Kanda Sashti is a great festival celebrated by the Shaivites to commemorate the victory of Lord Muruga over the demon Suran. Sashti means six. The six days from the first day of the first fortnight of the bright fortnight of the month of Aipasi to the last day of the first fortnight of the first month of the first lunar month are the days of Kanda Sashti. During these six days, the Shaivites observe a fast to seek the blessings of Lord Kanda. The immortal gods, who were imprisoned by Suran and suffered many hardships, performed penance to seek the blessings of the Supreme Lord, Isa. Pleased with their penance, Lord Shiva lit six sparks from his six faces, namely Satyojatham, Hattpurusham, Vamadevam, Isanam, Ahoraam and Thiruvathanam, on six pots of water in a procession called Saravana Poigai. As a result, six children were incarcerated on six lotus flowers. On that special day, the special festival of “Vaikasi Visakha”, when Lord Muruga appeared, six women named Nidharthani, Aparakenthi, Mekenthi, Varyendhi, Amba and Tula appeared to raise the six children. On the auspicious day specified by Jesus, Goddess Parvati, the goddess of power, embraced the six children together and took the form of a single child.