Rudrabhishekam

During Skanda Shashti, the father of Subrahmanya is worshipped alongside the son. Every day from 10 to 14 November, the Rudrabhishekam honours Paramashiva — present now as THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAVAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM — as the source of Subrahmanya's power.

Significance

Rudra, the form of Paramashiva who is the God of rejuvenation, removes unwanted happenings from our lives and creates space for new occurrences. It is from Paramashiva's third eye that Subrahmanya emerged, and it is Mahadeva's third eye that opens at the Soorasamharam.

The Ritual

The Paramashiva Linga is bathed with sacred dravyas while the Sri Rudram (Namakam) and Chamakam from the Krishna Yajurveda are chanted. Namakam literally means the hymn made of namaḥ, which carries two meanings — "salutations" and "not mine." Every time namaḥ is uttered, patterns and karmas are detached from us. The Chamakam, chanted after the Namakam, is the Vedic prayer for the fulfilment of all wishes.

When

• Day 1 · Tue 10 Nov — 6:00 PM IST (Tue 10 Nov, 8:30 AM ET)
• Day 2 · Wed 11 Nov — 6:00 PM IST (Wed 11 Nov, 8:30 AM ET)
• Day 3 · Thu 12 Nov — timing to be announced
• Day 4 · Fri 13 Nov — timing to be announced
• Day 5 · Sat 14 Nov — timing to be announced

Shastra Pramana

नमस्ते रुद्र मन्यव उतो त इषवे नमः । नमस्ते अस्तु धन्वने बाहुभ्यामुत ते नमः ॥

namas te rudra manyava uto ta iṣave namaḥ | namas te astu dhanvane bāhubhyām uta te namaḥ ||

Translation: “Salutations, O Rudra, to Your wrath and to Your arrow. Salutations to Your bow, and salutations to Your two arms.” — Śrī Rudram, Taittirīya Saṃhitā 4.5.1.1

Benefits

• Rudra replaces the "old you" with a "new you," acting fiercely against patterns, karmas, and unconsciousness.
• The chanting of Sri Rudram heals at the root of mental and physical health problems and carries anti-aging energy.
• Causeless auspiciousness in life through the Panchakshari contained in Sri Rudram.
• The Chamakam fulfils our true desires, leading toward Living Enlightenment.