Thirukarthigai/Karthigai Deepam comes on the tamil month Karthigai (mid November - mid December) on Pournami day (Full moon day). Throughout the month lamps are lit in the front of the house in the evening. On the Thirukarthigai / Karthigai Deepam day the whole house is decorated with the oil lamps. Thiruvannamalai is famous for Karthigai Deepam. Karthigai is on 1Øth December 2Ø19 for IST.
Story behind Karthigai
Once Brahma and Vishnu due to the ego started arguing with each other " who is the greatest". Both claimed to be the greatest, instead of doing their duty. At that time the God Shiva appeared in the form of fire and told them whoever finds the top or bottom of the fire is the greatest. Brahma took the form of Annam (a bird) and tried to find the top of the frle pillar. Vishnu took the form of Varaha( giant pig) and tried to see the bottom of the pillar. As the God has no limit in his size or power, both of them could not see either top or bottom of the fire. When their ego went down and they prayed the God, He appeared before them. The day in which the God appeared as a pillar of fire is Thirukarthigai / Karthigai Deepam. Lord Shiva appeared as a hill (Arunachala Hill) at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. Indeed, the very names `Tiruvannamalai' and `Arunachala' translate as `holy fire hill.' The Shivalinga in the temple here is the agni linga. The tiny lamps lit during the Karthigai festival (Karthigai Deepam) are believed to be the miniature replicas of the fire linga.
On this day, with specific astrological configuration, a special light splashes the entire earth plane with a karma dissolving light. Only the sages and evolved being can see this light as it is of a different frequency than what the human eye can detect. To replicate this spiritual happening a huge lamp is lit on the top of the mountain with several thousands of gallons of oil, hand carried by pilgrims coming from all over India. This viradham indicates the non measurable infiniteness of the God and shows that the God is the light that will drive away our ignorance. Lamps are lit in the houses to pray His "Jyothi Swarupam".
Another popular legend is that the day is the birthday of Lord Muruga.
Lord Muruga, also known as Skanda, Subrahamaniya and Kartik, was born as six different babies to Lord Shiva. The six babies were looked after by the Six Karthigai stars and the six children were later joined to a single force by Goddess Parvati.
Krittika is the six stars or the Pleiades cluster. As Muruga was born as six different babies and later joined into one He is popularly known as Aarumugan in Tamil culture.
The Ritual
On Thirukarthigai, clean your houses and draw kolam (rangoli) in the front of the house. Then place the lamp on it during Sun set. Before that, the lamps (Agal) must be placed in the pooja and lighted. After deeparathana is done yo can put the lamps in different places in the house. People of Tamil Nadu celebrate Karthigai Deepam for three days. Some people celebrate it, extending from the Deepavali festival. The number of lamps is doubled every day from the day of Diwali and they end up with numerous lamps on the day of Karthigai Deepam.
Guidelines for lighting lamp
· Ghee/ Sesame Oil or a mixture of oil and ghee can be used to light the lamp.
· Lamp is always a good omen – if someone gifts you a lamp, accept it whole-heartedly. If the lamp flickers, it is an auspicious sign.
· Always smear the lamp with vermillion and sandal powder.
· Offer flowers to the lamp.
Don’ts for lighting lamp
· Never place and light a lamp in the south direction. It will bring inauspicious events...
· After lighting the lamp don’t rub the excess oil on your hair; (it will make you loose your wealth) general belief. Also rubbing in your own dress is also not good. So keep a piece of cloth in your pooja room and rub the excess oil in it.
· Never keep any lamp directly on the kolam. Always keep it on a plate ( can be brass, silver not steel).
· If you like keep a few grains of raw rice below the lamp - this is necessary only when you do vilakku poojai etc & not necessary every day.
· Do not use Groundnut Oil.
Story behind Karthigai
On this day, with specific astrological configuration, a special light splashes the entire earth plane with a karma dissolving light. Only the sages and evolved being can see this light as it is of a different frequency than what the human eye can detect. To replicate this spiritual happening a huge lamp is lit on the top of the mountain with several thousands of gallons of oil, hand carried by pilgrims coming from all over India. This viradham indicates the non measurable infiniteness of the God and shows that the God is the light that will drive away our ignorance. Lamps are lit in the houses to pray His "Jyothi Swarupam".
Another popular legend is that the day is the birthday of Lord Muruga.
Lord Muruga, also known as Skanda, Subrahamaniya and Kartik, was born as six different babies to Lord Shiva. The six babies were looked after by the Six Karthigai stars and the six children were later joined to a single force by Goddess Parvati.
Krittika is the six stars or the Pleiades cluster. As Muruga was born as six different babies and later joined into one He is popularly known as Aarumugan in Tamil culture.
The Ritual
On Thirukarthigai, clean your houses and draw kolam (rangoli) in the front of the house. Then place the lamp on it during Sun set. Before that, the lamps (Agal) must be placed in the pooja and lighted. After deeparathana is done yo can put the lamps in different places in the house. People of Tamil Nadu celebrate Karthigai Deepam for three days. Some people celebrate it, extending from the Deepavali festival. The number of lamps is doubled every day from the day of Diwali and they end up with numerous lamps on the day of Karthigai Deepam.
Guidelines for lighting lamp
· Ghee/ Sesame Oil or a mixture of oil and ghee can be used to light the lamp.
· Lamp is always a good omen – if someone gifts you a lamp, accept it whole-heartedly. If the lamp flickers, it is an auspicious sign.
· Always smear the lamp with vermillion and sandal powder.
· Offer flowers to the lamp.
Arunachala Temple at Thiruvanamalai
Don’ts for lighting lamp
· Never place and light a lamp in the south direction. It will bring inauspicious events...
· After lighting the lamp don’t rub the excess oil on your hair; (it will make you loose your wealth) general belief. Also rubbing in your own dress is also not good. So keep a piece of cloth in your pooja room and rub the excess oil in it.
· Never keep any lamp directly on the kolam. Always keep it on a plate ( can be brass, silver not steel).
· If you like keep a few grains of raw rice below the lamp - this is necessary only when you do vilakku poojai etc & not necessary every day.
· Do not use Groundnut Oil.
Let the light of Karthigai Deepam illuminate the darkness of ignorance and unhappiness and bring in enlightenment to our lives with joy and prosperity to start the much awaited Golden Age.
~ VIJAYAKUMAR ALAGAPPAN www.iksacademy.com
No comments:
Post a Comment