SashtiVrataPujaToconceiveachild.

TheSashtiVrataPujaisverypowerfulLordMurugaPujaforcoupleswhodesiresto
conceiveachild.Shasti,orSashti,isanimportantdayinaHinducalendarandis
associatedanddedicatedtoLordMuruga/Kartikeya also known as Subramanianor
SkandaorKanda.TheSashtioccuringafterAmavasya(newmoonnight)istheone
meant for observing this Vrat. In simple terms, the Sashti occuring during the
increasingorgrowingphaseoftheMoon.Shashtifallsonthesixthdayofeverylunar
fortnightintraditionalHinducalendar.TheShastifallingduringthewaningphaseof
themoonischosenforfastingbyLordMurugadevotees.BelowaretheSashtifasting
daysfor2016.
BasedonSouthAfricantimes...
25 January (Sunday)

SkandaSashti

23 February (Monday)

SkandaSashti

25 March

(Wednesday)

SkandaSashti

23 April

(Thursday) SkandaSashti

23 May

(Saturday) SkandaSashti

22 June

(Monday)

SkandaSashti

21 July

(Tuesday)

SkandaSashti

20 August

(Thursday) SkandaSashti

19 September (Saturday) SkandaSashti

18 October

(Sunday)

17 November (Tuesday)

SkandaSashti
SooraSamharam

Subrahmanya
Sashti
***Pleasenotethatdependingonthelunarandsolarcalendarfollowedinaparticular
region,occasionally,theShastidaycanbeadayearlierfromtheabovedates.
16 December (Wednesday)

OneshouldperformthisVratafor6consecutivedays.HmmmwhatdoImeanyoumay
ask?Forexample,ifyoustartonthe5thMay,thenthe5thMayisthefirstdayand
thenthe6thdaywillbeonthe10thMay.
HowtoobserveSashtiVratam?
BeforestartingtheVrataoneshouldcleanseoneshouseandPujaplace.Oneshould
remaincalmandpeaceful.TheSashtifastingbeginswithsunrise.Thefastisbrokenon
thenextdaymorningafterprayingtoLordSurya(SunDeity).Inthemorningafter
bathingyoushouldofferwaterinalota/chumbhutoSuryaNarayana(theSunDeity).
Inthelotaaddafewgrainsofwhiterice,sindhurandflowerspetals.Standinfrontof
theSunandstretchyourarmsforwardandblocktheSunwiththelota.Closeyoureyes
andofferthewaterstillwithyoureyesclosedonSuryadevas'feet.Nowopenyour

eyes. Pray to the Lord to remove any obstacles on your path for your fasting and
prayers.Justbeforesunsethaveabathandputoncleanclothes.Nowproceedtoyour
prayerplace.
PerformingtheSashtiVrataPuja:
Firstlyofferanagarbatti,lamporflower(orallthree)toShreeGaneshji(turnseven
timesclockwisearoundthemurti),andpraytoShreeGaneshjiandprayingtohimto
removeallobstaclesinthepathofthisprayer.
ADeityofLordMurugaisnowinvokedandworshipped.PraytoLordMurugaasking
theLordtopleaseacceptyourprayers.Nowchantthefollowing:
1)OmswagatamsuswagatamOmMurugayenamah
(SwagatammeansOLordMurugaIwelcomeyou.)
NowgarlandtheDeity
Thenofferflowerorflowerpetals.
2)OmidampushpamOmMurugayenamah.(Pushpam=flowers)
Thenofferincense
3)OmtatodhoopamaghraapayaamiOmMurugayenamah.(Dhoopam=incense)
Thenofferlamp
4)OmpratyakshadeepamdarshayaamiOmMurugayenamah.(Deepam=lamp)
YouoffertheaboveitemsbyturningtheitemsseventimesaroundtheDeity.
5)OmnaivedyamsamarpayaamiOmMurugayenamah
Offercutfruitorsweetslikegulabjamum,jalebi,andsoforth)
(Naivedyam=food)
6)Offerprayersforforgiveness
Omyaanikaanichapaapaanijanmaantarakritaaneecha,taanisarvaanivinashyanti
pradakshinaapadepade//
NowkeepMilkinasmallglasscupbeforeLordMurugaandrecite/orplaythemantras
ofLordMurugaonaCD.Iwouldpreferyouhearorchant the108namesofLord
Muruga.AfterthatofferflowerstotheDeity.ThenofferyourpersonalprayerstoLord
Muruga.AsktheLordforwhateveryouwantandtheLordbeingsomercifulwillgrant
whatyoudesire.Butbecarefulwhatyoudesirefor
You can chant (or play on a CD/cassette player) the Subramanya Ashtakam,
SubrahmanyaKaravalambhamandMuruganPancharatnamoranymantrasofLord
Muruga.THESEAREGIVENBELOW...
Offer Lord Subrahmanya fruits, or any sweet foods according to your desire and
completethePujawithAarti.

ShreeSubramanyaAstakamInvokingcourage,LordMurugan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJETgCEfOULord
Muruga'sMantra(OmSharavanabavaayaNamaha)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2KAh27atlo
SriSubramaniyaMoolaMantra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq9jozuSGFw
Thisvratisacompletefastinmanyplaces.Butthismightnotbequitepossiblefor
manypeopleduetocircumstancesliketheirjob,healthandotherreasons.Somany
peopletakesomesortofvegetarianfoodonthisdaythisisusuallyasinglemealin
theafternoonornight.Manypeopleoptforafruitdietontheday.Someavoidsolid
food.Fastingisnotjustabstainingfromfoodbutitalsoanattempttoinstillpositive
thoughts.Manypeopleusefastingasameanstofightagainstanger,lust,impatience
andothernegativetendencies.AllVratasassociatedwithHindureligionisanattempt
torealizetheHigherGoal.Soit'squiteflexible.Thepointistohavetheproperintent.
The method of fasting differs from region to region. But all nonvegetarian food is
avoidedontheday.
ThereisnocommonmethodofSkandaSashtifasting.Differentdevoteesobserveit
differently. But there are some basic rules followed by all the devotees.
Nonvegetarianfoodiscompletelyavoidedduringtheperiod.
Someavoidgarlicandonions.
ThosewhoareobservingthefastmakeitapointtoreadscripturesrelatedtoLord
Muruga or recite the Kanta Sashti Kavasam or Subramaniya Bhujangam. Most
devoteesalsovisitSkandatemplesduringtheperiod.WhenitcomestoKandaSashti
fasting,somedevoteesonlytakeasinglemealaday.Sometakethemealatnoonand
othersatnight.Somedevoteesconfinetofruitsandjuicesduringthe6dayperiod.
ThereareseveralSkandadevoteeswhoseetheVratamasanopportunitytocleanthe
bodyandgetridofunwantedtoxicelements.Suchdevoteesconfinetowater,coconut
waterandotherfruitjuices.
ThefastingendsontheSixthday.
Itmustbenotedthat'Vrat'or'Vratam'inSanskritmeans'vow.'Vratamshouldnotbe
misunderstoodasmerefasting.ByobservingaVratamapersonistryingtopurifyhis
mindthroughmeditation,worshipandbystickingtosome'vow'thathe/shehastaken.
Now, this vow can includefasting, not telling lies,not getting anger etc. A vratam
shouldbeseenasadeliberateattemptonyourparttobringbackdisciplineintoyour
life. Fasting should be voluntary and it should not be done unwillingly. If you are
takingmedicines,donotobserveintensefastingandsticktotheroutinesuggestedby
yourdoctor.

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