash the house and sprinkle turmeric water in it.
2. Before sunrise on the first day, bathe and tie the Kappu (sacred thread) to begin the vrat.
3. Keep the fast as your strength allows: one meal a day, or one glass of the Lord's abhishekam or naivedya milk a day, or milk and fruit, or water only. Those who cannot keep all six days may fast on the sixth day alone. Avoid non-vegetarian food, onion and garlic during the vrat.
4. The sick, pregnant women, and those on long medication or fertility treatment should not fast, but may keep the vrat in mind.

Step 2: Daily Bath and the Purna Kumbha

1. On each of the six days, rise early, bathe and apply Tiruneeru.
2. For the classical bath, face upstream in a river, or face north at a well or tank, draw a hexagon on the water, write the six-syllable mantra with Om in its centre, and then dip.
3. Set up a Purna Kumbha: fill a pot with water, lay mango leaves and Darbha grass in a row on it, and apply sandal paste and Haldi.
4. Invoke Murugan in the Kumbha, offer flowers and show the lamp.

Step 3: Morning and Evening Puja

1. Worship Murugan at home each morning and evening: garland his picture and light the lamp.
2. Offer flowers and apply sandal paste, Haldi and Kumkum.
3. Offer Naivedya of milk, fruit and Panchamirtham.
4. At night, worship in the picture and in the Kumbha, and offer Modakam cooked in ghee with jaggery.

Step 4: Kavasam, Kanda Puranam and the Temple

1. Recite the Kanda Sashti Kavasam morning and evening. You may also recite the Kanda Guru Kavasam, Kandar Alangaram, Kandar Anubhuti, Kandar Kalivenba, Thiruppugazh or Thirumurugatruppadai.
2. Read or listen to the Kanda Puranam.
3. Keep chanting "Om Saravanabhava", "Vetrivel Muruganukku Arohara" and "Velum Mayilum Thunai", and visit a Murugan temple whenever you can.
4. Do not sleep during the day on any of the six days.

Step 5: The Sixth Day and the Night Vigil (Evening)

1. On the sixth day keep the strictest fast you can, a full fast if at all possible.
2. In the evening celebrate the Soorasamharam as a festival, or go to a Murugan temple and take part in it.
3. Stay awake through the night thinking of Murugan, with the Archanai (worship by chanting his names) of his 1008 names.

Step 6: Thirukalyanam and Paranai

1. On the morning of the seventh day (Saptami), see the Thirukalyanam at the temple.
2. Do not end the vrat before you have seen the Thirukalyanam.
3. Offer a meal to six devotees, and then break your fast with the Paranai.