Pranava Manthiram - Vaikasi Visakam

Lord Murugan is believed to have manifested from the Third Eye of Lord Shiva & Parvathi in the solar month of Vaikasi with the Nakshatra of Vishakha visible in the skies and when the full moon (Pournima) was in operation. He is connected especially to the number 6 since he was incarnated as 6 divine sparks to destroy the three demon brothers Soorapadman, Singamuhan & Tarakan thus bringing balance and restoring parity to motherland. The 6 faces of the Lord represent mastery over Anger, Attachment, Desire, Ego, Greed and Jealousy. Thus prayers offered to the Lord help sharpen the mind and control the senses. There are also 6 famous abodes dedicated to Lord Arumugam at Thiruparankundram, Tiruchendur, Palani, Swamimalai, Tiruttani and Pazhamudircholai. Adding further, the sacred mantra of Sage Agasthya 'Sa Ra Va Na Ba Va' also comprises of six syllables known for curing illnesses and granting positive health.

Other than Vishakha or Visagam which is considered to be his birth star ruled by Indragni ('Indra+Agni') he is strongly affiliated to Krithika (Karthigai) star ruled by the God of Fire 'Agni' and also Pushya (Poosam) star ruled by the God of Wisdom 'Guru'. The Krithika star also has reference because it is believed that the Lord as an infant was nurtured by the 6 Krithika Maidens thus also garnering him the moniker of 'Kartikeya'. Skanda is also connected to the star of Uttara Phalguni (Uthiram) as that was the Nakshatra which was in occurence during his divine marriage to 'Deivanai', the daughter of the Chief of Gods 'Indra'.

The Navagraha Mars is also associated with Deva Senapathi and so is the Vara of Tuesday (Chevva Kizhamai) which is specifically ruled by the planet Mars. Mars is known for the significations of Victory & War and hence appeasing Lord Kumara helps in overcoming and winning your battles both inwardly and outwardly. For those afflicted with Mars Dosha, seeking refuge to Subramanya can act as a great counter relieving measure. The symbol 'Vel' or spear is used as his primary divine weapon to conquer and emerge victorious in tandem with also denoting wisdom and being wise.

As alluded earlier about #6, the sixth Tithi of both the waxing & waning phase viz 'Shasti' is connected to Lord Shanmuga. Also the Karana 'Vishti' linked with the animal cock is ruled by Saravana. The other animal connected largely to the Lord is the Peacock which he rides known as 'Paravani' symbolising destruction of pride & ego. The Yoga of 'Siddha' formed in association of the combined degree longitude of the Sun & Moon is also ruled by Velava.

On this divine birthday of the 'Lord of Everything' on Vaigasi Visagam, playing a small portion of a lullaby 'Pranava Manthiram' associated with Lord Guhan denoting the softer side of our all encompassing almighty Tamil Kadavul. May his name be ever chanted and get resonated with pride. Let the belief be steadfast and ever faithful.

Door to the Divine - Lord Muruga & Kanda Sashti Kavasam

It's difficult to describe what Lord Muruga means to me. His fleeting presence keeps pointing miraculous signs time and again. He is a mysterious maverick and there have been umpteen times whenever a minor thought emanates in the mind, he immediately from God knows how suddenly pops up from 'out of the blue'. The timing especially at many instances have been dumbfounding especially considering the pointed precision. The prescience he conveys always have a very deep meaning and its just my own insentience that makes it hard to catch at times only to realise things much later :). However in being connected, you can trust him blindly and be rest assured of being provided protection and guidance. He is one of a kind enigma that is simply inconceivable and beyond the realms of comprehension.

I would like to recall an interesting experience where I literally saw an event panning out in life thanks exclusively to the miracle of Muruga. After a successful tryst with CA, ACS and CMA, I decided to give a shot at a UK based Management exam called CIMA. Truth be told, my preparations were muddled and it was the first time I was writing a full fledged computerised exam and it felt weird as I've never been through such a rigour earlier. I had no freaking idea how I'd done. Anyways decided that it's going to be my one and only crack and that am done with this come what may. It was 11th Jan 2018, the day of the results, a Thurday and Vishakha Nakshatra in the skies. Around lunch time at work, I decided to stroll out for a walk. Was slightly twitchy as I was made to believe the results will pop out anytime. As I was trudging along, I saw a vehicle unfurl past me comprising of a big inscription with an image of Kumara blessing resoundingly. That particular moment was simply unshakeable and I was instantly taken aback connecting it to be some kind of seraphic invocation. Still nervous, I strutted back towards work place to open my Gmail and saw that the mail had appeared and voila as I opened got to see that magical 4 letter word "PASS". It didn't stop there as I was also made to believe much later that the score equated to an All India 8th Rank. I was bewildered and even now I have no remote idea how it all transpired or rather conspired. It was surely the Lord's Leela at play and not an iota to do with any of my efforts.

Coming to "Kanda Sashti Kavasam", the construct of the whole melange musically has always fascinated me. I have heard parts of it separately and there have been times when I couldn't really fathom that they are all part of one and the same. It's breathtaking as to how they are all so beautifully blended together. Such a wholesome garlanded Ragamalika comprising of 6 different musical portions of which a few of them keep repeating with the "Sashtiyai Nokka Saravana Bhavana" part being the fulcrum and tailpiece laying the foundation playing the perfect anchor to the rest of them. Was also tending to relate these 6 musical motifs to the 6 abodes of Murugan (Arupudai Veedu) stationed at Thiruparankundram, Tiruchendur, Palani, Swamimalai, Tiruttani and Pazhamudircholai.

I've tried to condense and play all the pieces to form a synergy within a 4 minute time frame. One point worth mentioning is that this composition touches all the 12 notes that is apart from the 7 Saptha Swaras Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Da Ni, the other Ri, Ga, Ma, Da & Ni are also interwoven.

The Ragams invoked are:
- Suddha Dhanyasi (opening hymn Kural Venba & Sashtiyai Nokka)
- Subha Panthuvarali (Rahana Bavasa)
- Kalyani (Aarumugamum)
- Thodi (Yethanai Yaalum)
- Mayamalava Gowla (End portion Meviya Vadivurum)

Synonymous with the Ragas, I tried to interlink the elements of the Panchanga where one of each is specifically identified and attributed to Karthikeya
- Vara : Tuesday
- Nakshatra : Vishakha
- Tithi : Sashti
- Karana : Bhadra
- Yoga : Siddha

Kanda Sashti Kavasam is of a masterly transitional wizardry structure and keeps traversing across in a transcendental manner. I was seriously apprehensive if I could go all out with the full monty at one shot and was pretty petrified to say the least. Here again I would like to thank Subramanya as a simple prayer to Sendhil Andavar made it possible to consecrate and stitch together all these portions continuously without a mistake or two apparently cropping up here or there.

To be honest, this is seriously beyond my ken and apologies for any unintentional slip ups along the way. Dedicating this minuscule labour of Love to the inscrutable Dear Lord Skanda on this decorated Maha Kanda Sashti Soorasamharam where he successfully quelled the challenge of the Asura Soorapadman by vanquishing him and bringing glory to the Devas. All Hail our revered Tamil Kadavul and global Guru Guhan. May Saravana's grace be ever prevalent on everyone who believes in his divine celestial embodiment.