Vaikasi Visakam is the festival ascribed to the birth of Bhagwan Muruga, the second son of Bhagwan Shiva and Sri Parvathi Devi.
Vaikasi Visakam occurs Visaka Star-day of the Vaisakha month. The festival occurs on Thursday, 23rd May 2024. The exact duration of the Visaka Star is to be ascertained from the respective regional calendars.
Vaikasi Visakam also is considered as the day when Bhagwan Muruga had married Sri Valli Devi.
Vaikasi Visakam – Legend
The demon Sura Padhma and his brother Tharaka were creating havoc in the lives of Devas. The Devas had surrendered to Bhagwan Shiva for protection.
Bhagwan Shiva then had emanated sparks from His third eye. The sparks had landed in Saravana Poigai. There is also a belief that they landed in river Ganga. They became six baby boys.
The six children were attributed to the six characteristics of Bhagwan Shiva namely Tathpurusham (concealing grace), Aghoram (annihilation), Sadhyojatham (creation), Vaamadhevam (rejuvenation), Eeshanam (revealing grace) and Adhomukam (Downward facing).
These kids were brought up by six ladies named Dula, Nitatni, Abhrayanti, Varshayanti, Meghayanti and Chipunika collectively known as Karthikai girls. Goddess Parvathi had made all the six children into one and gave Her energy to Him.
Vaikasi Visakam – Celebration
The festival is celebrated at all the Murugan temples and at the Shrines of Sri Subramanya in Shiva temples across the world. Abhishekams are done to Sri Muruga and special archanas are done. Some devotees take kavadi of milk for performing abhishekam.
The Slokas and hymns praising Bhagwan Muruga are recited with devotion.
Some devotees observe fasting on this day.
Special Yagnas and Homams are conducted to appease Bhagwan Muruga.
Slokas on Sri Muruga
There are innumerable Slokams and Stotrams in praise of Bhagwan Muruga. A few of them are listed here.
Sri Subramanya Ashtakam (Karavalambam)
Sri Skandha Sashti Kavacham
Sri Kandhar Anubhudhi
Vaikasi Visakam – Ashtothara
The Ashtothara Satha Namavali (one hundred and eight names) of Sri Muruga are given below.
ॐ स्कन्दाय नमः (1)
Om skandhaaya namah
ॐ गुहाय नमः (2)
Om guhaaya namah
ॐ षण्मुखाय नमः (3)
Om ShaNmukhaaya namah
ॐ फालनेत्रसुताय नमः (4)
Om phalanethra-suthaaya namah
ॐ प्रभवे नमः (5)
Om prabhavae namah
ॐ पिङ्गलाय नमः (6)
Om pinGgalaaya namah
ॐ कृत्तिकासूनवे नमः (7)
Om kriththika-sunavae namah
ॐ शिखिवाहनाय नमः (8)
Om shikha-vaahanaaya namah
