Vishaka – The Branched One

The Significance of Vishaka Nakshatra and the Tamil month of Vaikasi
The Mahabharata (Markandeya Samasyaparva) describes a story of a baby born from the brilliance of Siva, of which Indra is afraid. The baby named Guha/Skanda, raises a loud cry which makes all the Devas trembled with terrible fear. Indra throws his thunder-bolt on Skanda, which results in the birth of a goat-faced youth from the right side of Skanda and he is known as Vishaka. However, it may be noted that Guha and Vishaka are merged in Skanda. Vishaka nakshatra is considered very auspicious, as most of the saints, geniuses and others have born in that nakshatra, e.g., Buddha. Born in the same nakshatra, Muruga is known as “Gnyana Pandita” = Authority on Wisdom. Karthikeya and Vishaka incidentally represent 3rd and 16th Lunar mansions of the Zodiac. In fact, Vishaka is a binary star as per Sanskrit literature. Therefore, the ancient’s knowledge of the binary stars without telescope or any other technological aid is very intriguing and interesting.Vaikasi Vishakam celebrates the anniversary of Lord Karthikeya’s creation. It was in this month (May-June) that Lord Muruga was born with Vishakam as His birth star. On this day, elaborate abhishekams are done in all His temples. It is a time of gift giving to pandits and great souls, weddings, feedings for the poor, caring for trees, spiritual initiation, diksha, and conclaves of holy men.

The Nature of Lord Muruga
The name Muruga is derived from the names of the Hindu trinity, Mukunda (Vishnu), Rudra (A manifestation of Lord Shiva) and Kamala (Brahma). Lord Karttikeya, the first guru and Pleiadian master of kundalini yoga, was born of Lord Siva’s mind. His dynamic power awakens spiritual cognition to propel souls onward in their evolution to Siva’s feet. Lord Karttikeya flies through the mind’s vast substance from planet to planet. He could well be called the Emancipator, ever available to the call of those in distress. Lord Karttikeya, God of will, direct cognition and the purest, child-like divine love, propels us onward on the righteous way through religion.Majestically seated on the Manipura chakra, this scarlet-hued God blesses mankind and strengthens our will when we lift to the inner sky through sadhana and yoga. The yoga pada begins with the worship of Him. The yogi, locked in meditation, venerates Skanda as his mind becomes as calm as Saravana, the lake of Divine Essence. The kundalini force within everyone is held and controlled by this powerful God, first among renunciates, dear to all sanyasis. Revered as Murugan in the South, He is commander in chief of the great divine army, a fine, dynamic soldier of the within, a fearless defender of righteousness. He is Divinity emulated in form. The Vedas say, “To such a one who has his stains wiped away, the venerable Sanatkumara shows the further shore of darkness. Him they call Skanda.”

His mantra, “Saravanabava” – a combination of 6 syllables – constitutes the highest mantric power. Sage Agastya, who mastered this mantra and as a result had direct encounters with the 6-Headed God Muruga, revealed the secrets of the 6 syllables.

SA – Attracts all people to your door
RA – Brings Wealth
VA – (Va is also said as “Ah”) – Kills competition, diseases and debts
NA – Dissuades enemies, suppresses problems before they arise
BA – Attraction through charming
VA – Stops negativity and influence from bad planets

Each of the 6 syllables is dedicated to the 6 faces of Lord Muruga.