Shashti Vratham – The Complete Guide to a Holy Fasting

Shashti Vratham is a special ritual followed mostly by devotees of Lord Murugan. It takes place on the sixth day of each half of the lunar month. Of all the Shashti days, the Skanda Sashti that falls immediately after Deepavali is the most potent.

Shashti vratham has a great variety of purposes – to gain physical strength, courage, or success. However, it is performed primarily for health and happiness, marriage and child blessing, and overcoming life struggles. The principle of this fasting is that if you pray with a sincere and pure heart, Lord Murugan hears you.

Although originating from South India, specifically Tamil Nadu, this vrath is practiced all over the country nowadays. You don't need much effort or preparations for performing this ritual; only sincerity and willingness to observe the rules will suffice.

Meaning of Shashti Vratham 

As it was mentioned earlier, "shashti" means six. Therefore, Shashti Vratham implies the observance of fasting on the sixth day of the lunar fortnight. Yet, there is something else beyond this straightforward definition.

According to Hindu legend, it was the day when Lord Murugan defeated the demon Surapadman. Thus, this fast is regarded as an act of cleansing negative energies from one's life, giving an opportunity to fight internal struggles.

Shashti vratham is also associated with spiritual development. Through fasting, a person learns to restrain their negative thoughts, emotions, and desires. Consequently, the mind gets purified and experiences calmness and clarity.

Also, people believe that it removes bad karma accumulated throughout past lives. Others claim that observing this fasting makes your family life peaceful and brings prosperity. Regardless of how true these ideas are, the practice itself provides discipline and, therefore, has its value.

How to Perform the Shashti Vratham?

There are no strict requirements to perform Shashti Vratham; however, a set of general guidelines still exists. Firstly, you should wake up in the morning, bathe and dress up. Afterward, offer prayers to Lord Murugan.

There are different kinds of fasting in which devotees participate; you can choose either one according to your capacity. Some devotees abstain from any kind of consumption, while others allow themselves to eat fruits, milk or a single meal during the day.

Visiting a Murugan temple is recommended but not compulsory; alternatively, devotees conduct their praying at home. Light the lamp, decorate it with flowers, chant Murugan mantras, or read prayers aloud. You can also listen to the stories of Lord Murugan and stay as positive as possible during the whole day.

Benefits of Shashti Vratham

Of course, the primary purpose of the ritual consists in receiving blessings from Lord Murugan, which are manifested both physically and spiritually. The first thing that fasting promotes is a clear mind. While abstaining from consumption, your mind starts focusing on spiritual goals.

Secondly, this ritual helps in fulfilling dreams concerning marriage and having children. In Hindu culture, numerous stories tell of devotees whose prayers were fulfilled after observing Shashti Vratham repeatedly.

Finally, fasting has its health benefits. Although you should proceed cautiously due to health conditions, fasting allows the body to rest. On the other hand, this ritual contributes significantly to gaining emotional strength as well.

Observing Shashti Vratham Every Day

Shashti vratham is repeated every two weeks. Therefore, if you are interested in observing the ritual, you can make it a regular part of your life. In addition, there is no strict regimen that must be fulfilled.

Those who attend work or study cannot spend too much time conducting the ritual; thus, a simple type of fasting would be enough. Avoiding meat and other heavy foods, lighting a lamp and saying a short prayer will do.

Usually, families observe this vrat together. Children learn traditions by example. Thus, observing Shashti Vratham will become a family practice and not an obligation.

Conclusion

Shashti Vratham is a fascinating fusion of devotion, discipline, and self-reflection. Neither sophisticated nor complicated ritual, it can bring many blessings to you and your family members. There is always a way to observe this fasting, depending on your opportunities.

In today's hectic world, sometimes it is necessary to find time to devote yourself to something greater. Although this ritual is unlikely to bring immediate benefits, it will help you get strength to face challenges in the future.