Skanda Sashti Dates 2026

His sacred observance takes place every month on the sixth day (Sashti) of the waxing moon, as this tithi is considered deeply connected to Murugan’s protective and compassionate energy.

While Skanda Sashti occurs monthly, the main Skanda Sashti, which usually falls in October–November, holds the greatest significance of all. It marks the actual day when Lord Murugan destroyed the demon

Skanda Sashti Dates in 2026

In Skanda Sashti, “sashti” means six, so it is observed every month on the sixth day of Shukla Paksha, the bright fortnight of the moon.

In 2026, Skanda Sashti falls on the following dates:

Month	Date	Day
January	24 January 2026	Saturday
February	22 February 2026	Sunday
March	24 March 2026	Tuesday
April	22 April 2026	Wednesday
May	21 May 2026	Thursday
June	20 June 2026	Saturday
July	19 July 2026	Sunday
August	18 August 2026	Tuesday
September	16 September 2026	Wednesday
October	16 October 2026	Friday
November	15 November 2026	Sunday
December	15 December 2026	Tuesday

While Skanda Sashti can be observed on any of these dates, the November celebration holds the most importance. Let’s understand why and what it actually is about.

What is Skanda Sashti?

Skanda Sashti is a special day dedicated to Lord Murugan, celebrating his victory over evil and his promise to protect his devotees. It falls on the sixth day of the waxing moon in the Tamil month of Aippasi, around October or November.

Murugan, honored deeply on this day, is also known as Skanda, Kartikeya, Subramanya, and Kumara. As the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, he is worshiped as the god of war and wisdom. He is often shown as a young warrior riding a peacock and holding his divine spear, the Vel.

The Story Behind Skanda Sashti

Long ago, there was a powerful demon named Surapadman. He had two brothers called Simhamukha and Tarakasura. These three demons became very strong after getting special boons from Lord Brahma. They used their powers to trouble both gods and humans. They created fear and chaos everywhere.

The gods became worried and went to Lord Brahma for help. Brahma told them that only the son of Lord Shiva could defeat these demons. At that time, Lord Shiva was deep in meditation on Mount Kailash. The gods sent Kamadeva, the god of love, to wake Shiva from his meditation.

When Kamadeva disturbed his meditation, Lord Shiva became angry and opened his third eye. The powerful energy from his eye turned Kamadeva to ash. But from that same energy, six divine sparks fell to the ground. These sparks formed into a baby boy. Goddess Parvati accepted this child as her son and named him Skanda.

Lord Murugan grew up to become a mighty warrior. The gods asked him to lead their army against the demons. A fierce battle began between Murugan and Surapadman with his demon forces. The fight continued for six long days. On the sixth day, Lord Murugan finally defeated Surapadman and his brothers. This victory brought peace back to heaven and earth. This sixth day is celebrated as Skanda Sashti.

Skanda Sashti Significance

The Skanda Sashti significance goes beyond just remembering an old story. This festival teaches us important lessons about life. The battle between Lord Murugan and the demons represents the fight between good and bad within each person.

The demons stand for negative qualities like anger, greed, jealousy, and pride. Lord Murugan represents courage and righteousness.

The Skanda Sashti significance is especially important in South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. The festival is celebrated with great devotion in famous temples like Thiruchendur, Palani, and Thiruparankundram.

Skanda Sashti Mantra and Prayers

The most famous prayer is the Skanda Sashti Kavacham. This is a protective hymn written by the saint Devaraya Swamigal over 300 years ago. Kavacham means armor or shield. People believe that chanting this hymn protects them from harm and negative energies.

The Kavacham has 244 lines divided into multiple verses. Each verse protects a different part of the body and different aspects of life. The hymn starts by seeking the blessings of Lord Ganesha and then praises the various forms and qualities of Lord Murugan. It describes his divine weapons, his peacock vehicle, and his victories over demons.

When you chant the Kavacham, sit in a quiet place. Face east or north. Light a lamp in front of the picture of Lord Murugan. You can chant it once, three times, or six times for maximum benefit. If you do not know Tamil, you can listen to recordings and try to follow along. Many devotees play the Kavacham audio in their homes throughout the six days.

Another simple Skanda Sashti mantra is “Om Saravana Bhava”.

This mantra is a gentle way of surrendering yourself to Lord Murugan and seeking his protection.

People often chant it 108 times using a mala. The rhythmic repetition and the sound of the mantra create a calm, positive energy that helps clear the mind and uplift the surroundings.

If you wish to know how these prayers align with your planetary energies, connect with an astrologer on Astroyogi today.

Skanda Sashti Lessons for Modern Life

In our busy modern lives, Skanda Sashti offers valuable lessons. We all face battles every day. These may be challenges at work, problems in relationships, health issues, or inner struggles with negative thoughts.

The story of Murugan defeating demons teaches us that we can overcome any difficulty with courage and determination.

The six days of battle represent the continuous effort needed to achieve success. Victory does not come easily or quickly. We must persist even when things seem difficult. Lord Murugan kept fighting for six days before winning.

Similarly, we must keep working toward our goals without giving up.