Skanda Shasti !!!!

Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam

Pic - Google images

 

The dawn is always alight with positive energy when a special festival is being celebrated. For the bhaktas the enthusiasm is like a popcorn kernel awaiting to pop in the pan of the day. The South African diaspora of Indians are South Indian in the majority and as such have a keen affinity to the traditions of Lord Shiva of which Lord Murugan and his festivals form a big part off. Today is Skanda Shasti and after a 5-day fast and observance devotees will celebrate the victory of Lord Muruga in battle with Asura Surapadman.

Growing up at the doorstep of the Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple with its roots at the erstwhile Maidstone Shree Emperumal Temple where both my maternal and paternal lineage played instrumental roles, it is no surprise that we are a household of Narayana Bhaktas. However even during the month of Purutassi a month dedicated to the adoration of Lord Venketeswara I am accustomed to awaking to the melodious recital of the Skanda Shasti Kavacham. Like the unflinching and unassuming joy of a Liverpool supporter in a house full of Man United supporters my mother has a great and unshakable attraction to Lord Muruga.

Unlike in football though, in Hindu Dharma we are not concerned with the Ishta Devata (personal deity) each follows, because it does not play out in the forecourt of rivalry as our sages through their experiences have always proclaimed that God is one. God appears to us as per our level of perception and consciousness. In the sageous words of Swami Vivekananda at the World Parliament of religions 125 years ago, challenging the leaders of the assembled religions to put an end to uncharitable feelings towards each other, persecutions with the pen or sword of all peoples wending their way to the same goal.

Last night I was invited to the Stonebridge Mariammen Temple to address the congregation on the Skanda Shasti observance. It was my first time to visit this quaint cosy temple situated on the periphery of the Phoenix Industrial park. Although the evening was a gust with a chilly wind the petite shrine was packed to capacity. The air was infused with the deep fragrance of the samagree and ghee that emanated from the havan fire dancing in tune with the melodious bhajans from the Ayappan prayer group. The crisp and veridical devotion left Lord Muruga with no option but to preside at the function. His presence was palpable by the escalating emotions whilst the priest chanted the mantras amidst loud and animated bursts of “Aro hara”

It is said at the holy place of Tiruchendur sanctified as one of the six homes of Lord Murugan, a fierce battle of six days ensued between a Surapadman and Lord Muruga. The resultant victory of the Lord on the sixth day is the reward celebration of Skanda Shasti. I had to start off my talk by explaining that these puranic episodes are merely a means to convey a deep philosophical message. A message that will help man to lead a life that is conducive to attaining the goal of life being god realisation. The episode in its literal form may present with many shortcomings. An example would be, how would a great and devout Murugan Bhaktan reconcile the idea that his supreme Lord who is creator of the universe take six days to vanquish an asura which is far inferior in composition. Therefore, there must be some deeper message that needs to be extracted from this story.

The idea that I presented was couched around my recent contact with readings from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and lectures by revered Swami Vimokshananda during his sojourn in New Delhi. Our experience of the world before us is perceived through our senses. In the absence of our senses the world would cease to exist. Although each of us is potentially divine as declared by Swami Vivekananda the Ego which lies in between our mind, actions, intellect and divine consciousness if left unchecked can polarise our divine nature and steer us on a dangerous path to self-destruction. Examples of this can be gleaned from the lives of Ravana, Kamsa and Hiranyakasipu whose quality of life deteriorated devilishly because of an unbridled ego. 

Sri Krishna mentions in the Bhagavat Gita that the mind can be one’s best friend or ones worst enemy. If the senses and mind is the lens through which we see the world it would be important that they are bleached with purity and divinity. These six days of battle thus represents the cleansing and strengthening of the mind and 5 senses by weakening the unripe ego and allowing the ripe ego to flourish. Sri Ramakrishna explains that the unripe ego can be associated with a bound soul that identifies itself with the body, passions, self-importance, and the world while the ripe ego is associated with illumination through divine knowledge, devotion, servant of god, thus knowing all else to be false and completely surrenders to god alone.

We learn that on the sixth day Surapadman was not killed but was split into 2, the peacock and rooster. The two represents the concept of ripe and unripe ego given to us by Sri Ramakrishna. The peacock which is associated with pride and worldliness is the unripe ego and as such becomes bridled and restraint as his vehicle which represents the quelling or curbing of the unripe ego. The rooster on the other hand becomes the symbol of the flag of Lord Murugan, flying high unbridled symbolic of the ripe ego which must be given free rein to flourish and express itself. Under the condition of the ripe ego alone, our divine nature, intellect and discrimination would be able to have influence of our organs of sense and action and will contribute to bringing about peace, harmony and joy in the world. In all we would be Murugan which means absolute beauty (Azhagan- Tamil) born out of the eye of discrimination and in possession of the Vel of knowledge with the unripe ego under control our beauty would be eternal and evergreen which is the state of eternal bliss we all seek.

Make Lord Murugan bless us with his grace and guidance this Skanda Shasti is my sincere prayer.

Vetri Vel Muruganikka Arohara!!!!!!!

With love and prayers

Yogan Naidoo