ॐ द्विषड्भुजाय नमः (9)
Om dhviShad-bhujaaya namah
ॐ द्विषण्णेत्राय नमः (10)
Om dhvishaN-Nethraaya namah
ॐ शक्तिधराय नमः (11)
Om shakthi-Dharaya namah
ॐ पिशिताशप्रभञ्जनाय नमः (12)
Om pishithaasha-prabhanjanaaya namah
ॐ तारकासुरसंहर्त्रे नमः (13)
Om thaarakaasura saMharthrae namah
ॐ रक्षोबलविमर्दनाय नमः (14)
Om rakShobala-vimardhanaaya namah
ॐ मत्ताय नमः (15)
Om maththaaya namah
ॐ प्रमत्ताय नमः (16)
Om pramaththaaya namah
ॐ उन्मत्ताय नमः (17)
Om unmaththaaya namah
ॐ सुरसैन्यसुरक्षकाय नमः (18)
Om surasainya-surakShakaaya namah
ॐ देवासेनापतये नमः (19)
Om dheva-senaa-pathayae namah
ॐ प्राज्ञाय नमः (20)
Om pragyahya namah
ॐ कृपालवे नमः (21)
Om kripaalavae namah
ॐ भक्तवत्सलाय नमः (22)
Om bhaktha-vathsalaaya namah
ॐ उमासुताय नमः (23)
Om umaa-suthaaya namah
ॐ शक्तिधराय नमः (24)
Om shakthi-Dharaaya namah
ॐ कुमाराय नमः (25)
Om kumaaraaya namah
ॐ क्रौञ्चदारणाय नमः (26)
Om krauncha-dhaaraNaaya namah
ॐ सेनानिये नमः (27)
Om saenaaniyae namah
ॐ अग्निजन्मने नमः (28)
Om agni-janmanae namah
ॐ विशाखाय नमः (29)
Om vishaakhaaya namah
ॐ शङ्करात्मजाय नमः (30)
Om shanGkara-athmajaaya namah
ॐ शिवस्वामिने नमः (31)
Om shiva-svaaminae namah
ॐ गणस्वामिने नमः (32)
Om gaNa-svaaminae namah
ॐ सर्वस्वामिने नमः (33)
Om sarva-svaaminae namah
ॐ सनातनाय नमः (34)
Om sanaathanaaya namah
ॐ अनन्तशक्तये नमः (35)
Om ananthashakthayae namah
ॐ अक्षोभ्याय नमः (36)
Om akShobhyaaya namah
ॐ पार्वतीप्रियनन्दनाय नमः (37)
Om paarvathee-priya-nandhanaaya namah
ॐ गङ्गासुताय नमः (38)
Om ganGga-suthaaya namah
ॐ शरोद्भूताय नमः (39)
Om sharodh-bhuthaaya namah
ॐ आहुताय नमः (40)
Om aahuthaaya namah
ॐ पावकात्मजाय नमः (41)
Om paavakaathmajaaya namah
ॐ जृम्भाय नमः (42)
Om jrumbhaaya namah
ॐ प्रजृम्भाय नमः (43)
Om prarumbhaaya namah
ॐ उज्जृम्भाय नमः (44)
Om Ujjrumbhaaya namah
ॐ कमलासनसंस्तुताय नमः (45)
Om kamalaasana-saMsthuthaaya namah
ॐ एकवर्णाय नमः (46)
Om eka-varNaaya namah
ॐ द्विवर्णाय नमः (47)
Om dhvi-varNaaya namah
ॐ त्रिवर्णाय नमः (48)
Om thri-varNaaya namah
ॐ सुमनोहराय नमः (49)
Om su-manoa-haraaya namah
ॐ चुतुर्वर्णाय नमः (50)
Om chathur-varNaaya namah
ॐ पञ्चवर्णाय नमः (51)
Om pancha-varNaaya namah
ॐ प्रजापतये नमः (52)
Om prajaa-pathayae namah
ॐ अहस्पतये नमः (53)
Om ahaspathayae namah
ॐ अग्निगर्भाय नमः (54)
Om agni-garbhaaya namah
ॐ शमीगर्भाय नमः (55)
Om shame-garbhaaya namah
ॐ विश्वरेतसे नमः (56)
Om vishvaraethasae namah
ॐ सुरारिघ्ने नमः (57)
Om surarighnae namah
ॐ हरिद्वर्णाय नमः (58)
Om haridh-varNaaya namah
ॐ शुभकराय नमः (59)
Om shubhakaraaya namah
