Subrahmanya Shashti – Subbarayudu Shashti in the Telugu lands – is the great festival of Lord Subrahmanya Swamy on Margashira Shukla Shashti. Devotees fast, worship the Lord in his serpent form, pour milk at anthills and pray for the well-being of their children, and the Subrahmanya temples hold their grandest celebrations.
Festival Dates
Introduction
Subrahmanya Shashti falls on Margashira Shukla Shashti – the sixth day of the bright fortnight of Margashira, usually in late November or December. In the Telugu lands it is lovingly called Subbarayudu Shashti (Subbaraya Shashti), and it is also known as Skanda Shashti; in Karnataka it is celebrated as Champa Shashti. It is the most important festival of Lord Subrahmanya Swamy – Kumaraswamy, Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati – and in the Telugu and Kannada traditions it is closely linked with the worship of the Lord in his serpent form. (In Tamil Nadu, the six-day Kanda Sashti festival celebrated in the month of Aippasi, with the Soorasamharam at Tiruchendur and festivities at Palani, is a separate observance.)
Significance and Legend
According to tradition, Lord Subrahmanya was born to destroy the demon Tarakasura, whom no one else could defeat. Leading the army of the devas as their commander (Deva Senapati), the young Lord vanquished the demon, and Shashti is celebrated as the day of his triumph. In the Telugu lands and in coastal Karnataka, the Lord is also revered as the protector of the serpents and is worshipped in the form of a serpent – and so Subrahmanya Shashti is deeply connected with naga worship, just as Nagula Chavithi is. Devotees pray to him for the well-being of their children, for the blessing of children, for relief from naga dosha and for good health.
How it is Celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
- Fasting: many devotees fast until the puja is completed, and some keep the vrata from the previous day.
- Milk at the puttalu: in many parts of the Telugu lands, devotees pour milk into anthills (puttalu) and worship the serpent deities.
- Vows (mokkulu): devotees offer milk, fruits and flowers, and in fulfilment of vows present small silver hoods (vendi padagalu) and silver eyes to the Lord.
- Temple festivities: Subrahmanya temples hold special abhishekams, the Lord's kalyanam and processions, and are crowded from the early morning.
Rituals and Puja
- An early bath, then worship of Lord Subrahmanya – often with his consorts Valli and Devasena – with flowers, turmeric and kumkum.
- Abhishekam with milk, and worship at the anthill or before a naga image.
- Recitation of the Subrahmanya Ashtakam, Subrahmanya Bhujangam or the Lord's names.
- Feeding the needy and giving in charity in the Lord's name.
Foods and Offerings
- Milk – for the abhishekam and for the anthill.
- Fruits, flowers and simple sweets as naivedyam.
- Silver hoods and silver eyes offered in fulfilment of vows.
Temples Known for this Festival
- Sri Subrahmanyeswara Swamy Vari Devasthanam, Mopidevi – Subrahmanya Shashti is the Lord's most important festival here, with special abhishekams, the kalyanam and very large crowds.
- Kukke Shri Subrahmanya Temple – Champa Shashti is the grandest festival of the year, celebrated over many days and crowned by the great Brahmarathotsava, when the Lord is drawn on the temple chariot by thousands of devotees.
The Subrahmanya Shashti date is shown in the festival dates above. It falls on Margashira Shukla Shashti as per the Telugu panchang.