Skanda Shasti is the Hindu festival for Skanda, also known as Karttikeya and Murugan. It is in October or November each year.
Muruga was born of Siva’s mind and is brother to Ganesha. He has a dynamic power that awakens spiritual cognition. He is the God of yoga (in its true sense — not just asanas), of monks, other renunciates and government leaders, and of healing.
This year I am in Kauai for Skanda Shasti. Kauai is a beautiful small island in the north of the Hawaiian Islands. It is tropical, slow, beach bordered and interior decorated by mountains. I sit each morning on the lani (verandah or deck) in a little guha (small cottage, minimal and rustic, but meeting all needs), high in the mountains but overlooking the ocean. I am ten minutes from the sea and the township but could be on another planet in terms of its isolation and quietness. Except for the roosters who are the ever present alarm clock.
During Skanda Shashti, the Muruga energy is built and intensified over several days of pujas. The last day of the festival is wonderful and amazing, with super high energy and wonderful ceremony. During the puja, Muruga is bathed in an array of sacred substances including milk, yoghurt, honey, sandlepaste and vibhuti. There is no describing this – it must be experienced to be truly understood.
The photos today are not mine – for some reason I take few photos while I am in Kauai, and of course photography is not allowed in the temple. The photos are from the Hindu Monastery, taken by the monks who publish daily photos on TAKA (Today at Kauai Aadheenam). Click here for the daily photos, here and here for more photos of Skanda Shasti.
Firstly a milk abhishekam. Then honey. Then Sandlepaste.
Finally, adorned with the fruits and flowers special to Muruga and wonderfully abundant on this island.
It sounds idyllic!
I did wonder where you’d got to…what a fabulous festival in a fabulous location.
Enjoy! XX
Wow! That looks really interesting. I am intrrigued on how common milk and honey offereings are to the gods among civilizations. For example, they were offere to the gods of the underworld in Ancient Greece. Thank you for sharing.
Murugan’s Photos are simply fab. I would just love to make it as the screen saver on my system. I am a devotee of SUBRAMANYA.I had been recently to kuke subramanya.Its surrounded by forests and water falls. According to our sastras forests are taken care by subramanya. NO wonder the place where u stay is also divine and heavenly.
This post is why I love reading and learning.
Interesting concept
This is very interesting. There are so many Hindu gods and goddesses to learn. I only know of a few. I am happy to know this is the god of yoga, I can relate to it easily. I have been practicing the art of yoga since I took a class in college with someone who studied with a guru in India. Thanks for the interesting post.
Hi Ganga:
Thank you for your comment on my blog; Yes, this has been a crazy week and what a different world here!
Your post with the beautiful pics of the Abhishekam reminds me of more transcendent things to participate in in India; rather than what I have been doing over the last week.
Wishing you the best.
Arun
Nice entry and glad you found pictures to accompany it. Hope you’re going to write some more about Kauai. I know very little about Hawaii and am kind of curious.
Hi there – hadn’t seen a post from you in a while – hope everything’s well! Have a great December!
Just thought I’d ask where you have been. Haven’t seen you post here in a while. Hope everythings fine.
Best wishes for the festive season and a Happy New Year.
hope all’s well.
missing your posts!
hugz!
wishing you a very happy new year !
Thats so fabulous!….great post!..
Happy New Year Jen!
Very Interesting post ..
I guess Skand or Lord Murugan is born to Skand mata (an avatar of Goddess Durga) and Shiva ..
He leads the God’s army also…
and yes these things shud be felt when seeing and observing as it happens there live..
fabulous pictures…
hugs and smiles
It sounds like it was wondeful…10 minutes from the sea! Are you back home yet..or still on this idyllic trip?
Ronell
Hey!
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Best,
Kayla
BEAUTIFUL,, POST MORE.
WILL FOLLOW UP
BEST WISHES
GOWTHAMAN.V
Great to know about all this and learn much more…
Wonderful!!!!
It is Skanda Shasthi again, Ruby and I miss being at Kauai for it. xx thank you for your comment.
I thought god Shiva was the inventor of yoga and bharathanatyam dance is an example of it.
Bharathanathyam is a specific type of yoga to attain peace of mind and body.
The yoga knowledge, I think was passed from Shiva to patanjali who is known as Father of Yoga. Am I wrong ?
Murugan’s Photos are simply fab. I would just love to make it as the screen saver on my system. I am a devotee of SUBRAMANYA.I had been recently to kuke subramanya