ॐ वसुमते नमः (60)
Om vasumathae namah
ॐ वटुवेषभृते नमः (61)
Om vatuveSha-bhrithae namah
ॐ पूष्णे नमः (62)
Om pooShNae namah
ॐ गभस्तये नमः (63)
Om gabhasthayae namah
ॐ गहनाय नमः (64)
Om gahaanaya namah
ॐ चन्द्रवर्णाय नमः (65)
Om chandhra-varNaaya namah
ॐ कलाधराय नमः (66)
Om kalaa-Dharaaya namah
ॐ मायाधराय नमः (67)
Om maaya-Dharaaya namah
ॐ महामायिने नमः (68)
Om mahaa-maayinae namah
ॐ कैवल्याय नमः (69)
Om kaivalyaaya namah
ॐ शङ्करात्मजाय नमः (70)
Om shanGkara-athmajaaya namah
ॐ विश्वयोनये नमः (71)
Om vishva-yonayae namah
ॐ अमेयात्मने नमः (72)
Om ameya-athmanae namah
ॐ तेजोनिधये नमः (73)
Om thejoa-niDhayae namah
ॐ अनामयाय नमः (74)
Om anaa-mayaaya namah
ॐ परमेष्ठिने नमः (75)
Om parameShTinae namah
ॐ परब्रह्मणे नमः (76)
Om para-brahmaNae namah
ॐ वेदगर्भाय नमः (77)
Om vedha-garbhaaya namah
ॐ विराट्सुताय नमः (78)
Om viraat-suthaaya namah
ॐ पुलिन्दकन्याभर्त्रे नमः (79)
Om pulindha-kanyaa-bharthre namah
ॐ महासारस्वतव्रताय नमः (80)
Om mahaa-sarasvatha-vrathaaya namah
ॐ आश्रिताखिलदात्रे नमः (81)
Om aashritha-akhila-dhaathrae namah
ॐ चोरघ्नाय नमः (82)
Om choara-ghnaaya namah
ॐ रोगनाशनाय नमः (83)
Om roaga-naashanaaya namah
ॐ अनन्तमूर्तये नमः (84)
Om anantha-moorthayae namah
ॐ आनन्दाय नमः (85)
Om aanandhaaya namah
ॐ शिखण्डिकृतकेतनाय नमः (86)
Om shikhaNdi-krutha-kaethanaaya namah
ॐ डम्भाय नमः (87)
Om Dambhaaya namah
ॐ परमडम्भाय नमः (88)
Om paramadambhaaya namah
ॐ महाडम्भाय नमः (89)
Om mahaadambhaaya namah
ॐ वृषाकपये नमः (90)
Om vruShakapayae namah
ॐ कारणोपात्तदेहाय नमः (91)
Om kaaraNoa-paththa-dhaehaaya namah
ॐ कारणातीतविग्रहाय नमः (93)
Om kaaraNaathitha vigrahaaya namah
ॐ अनीश्वराय नमः (94)
Om aneeshvaraaya namah
ॐ अमृताय नमः (95)
Om amruthaaya namah
ॐ प्राणाय नमः (96)
Om praaNaaya namah
ॐ प्राणायाम परायणाय नमः (97)
Om praaNaayaama paraayaNaaya nama
ॐ विरुद्धहन्त्रे नमः (98)
Om virudhDha-hanthrae namah
ॐ वीरघ्नाय नमः (99)
Om veeraghnaaya namah
ॐ रक्तश्यामगळाय नमः (100)
Om raktha-shyama-gaLaaya namah
ॐ श्यामकन्धराय नमः (101)
Om shyaama-kanDhaaraya namah
ॐ महते नमः (102)
Om mahathae namah
ॐ सुब्रह्मण्याय नमः (103)
Om subrahmaNyaaya namah
ॐ गुहप्रीताय नमः (104)
Om guhaprithaaya namah
ॐ ब्रह्मण्याय नमः (105)
Om brahmaNyaaya namah
ॐ ब्राह्मणप्रियाय नमः (106)
Om brahmaNa-priyaaya namah
ॐ वेद वेद्याय नमः (107)
Om vedha vedhyaaya namah
ॐ अक्षयफलप्रदाय नमः (108)
Om akShaya-phala-pradhaaya namah
ॐ वल्ली देवसेना समेत श्री सुब्रह्मण्य स्वामिने नमः
Om valli dhevasena sametha shree subrahmaNya svaaminae namah
