Category: Karthika Masam

Karthika Masam is very sacred for both the devotees of Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva. Of all the months in the year, the Karthika Masam plays a very dominant role in the spiritual life of a Woman. As per the Holy Scriptures, Karthika is considered one of the most auspicious months of the year in which the devotees get an opportunity to get rid of all their evil deeds and adopt a pure way of life by praying to Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu.

Worship of Lord Vishnu - Karthika Masam

Worship of Lord Vishnu – Karthika Masam

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Karthika Masam

Karthika Masam is also called Damodara Masa. As per the Puranic saying “Alankarapriyo Vishnuh’, Lord Vishnu is very fond of ‘Alankara’.

A devotee would like to see Him in a resplendent dress with beautiful ornaments and decorated garlands.

Tulasi – Greatness

In the Padma Purana in Uttara Khanda, Lord Krishna says that of all plants, Tulasi is most sacred to Him, the Karthika is most dear of all months, Dwaraka is most sacred of all places of pilgrimage and Ekadashi is most important of all days for Him.

Tulasi is always associated with purity and a highly revered and used for all religious purposes among the Hindus. Lighting the lamp near a Tulasi plant gives the devotees health, prosperity, and deliverance from all sins.

Panchamrit

Abhishekam of Lord Vishnu with the waters of the holy rivers and with the ‘Panchamrit’ comprising milk, ghee, curd, honey, and sugar is of utmost importance during the month.

The devotees obtain freedom from want, disease, discontent, and adversity in this month by reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra chanting the Narayana Mantra, and reading Gajendra Moksha from the Bhagavatam.

Worship of Lord Siva - Karthika Masam

Worship of Lord Siva – Karthika Masam

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Karthika Masam

Karthika Masam is the favorite month of Lord Siva. Monday is very auspicious for Lord Siva. On Mondays, the Women worship Him with special Puja and Abhishekam. It is believed that Lord Siva resides in the Bilva tree and its fruit.

The chanting of ‘Om Namah Sivaya’ always works miracles in the spiritual life of a devotee.

The Siva Sahasranama Strotra is being chanted during this month. It is believed that all the places of pilgrimage dwell in the Bilva-leaf. Lord Siva is believed to have his Abode in the roots of the Bilva tree. The Puranic saying ‘Abhishekapriyah Sivah’ means that Lord Siva is fond of Abhisheka.  Without Abhisheka, worship of Lord Siva is incomplete.

In the temples of Lord Siva, a pot made up of copper or brass with a hole in the center is kept hanging over the image of the Siva Linga and the waterfalls on the image throughout the day and night. Pouring water, milk, ghee, curd, honey, coconut water, and panchamrita over the Linga is Abhisheka.

The process of Abhishekha pacifies His third fiery eye. Abhishekam grants the devotees health, wealth, prosperity, and happiness and protects progeny.

A devotee who worships the roots of the Bilva tree with water attains Salvation since it is equal to Abhishekam to Lord Siva.

Lord Shiva

Bhakta Kannappa – Abhishekam

Bhakta Kannappa, a great devotee of Lord Siva, and a hunter by profession, did Abhisheka with water from his mouth for the Linga at Kalahasti in Chittoor District and propitiated Lord Siva.

Lord Siva is pleased with his innocent and pure devotion. It is the inner emotion that counts always and not the external manifestation.

Many devotees observe ‘Karthika Somavara Vratham’. Tree worship (Amla tree) has been an element of modern Hindu tradition since time immemorial. There are many trees which are considered sacred. The Peepal tree symbolizes the Trinity i.e., Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Siva. Shastras say that –

Moolatho Brahma roopaya madhyatho
Vishnu roopine
agrasya Siva roopaya Vruksha
rajayete namah

Banana Tree

In the Gita Lord Krishna says: Of all trees, I am the holy fig tree Aswattha (Aswatthah sarva Vruksanam). The banana tree is very sacred and the trunk it is used to erect at welcoming gates on auspicious occasions.

  • The leaves are used to make the ceremonial pavilion.
  • The leaves are used to serve ‘prasadam’.
  • It is believed that offering the leaves of a banana pleases Lord Ganesa and the Sun god.

Banana Tree

Bilva Tree

Banana fruit is offered to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laksmi. Planting pious trees like ‘Bilva’, ‘Amla’, and ‘Banana’ around the home or temple purifies the environment.

The ‘Tripatra’ of the Bilva tree is believed to symbolize the three functions of the Almighty namely the creation, preservation, and destruction. It also symbolizes the three eyes of Lord Siva.

The offering of the Bilva leaves is a compulsory ritual while worshipping Lord Siva.

Also Read – Karthika Masam – things to do 

*Data Source – Saptagiri Magazine

Karthika Masam - Things to do

Karthika Masam – Things to do

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Activities / Things to do during Karthika Masam

The Karthika Masam gives equal importance to both Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu. Through the ‘Deepaaraadhana’, the devotee finds not only the visible Jyoti in the lamp but also the invisible Jyoti that is all-pervading and everlasting.

The practice of good conduct and long austerity in the ‘Karthika Masa’ ushers in yielding the best results. 

There are many rituals and vrathams associated with Karthika Masam. But the important ones that come to mind when the name Karthika Masam is mentioned are as follows.

