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| Tiruchendur Soorasamharam event Nov.2024 tiruchendur.org |
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| Tiruchendur Murugan temple, TN tiruchendur.org |
Skanda Sashti Viratham and Soorasamharam festivities are important ones in Tamil Nadu and this year they began on November 2, 2024. Soorasamharam date was November 7, 2024 and the grand events concluded with Thirukalyanam on November 8, 2024. Normally, on the day of Soorasamharam, more than 5,00,000 devotees would land on the seashore temple at Tiruchendur. to watch the tradition-bound colorful events leading to elimination of three asuras (evil forces) by Lord Muruga. After this event, abhishekam will be held for the mirror image of Lord Shanmuga. Then Lord Muruga will perform puja to Lord Shiva. The next day celestial wedding between Lord Muruga and Goddess Teyvanai and Goddess Valli will be performed.
The main venue is Tiruchendur Murugan temple in SE Tamil Nadu's coastal town. The grand Soorasamharam festival, celebrating Lord Murugan’s victory over the demon Surapadman, began, as usual with devotees gathering in large numbers to offer prayers and observe special rituals. This week-long event culminated on November 7 with the final enactment of Soorasamharam, marking a symbolic moment of good triumphing over evil.
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| God Murukan (Kartikaya) eliminating demon. newstodaynet.com |
Across Tamil Nadu, especially at the famous abodes of God Muruga (six temples) such as Tiruchendur, Palani, and Thirupparamkunram, the respective towns wore a festive look with fine decorations, adding religious fervor to it. Devotees observed traditional fasting and performing special poojas, seeking Lord Murugan’s blessings for strength and welfare. This festival has been around for centuries and is part of religious culture native to this region, in particular to the southern belt.
Normally, during these festivities, devotees from far off places throng the temples to seek peace of mind and obviously, the temple priests in respective temples perform special abhishekas and poojas throughout the week as “Soorasamharam is a powerful reminder of faith.
Normally, the final day, November 7, of this year was an exciting day thousands of devotees on the beach near the temple witnessed the reenactment of Soorasamharam, the ritual depiction of Lord Murugan’s victory over the demons. At Tiruchendur, in particular, , arrangements were made carefully for devotees coming from various parts of the state to witness the event.
The main deity of this temple was the Ishta Devta (Kula Deivam) of popular patriot Veera Pandya Katta Bommu, Chieftain of Panchalamkuruchi who fought against the English Co's army led by Bannerman. On festive occasions the atmosphere around the towns in TN is charged with devotion as devotees honor Lord Murugan’s valor to protect the people from evil forces around us and it is the right time to seek his blessings to tide over the ups and downs in our lives.
According to the Hindu mythology associated with 'Kanda Puranam', once three asuras (demons) Soorapadman, Singamugasuran and Tharakasuran, with special mystic powers, were causing great troubles and pains to the celestial Devas. To destroy their ego Lord Shanmuga took avatar from the third eye of Lord Shiva. Lord Muruga accepted the mystic Vel Ayutham (Soolam or spear ) from Goddess Parvati (consort of God Shiva) and proceeded along with Virapagu Devar and other devas to Tiruchendur to fight Soorapadman and his army.
During war Lord Muruga transformed Singhamugasuram as vahana of Goddess Shakti. Soorapadman after fighting tried to escape by hiding himself as a mango tree in the seabed. Lord Muruga split the mango tree and converted one half as peacock vahana and other half as ‘ceval’ (in local parlance) or rooster banner.
Upon giving peruvazhvu (great blessing) to the asuras, Lord Muruga freed the devas. The destruction of three asuras -demons is symbolic of getting rid of Anavam (ego), Kanmam and Maya (illusion).
Holding deep spiritual and cultural connotations, Soorasamharan of Lord Murugan emphasizes victory over a fierce demon. The festival symbolizes:
01. The triumph of good over evil, where Lord Murugan represents dharma (righteousness) and Surapadman represents adharma (unrighteousness).
02.The power of intervention of divinity where Lord Murugan's valor and divine powers saved the demi-gods and humanity from oppression.
03. Cultivation of self-discipline and devotion by devotees and others by way of fasting, prayer, meditation etc., during the Skanda Shasti Vratham (fasting), culminating in Soorasamharan.
The festival marks personal transformation of people to avail themselves of the opportunity to conquer their inner demons (negative forces), purify their thoughts, and emerge victorious to resume their long journey on the path of rightlessness (Dharma).
https://pujahome.com/blogs/articles/soorasamhara
https://tiruchendur.org/festivals/2024-kanda-sasti-festiv
https://newstodaynet.com/2024/11/07/soorasamharam-fete-at-murugan-temples-across-tn
https://www.navrangindia.in/2023/11/tiruchendur-temple-tn-soorasamharam.htm
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