Karthika month is the most auspicious month in Hindu calendar. In this month we offer prayers to both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. There are two significant festivals in this month, one is ksheerabdhi dwadashi and the second one is Karthika pournami. Ksheerabdhi dwadashi is 12th lunar day, we offer prayers to Tulasi plant. The full moon day of the Karthika Month of the lunar calendar is one of the most auspicious days for a Hindu. The other names of Karthika Pournami are Deva Deepawali or Deva Diwali, Tripuri Purnima or Tripurari Purnima.
Kathika Pournami is also celebrated as the day on which Lord Vishnu incarnated as Matsya or Matsyavatram happened on Karthika Purnima. Matsyavatara was to save Manu from the MahaPralaya.
Karthika Deepam is one of the most ancient festivals that have been celebrated since ages according to Indian history. It is symbolic of the festival of lights in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and is dedicated to the infiniteness of The Almighty. In fact it is called “Chiru Deepavali”, means a minor Deepavali.
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Rituals during Karthika Deepam
Houses are cleaned and washed on this day. Floral patterns called ‘Kolams’ are made with rice flour paste in front of the house to welcome the deities of worship.
If possible many go for the ‘Nadi Sananm”, river bath, it is believed that Ganga enters all rivers in this month.
Lamps called ‘agal’ are then placed in front of God and are also used as decorations in the Kolams.
Fasts are kept until sunset and special dishes are prepared to be eaten after closing the fast.
The entire house is decorated with numerous lamps. Different patterns of lamps symbolic of mythological tales are used – Lakshmi villaku shaped like a woman with folded hands, Kuthu villaku shaped like a five petal flower and the Gajalakshmi villaku—the elephant lamp.
This festival also rejuvenates the sister-brother bond as sisters pray and fast for the long life and well-being of their brothers.
In Andhra Pradesh, on the day of full moon or Karthika pournami, a big lamp with 365 wicks is lit to ward off any evil and the holy text of Kartheeka puranam is recited to invite auspiciousness and good fortune.
This festival is celebrated with much pomp and glory at the Shiva temples. And lighting the lamps at the Shiva and Vishnu Temples is considered auspicious.
Small lamps with rice flour or wheat flour and pour cow ghee or sesame oil in that place a wick and light the lamps.
Donations to Brahmins or scholars is considered as good.
Amla fruit deepam is lit in Temples and near the Tulasi plant and Brahmins are given the “Danam of Amla Fruit”.
Performing Satyanarayana Vratam is considered auspicious and Rudrabhishekam for Lord Shiva too is performed on this day.
Woman folk in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have the tradition of keeping the lit ghee diya in a Banana stem and set it afloat in the river or in a plate of water at home.
Deepa Danam on this day is considered auspicious for a prosperous life
Legend
One of the great sacred texts, Mahabharata demonstrates the story behind the holiness of Karthik purnima. According to that, demon Taraka was killed by Kartikeya (Lord Shiva’s son). Tarakasura’s three sons – Taraksha, Kamalaksha and Vidyunmali. Usually demons are very intelligent and strong but they misuse their knowledge and powers.
These three demons performed a severe penance for Brahma and got a boon that they would live for thousand years in three strong, moving cities called as Tripuri and they could only be destructed by an arrow which makes the cities into one and sets them to fire.
After the end of thousand years of the negative rule of the three demons, the Gods went to Lord Shiva and prayed to him to demolish the asuras. Lord Shiva performed ‘Rudra Tandava’ (Dance of Lord Shiva which is like an earthquake and also known as ‘Dance of Destruction’). ‘Rudra Tandava’ rocked the three cities – ‘Tripuri’. Lord Shiva’s arrow pierce through the three asuras at a time and the fire from his third eye burnt ‘Tripuri’.
As a commemoration of the demolition of the demons which occured on the Full Moon day, the event is celebrated as Karthik Purnima or Tripuri Poornima. Kartik pournami is also called as Dev Diwali as it is a brighter day for the Gods who fought against the demons to destroy the evil powers of them.
Dev Deepavali
Dev Deepavali is celebrated in Varanasi and other northern parts of India. It is believed that Lord Shiva killed Tripurasura on Karthika Purnima and hence Gods celebrated by lighting diyas. In Varansi all the Ghats are lighted with diyas. It is a visual delight. Not only the Ghats but almost all the houses in Varanasi also decorated with diyas.
Tripura Purnima
Lord Shiva killed the demon Tripurasura on Karthika Purnima and hence the name Tripura Purnima or Tipurari Purnima.
Karthika Purnima is also the birth day of Sri Guru Nanak and is celebrated with great devotion by Sikhs.
Even for Jains Karthika Purnima is a big festival and is celebrated with great devotion.
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