Skandagiri Temple Hyderabad
Aadikrithikai in Skandagiri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple in Hyderabad is one of the famous festivals celebrated in the Temple. In 2025, Aadikrithikai date is August 16. And in 2025, Aadikrithikai Laksharchana Mahotsavam begins on 14 August and ends on 16 August.
66th Aadikrithikai Laksharchana Mahotsavam
Thursday 14 August 2025 to Saturday 16 August 2025
14 August 2025, Thursday
Ganapathi homam, Mahanyasa Poorvaka Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam (Sri Subrahmanya Swamy)
7.00 AM to 1.00 PM & 5.00 PM to 9.00 PM
Ganapathihomam, MahanyasaPoorvaka EkadasaRudrabhishekam (Sri SubrahmanyaSwamy), Laksharchana commences, Laksharchana continues
15 August 2025, Friday
7.00 AM to 12.00 PM & 5.00 PM to 8.00 PM
Rudrabhishekam(Sri SubrahmanyaSwamy), Laksharchana Commences, Laksharchana continues
16 August 2025, Saturday
Aadikrithikai Day
7.00 AM to 12.00 noon & 6.00 PM to 9.00 PM
Aadi krithikai Day, Mahanyasa Poorvaka Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam with KAVADI and PALKUDAM Offerings, Laksharchanasampoornam, Pushpanjali and MangalaHarathi
Giri Pradakshinam —– Rs.1750/-
Lighting Charges Extra —– Rs.1500/-
Ganapathi Homam Rs2000/-
Laksharchana Rs.200/-
Mahanyasapoorvaka Ekadasa rudrabhishekam Rs.2000/-
Contribution for flowers / Milk Rs.100/-
Abhishekam Rs. 600/-
Kavadi / Palkudam 250/-
Significance of Aadi Krithigai
Aadi Krithigai is an important festival celebrated on the day of Krithigai Nakshatra day in the month of Aadi ( fourth month in Souramana) of Tamil calendar- Aashada month of Telugu calendar, derived from Sanskrit word – Aash-adi. This day assumes special importance because of the commencement of the southwardly movement of the Sun ( Dhakshinayana punyakalam). This festival is dedicated to Sri Subrahmanyaswamy- – The Supreme Almighty – the ruler of this Universe ( Senathipadhi), an epitome of grace and valour, embodiment of power wisdom love and bliss – The Presiding Deity of our temple in Skandagiri. He is Knowledge –incarnate and Master of Kundalini (coiled serpant power). He is considered the Guardian of six specific areas in our life viz. Wisdom, Power, Health, Victory, Relationship and Prosperity.
The number six plays a significant role in the worship of Sri Subrahmanya – Kowmaram.
Aadi Krithigai has a special significance for Skandagiri temple…….. A seed was sown for the construction of now famous temple on the hillock at Skandagiri in Padmaraonagar, Secunderabad way back in the year 1961 when SRI SUBRAHMANYASWAMY AADI KRITHIGAI LAKSHARCHANA COMMIITEE was formed by a group of enthusiastic and ardent followers of Sri Subrahmanyaswamy.
In Sanskrit `su’ means good natured or beautiful. `Brahmanya’ means one who has realized Brahman.
Sri Subrahmanya or Kartikeya is the second son Lord Shiva and Goddess Mother Parvathi. His birth and numerous feats, which are interesting and inspiring are elaborately described in `Skanda Puranam’ Goddess Parvathi did penance and married Lord Shiva. The union of Shiva and Parvathi signifies the `knowledge’ and `grace’ coming together to deliver `Bliss’ in the form Subrahmanya. When all devas pleaded with Lord Shiva to put an end to the cruel deeds of the demon Soorapadman, Lord Siva, with His Yogic vision felt the necessity of the birth of Lord Subrahmanya. Lord Shiva took a form with six faces (i.e., Sathyojatham, Vamadevam, Thathpurusham, Eesanam, Aghoram and Atho). According to Skanda Purana, Lord Subrahmanya took birth from each of the third eye of the six faces of Lord Shiva as six flames. Lord Shiva commanded Vaayu (God of wind) and Agni (God of fire) to carry the six fire sparks to the Ganges River. Later Ganga took them to Saravana pond in a reed forest where Karttikeya- `Saravanabhava’ ( Shara – Janma) was born. The six fire sparks became six beautiful babies on six red lotus flowers. When Goddess Parvati embraced them together, they merged to one form with six faces, twelve hands and was named Shanmuga. He was also named Karttikeya since six Karthiga nymphs took care of the Divine child. In praise of the services rendered by the Kartika nymphs Shiva and Parvathi granted a boon that Krithika Nakshatra will be a significant day for worship of Lord Subrahmanya. Astronomically, Krittika is a group of 6 stars and their Thathwa is Fire
The six heads of Lord Subrahmanya represent the six Chakras. They also represent the five senses and the mind. They represent the six attributes of Bhagavan: Jnana (wisdom), Vairagya (dispassion), Bala (strength), Kirti (fame), Sree (wealth) and Aisvarya (divine powers). They indicate that He is the source for the four Vedas, Vedangas; that He has controlled the five Jnana Indriyas and the mind. They signify that His head is turned everywhere (Viswathomukha); they indicate that He is omnipotent. The six faces indicates that His presence shines on all the four sides and also above and below.
Valli, Devasena and the Vel mean respectively Ichcha Shakti, Kriya Shakti and Jnana Sakti, signifying Desire, Action, and Knowledge. The fact that desire and action forces are kept on either side of Him and that Jnana Shakti or the knowledge alone is kept with Him point out that Knowledge is the most important of them all and that it never gets separated from Him.
Shanmukha’s Vahana, the peacock, shows the shape of the Pranava letter OM. When the peacock has spread out its tail, it has the round shape of the Pranava. Within it is the Parabrahma Jyoti which is the form of Subrahmanya. The subordinated serpent kept in check under the peacock’s feet shows a complete overpowering of the Maya by the Pranava.
Significance of Kavadi : Sage Agasthya wanted to take two hills – Sivagiri and and Sakthigiri – to his abode in the South and commissioned his disciple who was an ardent devotee of Lord Subrahmanya, to carry them from Mount Kailash range.
Idumban bore the two hills slung across his shoulders in the form of Kavadi , one on each side. When he reached Palani and felt fatigued, he placed the Kavadi down to take rest. When he resumed his journey, he found that he could not lift the Kavadi of both hills, as Lord Subrahmanya, had made it impossible for him to carry it. Upon the hilltop Idumban spotted a little boy wearing only kowpeenam and demanded that he vacate at once so that Idumban could proceed with his task. The boy at his abode in Palani, refused and in the fierce battle that followed Idumban was slain but was later restored to life by Lord Subrahmanya.
Idumban on realizing that the boy as none other than his Ishta Devata Sri Subrahmanya Swamy, prostrated and prayed to Him that whosoever carried on his shoulders the Kavadi signifying the two hills should be blessed by Lord Subrahmanya and he (i.e Idumban) should be given the privilege of standing at the entrance to the hill. Hence we have Idumban shrine half- way up the hill where every pilgrim is expected to offer obeisance to Idumban before entering the temple