Immediately after Deepavali, the Kantha Sashti Vizha (festival) will begin. It is a festival dedicated to Lord Muruga or Karthikeya, and is celebrated with ecstasy and bhakthi uninterrupted from ancient times. In the recent decades, the scale of the festival came down due to interferences, it is getting back its original fervour.  

Viewed from a spiritual point of view, this is a festival dedicated to the charm of Lord Muruga. But, it has to be conceded that Sashti Vizha also connotes the immense benefits to health and welfare. It is not an exaggeration to say that all ancient festivals have roots firmly in nature. Our ancestors realised that these celebrations would not be practiced if these were only associated only with welfare. That is why our forefathers linked it with spirituality. 

Fasting is observed on all the six days of Kantha Sashti. During Deepavali, all of us would have indulged in sweets and delicacies; so fasting for the next six days helps purify and reset the body. Not just that. After the exuberant celebration of a festival like Deepavali, Sashti is a good yogic practice of directing the wavering mind on Lord Muruga for the next six days, which helps to stabilize the mind. Moreover, the last day of Kantha Sashti is celebrated as Surasamharam, to mark the day when the Lord killed the demon Surapadman in the war. The discipline practiced during the festivals is supposed to prepare us for a war by conditioning, and making our mind and body listen to us. We should thus look at Surasamharam as a metaphor.

Origin of the term Aarupadai Veedugal

Every Hindu wishes to swim across the ocean of birth and attain God’s holy feet. We call this as attaining mukti. The word mukti is a Sanskrit word. Detaching (vidupaduvadhu in Tamil) oneself from the traps of human life is mukti. The word vidu (taking leave) then became veedu (freedom). Having been released from worldly desires, he may live in the physical body while being free in spirit. He is no longer drawn by delusion. This person is called Jeevan Muktan. Escaping is referred to as veedu. For example: Pearls which are taken from the oyster are called tharalam in Tamil. Since it leaves the oyster, it is also called the tharalam muthu (pearl).

The Man, however, who has no control over his sense organs will move from birth to birth eternally like a man who has lost his way moves around in a forest. The six enemies Kama, Krodha, Moha, Lobha, Mata and Matsarya will always pursue him; and to add to the downfall and the speed of downfall, his mind, his manas and the indriyas, the sense organs, will obey the summons of the six enemies, only too easily and too readily. He will always be caught in the cycle of births and deaths. Lord Muruga is the destroyer of these hurdles. We refer to Him as Kandhan. 

Kandhan means the one who destroys the power of opponents. The abode where the great warrior called Vimalan, the destroyer of both inner and outer enemies reside is called the Aarupadai Veedu according to the scholar Thirumuruga Kirupananda Variyar.  

Surahamsam is an event where all these six ‘enemies’ are destroyed through penance and control of the mind during the six days. If this is understood properly, then it will be clear it is beyond religion. Those  who do not understand this or prefer to be incomprehensible, misinterpret the songs in contemptuous ways. Kandhan weakens his opponents. He is a Commander of battles. Where he lives with his troops is called the padai veedu (veedu-abode,  padai- troops). Devotees sing Kandha Sashti Kavacham, a song which is a shield, sung in his praise to protect us from all the evil happenings. It is sung to save us from six evils. Padai veedu is a place where senapathis and senas live. It can also be understood as an army base, or capital or arms house.     

In Hinduism, temples are considered as places where the Gods live. Temple towns  are referred to as Thiruthhalam or Thirupathi. But, Lord Muruga’s six abodes are called padai veedugal (a place where troops live). Tiruchendur is where Lord Muruga stayed with his army before destroying the asura Surapadman. But we also include five other towns in this list, there is an opinion regarding this.

Consoling and relieving distressed people who are facing challenging situations in life in different ways is termed as aatrupaduthudhal (consoling) in Tamil. Sangam literary works based on this concept are called Aatrrupadai Nool (Nool - literary works). Similarly, based on the concept that Lord Muruga will solve all your troubles if you surrender to him, Nakkeerar composed Thirumurugatrupadai. This work is written with Lord Muruga as the architect. The word aatrupaduthudhal can also be considered to mean worship. 

This brilliant composition by Nakeerar is split into six parts. Each part speaks of the glory of each of the Lord Muruga’s padai veedugal. The work also provides what benefits a devotee would receive if he worships the Lord in these six abodes. Moreover, it also speaks of how the Aarupadai Veedugal is integral to the yoga shastras of human beings as well. 

Some scholars say that the word aatrupaduthudal (consoling or providing relief) could have become aarupadai over time. Whatever it may denote, we realize that worshipping Lord Muruga in these six pilgrim centers is deeply connected to our lives. All these six holy places have their own sthala puranas. And each has its own specialty. 

Lord Muruga resides in every hill, in every temple in every town, but the Aarupadai Veedugal hold a special place. In this series we will see their glory and importance. This will help the people who are on the Vel Yatra to realize what these padai veedu means and those opposing it, understand their limitations in grasping the full import of these abodes. 

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