Significance of Karthika Masam
Karthika Masam is a month of long festival, considered to be the propitious and holiest month for Hindus. Karthika Masam is derived from a star called “krithika”. It is also said to be the favourite month of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
During Karthika Masam a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure will exert its influence through the sign Scorpio-Libra. These stars will be in the shape of scissors. The term Karthika is represented symbolically as the Krittikas who are the 6 mothers who feed the son of Lord Shiva – Kartikeya who again is 6 faced Kumara.
Karthika Masam begins from Aaswayuja sukla pournami up to one month on the day after Deepavali and also marks the beginning of winter season. It begins in the eight month of the year after the sun entering into Scorpio. There are several rituals and customs that have to be followed during this month. The most interesting fact is
Lord Vishnu goes to sleep on Ashadha suddha ekadashi and wakes-up on Karthika suddha ekadashi.
Karthika Snanam
In this season one should take bath 3 times a day. Water is only solvent which can wash not only all kind of physical impurities but also mental impurities and can cleanse the astral and emotional currents. Treating water as god or as a form of an energy (energy hidden in the atomic constituents) if we take bath by chanting those sacred hyms related Lord Varuna and this would refresh all the atomic substance of the body as well as mind.
Also it would benefit us in terms of both spiritual and mundane plane in many ways. It is the presence of that consciousness which makes the water as the universal solvent. Sacred waters are offered to Lord Shiva as offering in Abishekam. Especially in this month all the waters are charged with the special electro-magnetic currents hence bathing is very important in this month.
Daily Activities in this month
The Day Starts early in the morning by taking bath with cold water, going to temple, lighting deepam, fasting and saligrama pooja. The most auspicious days in this season are Mondays which is very important to Lord Shiva. As per the puranas it is believed that by performing the Kartika Masam Vratham we can drove away the past karmas and the sins committed can be destroyed.
Lighting Lamps with ghee made from the cow’s milk during the sunrise and sunset brings prosperity, wealth, health into our lives. It also burns the material desires in between our birth and death.
Story of Karthika
Also Tulasi plant is prayed and worshiped daily by lighting a deepam during this month. There is story behind this Tulasi came as a sister of Goddess Lakshmi when amrita Mantham Ocean is churned. Tulasi wanted to marry Lord Vishnu but Lakshmi did not like this and cursed her to become a plant. But Lord Vishnu took pity and for fulfilling her wish he gave a boon that when he is in form of saligram, tulasi will be close to him. On Kartika Shukla Dwadashi Tulasi plant is decorated and prayed.
Karthika Somavar
Monday’s in Karthika masam is special according to the Skanda puranam. One of the name of Lord Shiva is Soma, the Lord Someshvara, Who wears the soma, the waning moon on the matted hair.
The normal process of Karthika Somavara Vratham would be to fast for the whole day, perform the Rudra Abhishekam by chanting the Rudra Namakam and Rudra Chamakam. Then eat after seeing the stars.
Damodara Pooja
Lord Damodara is worship of Lord Vishnu is Lord Shiva temple. Because it is during this month Lord Vishnu prays Lord Shiva and vice versa. Both the lords are like the state of being aware of self existence and the world around. They are like circle and the point which are inseparable, when there is a circle there is centre unless there is a centre there is no circle.
Centre of self existence is called Lord Shiva and the circumference of other existences is called Lord Vishnu thus one who worships both as one attains the highest state of nirvana that is observing the every form in the world as your own image.
On the last day, light deepam with 31 wicks (mainly with puvvu vottulu 31 mainly because for the whole Karthika Masam) on a banana trunk or plantain stem (aarti dimma) and leave in the river. If not possible to light deepam near the river you can also light a deepam near the tulasi plant at home and in a big tub place filled with water and place the deepam.
