My Extraordinary Experience at the Swami Malai temple, Tamil Nadu
Today is Skanda Shasti, the sacred day of Soorasamhara. Skanda—also known as Kartikeya, the divine son of Shiva and Parvati—is the radiant commander of the celestial forces. Shasti refers to the sixth lunar day in the Vedic calendar, and this particular tithi marks the victory of divine light over darkness.
According to the ancient legends, after six intense days of battle, Lord Skanda vanquished the demon Surapadman and his formidable army with His divine spear, the Vel—a weapon forged from the Shakti (power) of His mother, Devi Parvati. This triumph took place at Tiruchendur, a sacred temple on the southern coast of Tamil Nadu, one of the six holy abodes (Arupadai Veedu) of Lord Murugan.
The festival of Skanda Shasti celebrates courage, righteousness, and spiritual purity—the annihilation (samhara) of ignorance and evil within and without. Hence the name Soorasamhara, “the destruction of the demon.”
The day following Soorasamhara is celebrated as Thirukalyanam, the divine wedding of Lord Murugan with Devasena (Deivanai), symbolizing the union of divine will and pure devotion. This sacred event is commemorated at the Tirupparankunram Murugan Temple near Madurai.
Kartikeya is revered as Deva Senapati, the Commander-in-Chief of the celestial beings, the protector of the worlds. Praying to Him invokes His blessings of protection—for oneself, one’s family, one’s nation, and the entire world. Sadly, His worship has become less prominent in northern India, though His presence is universal and timeless.
Beyond being a warrior and protector, Kartikeya is also the Guru of Gurus. The Siddhas revere Him as Subramanya, their supreme teacher. In one of the most profound episodes of the Puranas, as a child, Kartikeya explained the secret of the Pranava (Om) to His own father, Lord Shiva. How could the Supreme Consciousness Himself need to learn from His son? The answer holds a deep metaphysical truth: Consciousness manifests creation in order to know itself.
This divine teaching took place at Swami Malai, another of Lord Murugan’s sacred abodes. I was blessed to visit this temple personally—to perform Abhishekam for Swami and to seek His blessings for a Panchaloha Vigraha (five-metal idol) of Kartikeya that was specially consecrated for a Yagya for world peace.
Sitting before the sanctum sanctorum of Subramanya for nearly 45 minutes was an indescribable experience—like being in the presence of cosmic fire. The vibration felt as though it could ignite the soul itself. Activation? As I sat before Him watching the sacred Abhishekam and witnessing the idol being blessed, I felt waves of divine energy coursing through the space.
Even in this deep Kali Yuga, the temple radiates a rare and potent energy—sustained by the power of mantras, the light of oil lamps, and the resonance of temple bells. Sensitive souls can feel the energy periphery the moment they step into the temple grounds.
These are a few rare and sacred photos from inside the temple, captured discreetly by someone who accompanied me.
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