Vaikasi Visakam or Vaikasi Visagam is a significant Hindu festival that marks the auspicious birth of Lord Murugan, the divine warrior and son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

The occasion is celebrated in honor of Lord Murugan’s birth. While there may not be a specific scriptural reference for Vaikasi Visakam, the stories of Lord Murugan’s exploits and divine significance are often found in texts like the Skanda Purana and the Tamil epic, Kanda Puranam.

Significance of Vaikasi Visakam

Vaikasi Visakam holds immense significance as it marks the divine incarnation of Lord Murugan, also known as Kartikeya or Subrahmanya. Lord Murugan is revered as the embodiment of valor, wisdom, and divine grace.

Observances and Rituals

Temple Celebrations

Devotees visit Murugan temples, where special ceremonies and pujas are conducted. Temples are adorned with vibrant decorations, and the divine idol of Lord Murugan is worshipped with great devotion.

Devotional Singing and Processions

Bhajans, kirtans, and devotional songs praising Lord Murugan. Processions featuring an idol or image of Lord Murugan are carried through the streets, accompanied by fervent singing and dancing.

Fasting and Offerings

Devotees observe fasts and offer various items like fruits, flowers, and symbolic items to seek the blessings of Lord Murugan. Prasad, blessed food, is then distributed among the devotees.

The Story of Lord Murugan’s Birth

In the narrative from the Padma Purana, Tarakasura, an Asura who had enslaved the Devas, received a boon from Lord Brahma that only a power equal to Lord Shiva could destroy him but not Lord Shiva himself. To his understanding, this meant he was invincible since he believed there was none equal to Shiva.

However, Brahma revealed that a son born to Shiva and Parvati would possess the power to defeat Tarakasura. Despite Shiva’s initial seclusion and Parvati’s earlier curse from Rati, her son’s birth was ordained. Shiva, in his grief over Sati’s loss, had acquired a sixth face that looked downward at the Devas’ suffering, becoming Shanmukha or Kartikeya (also known as Lord Murugun).

This birth defied conventional methods, with light emanating from Shanmukha’s six faces, carried by Agni and Vayu to the river Ganga. Six wives of the Saptarishis held the divine energy in their wombs, depositing them on lotus flowers at the forest of reeds. Six babies emerged, nurtured by Karthigai ladies, evolving into the six-faced Lord, Shanmukha or Murugan.

This narrative is often seen as a symbolic representation, paralleling modern concepts like test-tube babies, surrogacy, and incubation. Shanmukha’s birth was not a conventional union of male and female but a divine manifestation, showcasing the intricate interplay of cosmic elements.

In a psychological interpretation, Muruga becomes Shiva’s alter ego, fulfilling what Shiva couldn’t achieve directly. Muruga, known by six names, including Guha, Kumara, Skanda, Gangeya, Sharavana, and Kartikeya, embodies various aspects, portraying the mystical and symbolic layers within Hindu legends.

Date Calculation

Vaikasi Visakam is typically observed in the Tamil month of Vaikasi, corresponding to May-June in the Gregorian calendar. The specific date varies each year based on the lunar calendar.

Conclusion

Vaikasi Visakam is a joyous celebration of the divine birth of Lord Murugan. Devotees come together to express their love and reverence for this revered deity, seeking his blessings for courage, wisdom, and spiritual growth.