Kanda Sashti

Kanda Sashti (கந்த சஷ்டி) is a six-day festival devoted to Lord Murugan, who is also lovingly called Kandan (கந்தன்). It remembers his victory over the proud asura Soorapadman (சூரபத்மன்), also spelt Surapadman: a story of courage, wisdom and good overcoming evil. For six days, devotees fast, pray and sing, and the festival reaches its peak with Soorasamharam (சூரசம்ஹாரம்), a dramatic re-enactment of the final battle, held most famously on the seashore at Thiruchendur (திருச்செந்தூர்).

When is it celebrated

Kanda Sashti begins on the day after the new moon that follows Deepavali, usually in the Tamil month of Aippasi (ஐப்பசி), and lasts six days. The sixth day is Sashti (சஷ்டி), the sixth day of the waxing moon, and that evening is Soorasamharam. The festival usually falls in October or November.

The day after Soorasamharam, many temples celebrate Thirukalyanam (திருக்கல்யாணம்), the divine wedding of Murugan and Deivanai (தெய்வானை).

Sashti comes twice every month, and it is special to Murugan all through the year. But the Sashti of this season is the most important of all, and many devotees plan their whole year around it.

Why it is celebrated

The story of Soorapadman

According to the Puranas, the asura Soorapadman and his brothers, Singamukhan (சிங்கமுகன்) and Tharakasuran (தாரகாசுரன்), gained great powers through long penance and began to trouble the gods and the world. It was said that only a son of Shiva could defeat them. So, according to tradition, six sparks from Shiva's third eye became six babies in the Saravana pond, who were raised by the Karthigai maidens and then united by Parvati into one child with six faces: Murugan. You can read more about his birth on our Karthigai Deepam page.

When Murugan grew up, he led the army of the gods against the asuras. Armed with his Vel (வேல்), the divine spear, he defeated Tharakasuran and Singamukhan, and at last faced Soorapadman himself. In the final battle, Soorapadman took the form of a giant mango tree. Murugan split the tree in two with his Vel. One half became a peacock, mayil (மயில்), which became his vehicle, and the other became a rooster, seval (சேவல்), which appears on his flag, the sevarkodi (சேவற்கொடி). Even the defeated asura was given a place by Murugan's side, showing the Lord's compassion.

This story is told in detail in the Tamil Kanda Puranam (கந்த புராணம்).

The meaning behind the story

Many teachers explain the three asura brothers as symbols of pride, selfishness and illusion: the inner enemies that every person has to overcome. In this way, Kanda Sashti is not only about a battle long ago but also about becoming kinder, humbler and wiser ourselves.

How families celebrate

• Fasting — many devotees keep a viratham (விரதம்) for all six days. Some eat only once a day, some take only fruit and milk, and others simply avoid certain foods. Children, elders, pregnant women and anyone who is unwell usually keep a gentle version, or pray without fasting.
• A sacred thread — at the start of the fast, some devotees have a kaappu (காப்பு), a protective thread, tied on the wrist at the temple.
• Kanda Sashti Kavasam — the Kanda Sashti Kavasam (கந்த சஷ்டி கவசம்), a much-loved hymn composed by Devaraya Swamigal (தேவராய சுவாமிகள்), is sung or played in homes every morning and evening. Many families know it by heart, and children often learn it from hearing it every day. Songs from the Thiruppugazh (திருப்புகழ்) are also popular.
• Temple visits — families visit Murugan temples during the six days, and many devotees stay at Thiruchendur for the whole festival.
• Breaking the fast — most devotees end their fast after watching Soorasamharam, either at the temple or at home, and share a simple meal together.

Soorasamharam at Thiruchendur

Thiruchendur is one of the six abodes of Murugan, the Arupadai Veedu (ஆறுபடை வீடு), and the only one on the seashore. According to tradition, this is where the great battle took place. On the evening of the sixth day, the festival image of Murugan is brought out to the beach, and the asuras are "defeated" one by one before enormous crowds. Each victory is greeted with a roar of "Vetrivel Muruganukku Arohara!" (வெற்றிவேல் முருகனுக்கு அரோகரா!), with the sound of the waves behind.

Traditional food

During the fast, meals are light and simple: fruit, milk, and plain vegetarian food without onion or garlic in many homes. For offerings and for breaking the fast, families often prepare:

• Panchamirtham (பஞ்சாமிர்தம்) — a sweet mix of fruit, jaggery, ghee and honey.
• Thinai maavu (தினை மாவு) — foxtail millet flour mixed with honey, a traditional offering to Murugan that recalls his beloved consort Valli (வள்ளி), who guarded the millet fields.
• A simple festive meal — rice, sambar, a vegetable dish and payasam to close the six days.

Around Tamil Nadu and the world

Soorasamharam is celebrated in Murugan temples all over Tamil Nadu, including the other abodes at Thiruparankundram, Palani, Swamimalai, Thiruthani and Pazhamudircholai, and in neighbourhood temples in towns and cities. Each temple re-enacts the victory in its own way, and children love watching the procession.

Tamil communities in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and beyond also celebrate Kanda Sashti in their Murugan temples, and the Kanda Sashti Kavasam can be heard in Tamil homes all over the world during these six days.

If your family would like to follow the festival from afar, you can light a lamp each evening, sing or play the Kavasam, share the story of Soorapadman with your children, and end the sixth day with a simple offering to Murugan. A few months later, many of the same devotees walk to Palani for Thaipusam.