Kartika Purnima / Kartika Pournami
The names of Hindu calendar months are derived from a particular Nakshatra which occurs on the day of the Poornima.
The months of Chaitra, Visakha, Jyeshta, Aashada, Sravana, Bhadrapada, Ashvaija, Krithika, Mrugasirsha, Pushya, Magha and Phalguna derive their names from the corresponding stars that occur on the day of Poornima of the month.
For example, Chaitra Poornima is a famous Hindu festival day when Chitra Nakshatra and Poornima join together. The star may occur one or two days before or after the day of Poornima.
All Poornima days are connected with some festival in temples or celebrations by Hindus. Poornima has special significance with several deities. Poornima days that occur on Vaisaka, Krithika, Pushya, and Magha are connected with Lord Subrahmanya.
In the temples of Tamil Nadu, Vaikasi Visakam (Vaisaka). Aadi Karthika (Jyeshta), Maasi Magham (Magha) and Panguni Uthiram (Phalguna) are festival days for Lord Subrahmanya.
Sriman Narayana dwells in the light and He is verily the light. In Vishnu Sahasranama, He is praised as the ‘Light’.
Sravana Poornima is celebrated throughout Kerala as Onam which is a social festival like Diwali, when Lord Vishnu is worshipped. Sravana (Thiruvonam) is considered the birth star of Lord Maha Vishnu. In Tirumala temple on every Pournami day special Garuda Seva called Punnami Garuda Seva is held.
The month of Karthika has a special significance in many ways. Throughout the month, Hindus take holy dip in rivers. This is venerated as Karthik Snan. Karthik Somavar (Mondy) is considered auspicious and devotees visit the Shiva temple every Monday of the month for special worship.
Legend says that on a Monday of Karthik month, Lord Shiva removed the curse by Daksha Prajapati to Chandra and blessed him with the privilege of adorning His head.
Kartika Purnima is associated with Prabodhini Ekadasi marking the end of Chaturmasya vratha (four-month religious observance). Lord Vishnu is in yoga nidhra during these four months and on Probodhini Ekadasi day he wakes up from His sleep.
Next to Deepavali, Kartika Purnima day popularly known as Thirukarthika assumes importance as on both these festivals lighting of lamps gains importance. There are several Puranic legends and traditional beliefs behind the festival of Karthika Pournami which is celebrated by all the people (devotees) at home and in the temples as a festival of lights.
It is said that, on the auspicious Kartika Purnima day, Lord Shiva appeared as a colossal column of fire in front of Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu to demonstrate His superiority.
Legends say that, during Vamana Avatar Lord Mahavishnu appeared before Mahabali who was the grandson of the great Baghavata, Prahlada, and got three steps as a gift, to subdue the tyrant King. Mahavishnu measured the earth by one step, covered the heavens with another step and placed His third step on the head of Bali as enjoined by him and pushed the King into the earth.
However, the Lord gave him a boon to visit the earth for ten days. Legend says that during Karthika King Mahabali visits the earth to see his people. The same legend is observed in Kerala where the people celebrate Onam (Shravana month Thiruvonam asterism) as the day when Mahabali visits the earth.
Karthika Pournami day or Thirukarthika in Thiruvannamali temple in Tamil Nadu is a very grand festival attracting lakhs of devotees, where it is believed Lord Shiva revealed his holy form as a column of fire. Hinduism believes that every organic or inorganic thing is composed of one or more of five natural elements namely Earth (prithvi), Water (apa), Fire (agni), Air (Vayu) and Space (aakaash).
Pancha Bhuta Stalas
Lord Shiva to enlighten the people His divine presence is there in each of these elements manifested in five holy places which are called Pancha Bhuta Stalas.
He is worshipped
- as Earth in Kanchipuram,
- as water in Thiruvanaikaval,
- as fire in Thiruvannamalai,
- as air in Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh and
- as space in Chidambaram.
As the Lord manifested as fire in Thiruvannamalai there he is worshipped as Agni. Devotees adore this festival as Thiruvannamalai Deepam and worship the Lord in the form of an effulgent light atop the holy hill.
Thiruvannamalai – on Purnima Day
In Thiruvannamalai, on Pournami, Karthika Deepam day instead of a bonfire as in other temples, an immensely huge receptacle made of copper which is filled with nearly 3000 Kgs of ghee and a huge wick is lit on the 2700 feet hillock, and the light is visible for about 60 Km.
The wick burns for about seven days. On every Pournami day, thousands of devotees throng at Thiruvannamalai to circumambulate the holy hill of Arunachala which has in recent years become famous as Giri Valam.
Festivals in Karthika Masam
Yama Dwithiya is the first festival celebrated in Karthik Masam. We also call it ‘Bhagini Bhojanam’, also known as a brother-sister festival. Once, Lord Yama’s sister Yami (Yamuna Devi) was upset with her brother, and he granted a boon to her.
On the day of ‘Yama Dwithiya’ whoever eats food in their sister’s home will be relieved of sins and would not be facing torture in hell. This ritual is still in practice and brothers come and eat in their sister’s house and give/receive blessings.
It is an auspicious festival to observe Naga Puja. It comes on the fourth day after Deepavali Amavasya. Nag Panchami and Nagasashti are also performed after Nagula Chavithi. It is a festival of serpent Gods and is mainly done by women. It is observed by married women for the well-being of their children.
They keep fast and perform Naga puja. Devotees offer milk, and fruits and offer Harathi near the putta(snake pits). Seven hooded cobras, an ‘Ashtanag’ is specially worshipped.
Karthika Pournami
Ekadasi fasting in Karthika Masam is a common procedure in every household. Lord Vishnu goes to sleep on Ashada Shuddha Ekadasi and wakes up on the Karthika Shuddha Ekadasi in ksheeraSamudra. People fast the whole day and break their fast the next day offering food and clothes to a Brahmin or Temple Priest.
In Karthika Masam, the Pournami that comes in Krithika Nakshatra (Star) is called as Karthika Pournami or Kartika Purnima. Fasting on Karthika Pournami day is equivalent to fasting on Shiva Rathri. Devotees fast the whole day. They light a 365 vatthula (cotton wicks) deepam to Lord Vishnu, have Darshan of the Moon and then only break their fast.
The last of Karthika Masam, after Amavasya, Poli Swargam Pooja is performed. The temple priest reads out the story and they are offered Vayanalu and swayampakalu. Deepam’s are kept on banana ribs or stems and are left in the lakes or canals. With this festival, Karthika Masam officially comes to an end.
It is observed in ‘Shravana Nakshatram’ which usually comes on pournami day in Karthika Masam. Rudrabhishekam, abhishekam and Lighting lamps to Goddess Parvathi and Lord Shiva are highly auspicious and will free the devotees of all their sins and keep them happy and free them from all diseases.
Fasting to both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva will surely fetch you Moksha. It is said in Hindu scriptures that Karthika Masam is a sin-destroying month. Satya Narayana Swamy gives his divine blessings if we conduct vratham during this month.
