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Kanda Shasti Kavasam

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Kanda Shasti Kavasam

Skanda Sashti Kavacham or Kanda Sashti Kavasam (Tamil: கந்த சஷ்டி கவசம்) is a Hindu devotional song composed in Tamil by Bala Devaraya Swamigal (a student of Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai) on Lord Muruga, the son of Lord Shiva, in Chennimalai near Erode. Tamil contains many ancient hymns in praise of deities. Skanda Sashti Kavasam was composed in the 16th century. In the song has been composed in praise of the Lord, seeking to shower His grace.

Contents

Plan of the song

The song consists of a total of 244 lines, including four introductory lines known as "Kaappu," followed by a couple of meditational lines and the main song portion consisting of 238 lines known as the "Kavacham." The grammar employed in the introductory part is the Naerisai venba and that of the meditational part is the Kural venba, widely known to the Western world for its exclusive usage in Tirukkural. The "Kavacham" part follows the grammar of Nilai Mandila Aasiriyappaa. The plan of the song is as follows:

Introduction
  • Lines 1-4 Introduction
  • Lines 5-6 Meditation
    • Main Song
  • Lines 1-16 Author invites the Lord to the devotee
  • Lines 17-27 Mantras are used to invite the Lord presented to the devotee
  • Lines 28-32 Upon using mantras, the divine light and the presence of the Lord is felt
  • Lines 33-45 Author describes the way the Lord looks at the devotee
  • Lines 46-54 Author strings the sounds of the Lord's footsteps and anklets into mantras
  • Lines 55-56 Depicts the swiftness of the Lord in coming to the rescue of His devotee
  • Lines 57-58 Surrendering of the devotee to the Lord and the devotee's prayers unto Him
  • Lines 59-95 Praising the Lord, these lines concern with the protection of individual parts of the body
  • Lines 96-102 Concerns with the Lord's saving of His devotee in all times of the day
  • Lines 103-129 Concerns with eradication of vicious effects of demons and devils
  • Lines 130-140 Concerns with prayer to the God's Messenger to release the devotee from the vicious cycle of birth and death
  • Lines 141-148 Concerns with the protection from wild and venomous animals
  • Lines 149-157 Concerns with freedom from diseases
  • Lines 158-159 Prayer to maintain a cordial relationship with others
  • Lines 160-175 Praises the Lord by His various names and His divine deeds
  • Lines 176-177 Worshiping Goddess Saraswathi, the goddess of knowledge
  • Lines 178-186 Describes the divine power of the Sacred Ash (Vibuthi) and its effects
  • Lines 187-192 Praises the Lord
  • Lines 193-199 Seeks asylum in the Lord
  • Lines 200-208 Describes the procedures for reciting the song
  • Lines 209-214 Describes the divine effects of the song
  • Lines 215-219 Describes the effects of the song on evil elements
  • Lines 220-234 Praises the divine deeds of the Lord
  • Lines 235-238 Salutation and complete surrender of the self unto the Lord

    • The author's name is mentioned twice in the song, first in Line 64 and then in Line 201.

    Significance

    Sashti is the day that Lord Subramanya defeated the demon Soorapadman. When the devas could not tolerate the evil doings of this demon, they approached the younger son of Lord Shiva and Parvati for his assistance. He fought Soorapadman for six days, at the end of which the Lord vanquished the asura. He threw his weapon at him and split Soorapadman into two halves. One half became a peacock, which he took as his Vahana. The other became a rooster and was transformed into his banner.

    The devas rejoiced—they praised the Lord and prayed to him for six days. Devotees usually narrate the Skanda Sashti Kavacham during this period. Whoever fasts and prays to Lord Muruga for the six days of Skanda Sashti is believed to receive Muruga's blessings. Those who are unable to fast all day are permitted to eat once per day during this period.

    Devotees believe that regular chanting of this song causes the predicaments of life to be resolved and that chanting the full song 36 times a day brings wealth.

    References

    Kanda Shasti Kavasam Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA