 Skanda Sashti is the sixth day in the bright half of the tamil month of Aippasi (Oct 15 - Nov 15). It is
celebrated with great pomp and splendour in the temples dedicated to Lord Muruga. Skanda Sashti commemorates the destruction of evil by the Supreme General Kartikeya, son of Shiva. This festival is celebrated in a grand manner at the aru padai veedu of Tirupparanmkundram and
Tiruchendur, where the Soora Samhaaram is enacted.
Story of Skanda
The devas (demi Gods) were tormented by a demon named Tarakasura. When the devas, led by Indra went to the Creator and
asked for His help, He said "only the spark of Shiva can produce the hero who will defeat the powers of the evil".
But at that time, Shiva was lost in a deep state of meditation and none of the Devas dared to disturb him.Brahma saw their plight and suggested that they ask for the help of Shiva's Consort Parvati and that of Kama, the God of Love. When Parvathi heard the devas' woes, she agreed to help and did severe penance to attract Shiva's attention. Kama too agreed to help rouse Shiva from his meditative state. He shot his arrows of love at the Destroyer. When Shiva opened his eyes to see who had dared to disturb his penance, the fire of anger that emanated from his third eye burnt Kama into ashes.
But it all paid off and Shiva was aroused from his penance. But no one could bear the sparks of His fiery seed. It fell into the mouth of Agni, who unable to retain it, threw it into the Ganges, which in turn threw it into a reed forest (Sara Vana), where Lod Muruga was born and took the name Saravanabava. There He was raised by the six mothers of the divine constellation of Krithikai (pleiades) . Karthikeya divided himself into six babies to be nursed by six mothers. When Parvathi came and gathered all the six babies, He became Shanmukha, one with the six faces and one body.
Skanda received from his mother Parasakthi an all powerful lance. He engaged the army of Tarakasura in battle and vanquished him.
Skanda Sashti
 Sashti is the day the Lord Subramanya defeated the demon Soorapadma and saved the Earth from his evils. When the devas couldn't tolerate the evil doings of this demon, they approached the younger son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The kind Lord went on a war against Soorapadman. The war was waged for six days, at the end of which the Lord vanquished the asura. He threw his weapon at him and Soorapadman was split into two halves. One half became a peacock, which He took as His vaahana. The other became a cock and was transformed into his flag.
The devas, who were tormented by Soorapadman, rejoiced - they praised the Lord and prayed to him for six days.
Devotees usually narrate the kanda sashti kavacham, during this
period. Whoever fasts for these six days of Skanda Sashti and prays to Lord Muruga steadfastly, it is said that they would get the blessings of Lord Muruga. Those who are unable to fast for a whole day for a six-day duration, can eat just one meal during this period.
The celebrations
Skanda Sashti is one of the grandest festivals celebrated in honor of Lord Muruga, or Skanda, as He is also known. This comes immediately following Deepavali, on the six day period in the bright half of the Tamil month of Aippasi. Temples devoted to Lord Muruga, especially the 6 padai veedus
of Tiruchendur
and Tirupparamkunram, enact the "Soora Samharam" (vanquishing the demon Sooran) during Skanda Sashti. Also dramatised is the Lord's marriage with Deivanai, whom he married after killing the demon.
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