Sashti for the Tamil month of Purattasi falls on September 26, 2017, Tuesday. We observe Sashti vrata on this day to seek the blessings of Lord Muruga.

Most of us know that Lord Muruga became the Guru to his father Shiva by explaining the meaning of the term ‘Aum’ which is the Pranava Mantra.

‘Aum’ is the mantra or sound that permeates the entire Universe. It contains every particle of the Universe. ‘Aum’ means that everything is love and kindness and everybody is part of this love and kindness.

There is a story related to Muruga’s explanation of the term ‘Aum’.  

Lord Muruga wanted to know the meaning of the term ‘Aum’. He went to Lord Brahma and asked him to explain what the meaning of ‘Aum’ is? Brahma advised him to learn the alphabet first as He Himself did not know the meaning. Muruga went to Lord Shiva and asked Him the same. Shiva also did not know and asked Muruga to explain.

If Muruga were to explain the concept of ‘Aum’, He should pose himself as the Guru of Shiva and He claimed a pedestal (higher place) for explaining the concept. Shiva took him on His shoulders and listened to the explanation of ‘Aum’ as rendered to him by Muruga in His ears.

‘Swaminathan’ -this is what Goddess Parvathi called Muruga on seeing the son becoming the Guru of Her Nathan. In Tamil, we call Muruga ‘Thagappansami’(தகப்பன்சாமி).

Lord Muruga is thus the epitome of knowledge and wisdom. Let us pray to Him on Sashti, observe vrata and fulfill our wishes.