Skanda Shatkam

Skanda Shatkam

An understanding of the place of Skanda in the domestic ritual and social life of the common man in North India may be had from the grhyasūtras and dharmasūtras. According to the Āgniveshya Grhyasūtra ablutions were to be offered to, among other deities, Skanda, Vishākha and Sasthī, the consort of Skanda. The Kāthaka Grhyasūtra prescribes offerings in the sacred fire during the ritual of Havisyakalpa performed when a householder was offering his daughter in marriage. The deities to whom offerings were so offered include Skanda and Sasthī. According to the Bhāradvaja Grhyasūtra, (3.8.9) and Hiranyakesi Grhyasūtra (2.19.6) a seat (āsana) was prescribed also to Skanda who too was invoked along with other deities. The Mānava Grhvasūtra (2.11) instructs the performance of a ceremony in honor of Goddess Sasthī, consort of Skanda, on the sixth day of the bright fortnight.
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Skanda comes down to the South
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A matter of utmost importance in the history of Skanda cult in India is its transmission from the North to the South of India, a graphic account of which is available in the Skanda Purāna: Śankara Samihitā, Sambhava-kanda, chapters 48 to 50. It is stated that subsequent to the terrible fight between Skanda and demon Tāraka at Māyāpuri, the capital of the latter near the Krauñca Hill in the Hemakūta region of the Himalayas, which resulted in the destruction of Tāraka and the shattering of Krauñca, the divine architect Vishvakarmā constructed a grand city named Devagiri for the victorious Skanda.

Later a thought arose in the mind of Skanda to worship at the sacred shrines in India dedicated to God Śiva. In pursuance of this wish, he left Devagiri with his troupe by an aerial path, towards the South. First, they worshipped Śiva in His sacred shrine at Kedarnāth. Then he came down to Kāshi (Varanasi). From there he sped to the South, first to Śrīparvata (present-day Śrīshaila), then Virūpāksa and then to Daksina Kailāsa (present-day Kālahasti) on the banks of river Suvarnamukhī. He then visited Venkatāchala (Tirumala) from where he came to Vatātavī (Tiru-ālankātu) where is to be found God Śiva in the ūrdhava-tāndava pose. From there he came to Kanchi and then to Kumārakostha (Kumarakkottam) where he established himself.

He then worshipped at Arunācala (Tiruvannāmalai), Pennānallūr (Tiruvennainallūr) on the banks of river Pennār and then Vriddhāchalam and Chidambaram. From there he went to Māyūram and reached the banks of Maniyār. The divine architect Vishvakarmā constructed for him at this place a city by name Kumārapura. From Kumārapura Skanda passed on to a place called Śentipura where too a grand edifice was constructed for him and where he established himself. This place has, later, become renowned as Tiru-Chendūr being one of the most important centers of the Skanda cult in Tamilnadu.
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Shanmugam, Parvathi puthram,
Krouncha shaila vivardhanam,
Deva Senathipathim devam,
Skandam Vande Shivathmajam. 1

I salute Skanda, the son of Lord Shiva,
Who has six heads and is the son of Parvathi,
Who broke in to pieces the Krouncha mountain,
And who is the God who was the commander of Deva armies.

Tharakasura hantharam,
Mayurasana samsthitham,
Shakthayanincha devesam,
Skandam Vande Shivathmajam. 2

I salute Skanda, the son of Lord Shiva,
Who killed the asura called Tharaka,
Who travels on his steed, the peacock,
And who is the God armed with Shakthi.

Visweswara priyam devam,
Visweswara thanuu bhavam,
Kamukam, kamadham, kantham,
Skandam Vande Shivathmajam. 3

I salute Skanda, the son of Lord Shiva,
Who is the God who is the darling of Shiva,
Who rose from the body of Lord Shiva,
Who is a lover, giver of boons and stealer of mind.

Kumaram muni shardhoola,
Manasanthara gocharam,
Valli kantham Jagat yonim,
Skandam Vande Shivathmajam. 4

I salute Skanda, the son of Lord Shiva,
Who is a lad visible to great sages.
As sacred joy in their mind,
Who is a consort of Valli and the progenitor of the world.

Pralaya sthithi kartharm,
Adi kartharameeswaram,
Bhaktha priyam, madonmatham,
Skandam Vande Shivathmajam. 5

I salute Skanda, the son of Lord Shiva,
Who causes the final deluge,
Who is the God who recreates the world,
Who likes his devotees and is greatly exuberant.

Visakam sarva bhoothaanaam,
Swaminam, krithika sutham,
Sada balam jada dharam,
Skandam Vande Shivathmajam. 6

I salute Skanda, the son of Lord Shiva,
Who was born in Visaka and is the lord,
Of all beings, is the son of Kruthika stars,
Who is forever a child and has a tuft.

Skanda shatkamidham stotram,
Midhamya padeth srunyas thadha,
Vanchithan Labhathe sathya,
Anthe Skanda puram vrujeth. 7

He who reads or hears,
This sextet on lord Skanda,
Would definitely realize all his wishes,
And in the end, go to the land of Skanda.