Shashti Viratham — complete guide

📍 Calculated for Chennai, Tamil Nadu · India Standard Time. AstroG calculates location-sensitive timings using your selected location and local time.

Traditional guidance — follow your family or temple custom.

The Shukla Shashti fast for Lord Murugan, including Skanda Shashti and Soora Samharam.

Why observed

Meaning

Shashti is the sixth lunar day. The Shukla Paksha Shashti of each month is dedicated to Lord Murugan (Skanda, Subrahmanya, Kartikeya). The most important is Skanda Shashti in the Tamil month of Aippasi, which celebrates Murugan's victory over the demon Soorapadman.

Traditional background

The Skanda Purana tells how Murugan, born of Shiva's divine sparks and raised by the Krittikas, led the celestial army and defeated Soorapadman on Shashti. The Soora Samharam re-enactment at Tiruchendur and other Murugan temples is a major festival, followed by Thirukalyanam.

Purpose

Devotees observe Shashti for courage, the removal of obstacles, family well-being, and devotion to Murugan. Many couples pray on Shashti for children, following tradition.

Who traditionally observes it

Murugan devotees of all ages. Some keep the monthly Shashti fast; many keep the six-day Skanda Shashti fast before Soora Samharam.

When it is observed — and your local timing

Shashti is the day the sixth tithi prevails as per local rules. Worship is done in the morning and evening. AstroG shows your local date, sunrise, sunset and the tithi end time.

Preparation

Keep red flowers, a lamp, fruits, and a simple sweet ready. Plan to read or listen to Kanda Sashti Kavacham.

Materials

Murugan idol or picture, vel (spear) if available, red flowers, lamp, incense, vibhuti, sandal paste, fruits and panchamritam or a simple sweet.

STEP 1 — Preparation

What to do: Bathe early and wear clean clothes.

STEP 2 — Clean the worship area

What to do: Clean the pooja space and draw a kolam.

STEP 3 — Sankalpam

What to do: Pray and state your intention to observe Shashti for Lord Murugan.

STEP 4 — Prepare the offerings

What to do: Arrange flowers, vibhuti and naivedyam.

STEP 5 — Begin the fast

What to do: Keep a fruit-and-milk fast, one simple meal, or a complete fast as your health allows.

Practical alternative: A light vegetarian day with prayer.

STEP 6 — Morning worship

What to do: Light the lamp and offer flowers to Murugan.

STEP 7 — Mantra and stotra

What to do: Recite or listen to Kanda Sashti Kavacham, or chant a Murugan mantra.

Practical alternative: Chant 108 times or listen while commuting.

STEP 8 — Evening worship

What to do: Light the lamp at dusk, offer naivedyam, and pray. Visit a Murugan temple if possible.

STEP 9 — Observe the completion time

What to do: Many complete the fast after the evening worship; during Skanda Shashti the fast is completed after Soora Samharam or the next day, as per family custom.

STEP 10 — Complete the fast

What to do: Take prasadam and a simple vegetarian meal.

Allowed foods

Fruits, milk, and simple vegetarian food; panchamritam as prasadam.

Foods traditionally avoided

Non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and heavy meals during the fast.

Regional traditions

Tamil tradition: Skanda Shashti in Aippasi with the six-day fast, Kanda Sashti Kavacham recitation, Soora Samharam at Tiruchendur and Thirukalyanam the next day; monthly Shashti worship at the six Padai Veedu temples.

Telugu tradition: Subrahmanya Shashti in the month of Margasira is especially important, with worship of Subrahmanya Swamy.

North Indian tradition: Kartikeya is worshipped mainly in some regions; Skanda Shashti is observed in communities with South Indian roots and at Murugan temples abroad.

Other regions: Customs vary — follow your family and temple.

NRI and local-time guidance

Use your local Shashti date and local sunrise and sunset. Murugan temples abroad often hold Skanda Shashti and Soora Samharam events; if you cannot attend, home recitation of Kanda Sashti Kavacham is complete.

Practical tips

If you are working: recite the Kavacham in the morning and pray in the evening.

If you are travelling: listen to the Kavacham on the journey.

For children and elderly devotees: prayer without a strict fast is fully valid.

Health: consult a doctor before a multi-day fast.

Common mistakes

Following the Indian date instead of the local Shashti; attempting a strict six-day fast without considering health.

FAQs

Is the six-day fast required? — No. Many keep only the Shashti day or the prayers.

Can I observe monthly Shashti? — Yes, the Shukla Shashti of every month is dedicated to Murugan.

Skanda Shashti · Thai Poosam · Vaikasi Visakam · Karthigai

Fasting rules

Fruit-and-milk fast or one simple meal; complete after the evening worship.

Fruits, milk, simple vegetarian food.

Foods to avoid

Non-vegetarian food, alcohol, heavy meals.

Red flowers, lamp, vibhuti, fruits, panchamritam.

Pooja procedure

Bathe and prepare

Clean the worship area

Sankalpam

Prepare offerings

Begin the fast

Morning worship

Mantra and stotra

Evening worship

Observe the completion time

Complete the fast

Mantra

Source: Traditional practice; family and temple customs vary.