Kanda Shasti Kavasam


Kanda Shashti Kavacham or Skanda Sashti Kavasam is a Hindu devotional song composed in Tamil by Devaraya Swamigal, a student of Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, on Lord Muruga, the son of Lord Shiva, in Chennimalai near Erode. Tamil contains many ancient hymns in praise of deities. Kanda Sashti Kavasam was composed in the 19th century. The song has been composed in praise of the Lord, seeking to shower His grace.

History

The place where Balan Dhevaraya Swami staged the hymn is the Chennimalai Subramania Swamy Temple near Erode in Tamil Nadu. The lines 'Chiragiri Velavan' in the hymn refers to the Lord of Chennimalai.

Plan of the song

The song consists of a total of 244 lines, including four introductory lines known as "Kaappu," followed by a couple of meditational lines and the main song portion consisting of 238 lines known as the "Kavacham." The grammar employed in the introductory part is the Naerisai venba and that of the meditational part is the Kural venba, widely known to the Western world for its exclusive usage in the Tirukkural. The "Kavacham" part follows the grammar of Nilai Mandila Aasiriyappaa. The plan of the song is as follows:
;Introduction
;Main Song
The author's name is mentioned twice in the song, first in Line 64 and then in Line 201.
;Raga
Though several artistes have sung and released recordings, the one sung by Soolamangalam Sisters Rajalakshmi and Jayalakshmi is popular and played in most places. The composition is set in Ragamaliga consisting of Abheri, Shubhapantuvarali, Kalyani, and Thodi.

Grammar employed in the song

The song employs Nilaimandila aasiriyappa, one of the poetic forms in the Tamil language. The armour and meditation parts of the Introduction section employ the Venpa metre and Kural venba metre, respectively.

Nerisai Venpa (Prayer)

Tamil VersionEnglish Translation
Thuthiporkku val vinai pom, Thunpam pom,
Nenjil pathiporkku selvam palithu kadithongum
Nishtayum kaikoodum
Nimalar Arul kanthar sashti kavacham thanai
The sufferings great and sorrow will vanish for those who pray,
The riches will increase for those who remember it in their mind,
All penance will surely bear fruit
By this Sashti Kavacham written by the grace of God.

Kural Venpa (Protection)

Significance

Sashti is the day that Lord Muruga defeated the demon Soorapadman. When the devas could not tolerate the evil doings of this demon, they approached the younger son of Lord Shiva and Parvati for his assistance. He fought Soorapadman for six days, at the end of which the Lord vanquished the asura. He threw his weapon at him and split Soorapadman into two halves. One half became a peacock, which he took as his Vahana. The other became a rooster and was transformed into his banner.
The devas rejoiced—they praised the Lord and prayed to him for six days. Devotees usually narrate the Kanda Sashti Kavacham during this period. Whoever fasts and prays to Lord Muruga for the six days of Kanda Sashti is believed to receive Muruga's blessings. Those who are unable to fast all day can eat once a day or twice a day during this period depending on their health, age and will.
Devotees believe that regular chanting of this song causes the predicaments of life to be resolved and that chanting the full song 36 times a day brings wealth.

Attack by antitheists

In July 2020, a video made and uploaded on YouTube by Karuppar Kootam, a Periyarist-Dravidian group, ridiculed the centuries-old hymn by allegedly giving vulgar and offensive interpretation, irking Hindus across the globe. Soon after the incident, the Tamil Nadu Police arrested two belonging to the YouTube channel.