Vaikasi Visakam: Lord Muruga’s Birthday - May 21st (IST) 2016
Jambunathan Iyer
Vaikasi Visakam: Lord Muruga’s Birthday - May 21st (IST) 2016
Vaikasi Visakam is celebrated as birthday of Lord Murugan. It is celebrated during Visakam Nakshatra in Tamil month Vaikasi. Vaikasi is the second Solar month in Tamil Calendar and Visakam is the sixteenth star out of twenty-seven stars which prevails at least once in every month. Vaikasi month is known as Vrishabha month and Visakam Nakshatra is known as Vishakha Nakshatra in other Hindu Calendars. Vaikasi Visakam falls in month of May or June.
The birth anniversary of Lord Muruga, who is also known as God of Courage, Wealth and Wisdom, is mainly celebrated by Tamilians all over the world. Lord Muruga is younger son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and brother of Lord Ganesha. Lord Muruga is also known as Lord Senthil, Lord Kumaran, Lord Subramanyam and Lord Shanmugam. Lord Murugan has six faces and because of that He is also known as Lord Arumugam. Due to His six faces Lord Murugan can see in East, West, North, South, Heaven and Patala (netherworld) simultaneously.
On Vaikasi Visakam, the day when the Nakshatram Visakam coincides with the full moon or Pournami, devotees take out procession and carry milk to Subramania temples to perform milk Abhishekam to the deity.
Vaikasi Visakam also spelled as Vaikasi Vishaka.
How Muruga became the Guru of Shiva
During one of his visits to Kailasa, Brahma wanted to disparage Lord Muruga. Muruga realized it and decided to teach him a lesson. He asked Brahma the meaning of Pranava. When Brahma could not satisfactorily answer, Muruga got angry and imprisoned Brahma. Muruga concluded that Brahma is not capable of being called the creator, and he assumed the role himself. Only after Shiva, Vishnu, and Indra prayed to him was Brahma freed. Muruga then became a teacher to his father and taught him the essence of Pranava.
Muruga’s Vel is a symbolic representation of power and higher intelligence. The Vel was given to him by his mother, Goddess Parvati, to fight against injustice. Muruga with his lance destroys bad karma, ignorance, negativity, and diseases. According to the classic Tamil Saint Arunagirinathar, “Vinai Oda Vidum Kadirvel Maraven,” which literally means, “The luminous lance which drives out our bonds of karma,” the lance also blesses you with infinite intelligence.
The peacock is Muruga’s vehicle, which represents the greatest mantra, OM, and the rooster that sits on his flag drives away evil spirits. Great sages like Agasthiar worshipped him and secured his grace. The saint also mastered the six-syllable Mantra of Muruga.
SA – Gives you the pleasing quality to attract everybody
RA – Gives the opportunity to enjoy prosperity
VA – Dissolves your physical discomforts and debts
NA – Resolves your problems through enemies
BA – Brings happiness in life
VA – Destroys evil and negative forces