Sashthi Vrat

Sashthi Vrat — Katha

The legendary story recited as part of the vrat. Read aloud during the morning puja.

The Sashthi Vrat Katha is the story of Devasena, daughter of King Indra, who was the consort of Lord Skanda. The asura Tarakasura — through long tapasya — had received from Brahma a boon that he could be killed only by a son of Shiva. Tarakasura, knowing that Shiva had withdrawn into deep meditation after the death of Sati and would not have a son, considered himself effectively immortal. He attacked the heavens; he drove out Indra; he became the terror of all three worlds.

The gods, in despair, came to Brahma and asked for relief. Brahma said: "Only a son of Shiva can kill Tarakasura. Shiva is in deep meditation at Mount Kailash; we must rouse him." The gods sent Kamadeva — the god of love — to disturb Shiva's meditation; Shiva, enraged at being disturbed, opened his third eye and burned Kamadeva to ashes. But the disturbance had its effect; Shiva began to look at Parvati, who had been performing tapasya for him through Kamadeva's intervention, with eyes of love. They were married; they had a son.

That son was Skanda. He was born not from the womb but from the divine fire — Shiva's seed, carried by Agni and the Krittika nakshatra (the six stars who became his foster-mothers, giving him the alternate name Karthikeya — "the one nourished by the Krittikas"). Skanda grew at extraordinary speed; by the sixth day from his birth — Shukla Sashthi — he was old enough to bear weapons. The gods, watching his birth, gathered on Sashthi to celebrate the imminent defeat of Tarakasura.

Skanda, mounted on his peacock vahana, led the celestial army into battle. Tarakasura — who had been undefeated for ages — fell to Skanda's spear (the Vel) on the sixth day of battle. The heavens were restored; Indra was returned to his throne. Indra, in gratitude, offered his daughter Devasena to Skanda as his consort. The marriage was performed; Skanda took residence at Tiruchendur on the southern coast, where the great Murugan temple still stands.

Indra then declared: "From this day, the Shukla Sashthi of every month shall be Skanda Sashthi — the day of Skanda's birth-from-fire and his victory over Tarakasura. Whoever observes the Sashthi Vrat on this day with full sincerity shall receive Skanda's protection — particularly mothers seeking the protection of their children, and warriors seeking victory over their enemies."

The katha closes with the affirmation that Sashthi Vrat — particularly when observed monthly — anchors a household in Skanda's protective grace. Whoever observes it for the protection of a child finds Skanda standing as the elder brother who defended his mother Parvati against the asuras, willing to defend any child whose mother turns to him.