Significance of Bath

During this month one should wake up before sunrise and bath in the river (if possible), and should light a diya in front of the Tulasi plant and also light a lamp in a temple.

Each day of this month is sacred / belongs to a particular Devatha and thus one should chant the name of the Lord and fast to seek God’s full blessings. It is said that even if you see the dhupam in the temple of Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu during Karthika Pournami, it will bring a lot of good to you.

Govinda namasmarana gives the devotees undefinable divine bliss. Gita Parayana is considered an important ritual during this month. Usually, the holy water of ‘Akasa Ganga’ is used for the ‘Abhishekam’ (sacred bath) to Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala.

Help the Needy

It is also a sacred month to give ‘danam’ to the needy and poor. Thus each day of Karthika Masam is special and auspicious.

Lighting of Diya

It is considered auspicious to light a diya in front of the Tulasi plant and front of the house as it brings good to us.

Nadi Snanam (Bathing in the river)

In this month Goddess of rivers – the Ganga enters into all rivers and makes them as pious as the Ganga.

In the month of Karthika, the dips in the holy rivers gain the utmost significance. Sacred bath washes all kinds of physical and mental impurities. It cleanses the astral and emotional feelings.

In the month of Karthika, the water is charged with special electromagnetic power before the Sunrise. So, taking a bath before sunrise cures stomach, liver and other general disorders. Taking a cold bath is always preferable to a hot water bath for obtaining ‘Punyam’.

While observing the baths in the Karthikamasa, one should recite the following sloka:

Karthikeham karishyami prathah
snaanam Janardhana|
Preethyartha tava devesha
Damodara maya sahah||

(Janardhana! Deveswara! Damodara! I am performing my early morning bath to please You and Goddess Lakshmi)

Vanabhojanam

Vanabhojana is also an important aspect of Karthika Masa. It is auspicious to take food under the ‘Amla’ tree in a forest or garden.
By doing so, devotees will get rid of all ‘Doshas’ which they accumulate by eating outside food without proper prayer.

It is believed that Lord Vishnu and Devi Lakshmi reside under Amla tree during this month. Hence people cook food, offer it to God and thus eat it under that tree.

Worship of Lord Shiva

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Worship of Lord Vishnu

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Satya Narayana Vratam

One of the easiest of all, this Vratam is done on Karthika pournami day to seek the blessings of Lord Vishnu.

Performing Ekadasa Rudra Abhishekam

Devotees of Lord Siva perform it for the whole month of Karthika.

Karthika Somavara Vratam

On all Mondays, one fasts for the whole day chanting Rudra Namakam to please Lord Siva.

Nattalu / Natta Vratam

One observes fasting for the whole day and eats only after seeing the stars. This process is performed for the whole month is called Natta Vratam / Nattalu.

Thus these are some of the major attributes to be performed in the Karthika Masam.

Karthika Masam is thus a very sacred month. It is the month of brightness. The lighting of Diya (deepam) brings brightness not only to the world around us but also lights the diya of “Gnana” within us. This month tries to teach us one simple. Truth – “Worshipping God is the best way to attain moksha”.

Karthika Masam

Karthika Masam

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Karthika Masam

Karthika Masam is very sacred for both the devotees of Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva.

The story goes that, Lord Siva killed Tripurasuras on Karthika Pournami and protected the world. On the other hand, Lord Vishnu goes to yogic sleep on Ashadha Suddha Ekadashi and wakes up on Karthika Suddha Ekadashi.

In this month, the Tulasi plant is decorated and a Diya (deepam) is placed in front of it and is prayed.

Karthika Masam – Dakshinayana

The Indian lunar calendar is divided into two “Ayanas”, each Ayana consisting of six months. One is called ‘Dakshinayana’ and the other is called ‘Uttarayana’. Among them, Karthika Masam comes under Dakshinayana which is best suited for sadhana (i.e. to attain salvation).

Karthika Masam

Importance of Karthika Masam

Of all the months in the year, the Karthika Masam plays a very dominant role in the spiritual life of a Woman. As per the Holy Scriptures, Karthika is considered one of the most auspicious months of the year in which the devotees get an opportunity to get rid of all their evil deeds and adopt a pure way of life by praying to Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu.

In the Padma Purana in Uttara Khanda, Lord Siva explains to Goddesses Parvati the greatness of Lord Vishnu as –

Sri Rama Rama Rameti Rame Raame
monorame
Sahasranama tat tulyam Rama nama
varaanane.

(I chant the holy name of Rama, Rama, Rama, and thus constantly enjoy this beautiful sound. This holy name is equal to one thousand holy names of Lord Vishnu.)

Karthika Puja – ‘Damodara Puja and ‘Siva puja’.

Karthika Puja is called ‘Damodara Puja and ‘Siva puja’. The temple of Lord Sri Satyanarayana Swami located at Annavaram in East Godavari District, A.P. is the best example of the unification of Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, and Lord Vishnu. The Lord is called ‘Hari Hara Hiranyagarbha Trimurtyathmaka Swaroopulu’.

During the Karthika Masam holy bath, meditation, and charity, are some of the religious ceremonies being performed and the one who performs them gets relief from all sins. The devotees take baths in the holy rivers early in the morning and worship Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu.