Skanda Sashtiస్కంద షష్ఠి
The waxing sixth tithi — monthly worship of Subrahmanya.
- Deity
- Subrahmanya (Kartikeya, Murugan)
- Frequency
- Once a lunar month
What Skanda Sashti is
The shukla shashthi of each month belongs to Skanda, the commander of the divine armies, born to destroy Surapadma. The monthly observance is a smaller form of the six-day Skanda Sashti kept in Kartika, which culminates in the Soorasamharam. It is a vrat of courage and of protection, kept especially for the wellbeing of children and for relief from illness.
Who observes it
Kept very widely in Tamil Nadu, and across the Telugu states and Karnataka wherever Subrahmanya is worshipped. Nagula Chaviti and Subrahmanya Shashti are the associated annual observances.
Fasting rules
A day fast broken in the evening. Many keep only one meal. In Tamil Nadu the six-day Kartika observance is kept with a stricter fast throughout.
Pooja vidhanam
Worship of Subrahmanya with vel (the spear), red flowers and panchamrita. Recitation of the Subrahmanya Bhujangam, the Skanda Sashti Kavacham or the Kanda Sashti Kavasam. Abhishekam with milk and honey.
2027 dates
Computed from the tithi at sunrise for your selected city. Tap any date for that day's full panchangam.