Karthika Deepam () is a Hindu festival of lights. It is mainly observed by Tamils in India, Sri Lanka and other regions with significant Tamil diaspora. It is celebrated on the first full moon day of the month of Kartika coinciding with Kṛttikā nakshatra, falling on the Gregorian months of November or December. Though it corresponds to the Kartik Purnima, it falls on a different day due to the correction of in the Tamil calendar.
The festival is associated with Shaivism, commemorates the origin of Kartikeya and Shiva's manifestation as Jyotirlinga. In Kerala, it is celebrated as Thrikarthika, in honour of goddess Parvati.
History
One of the earliest references to the festival is found in the
Tamil literature Akanaṉūṟu, dating back to the
Sangam period (200 BCE to 300 CE). The festival is referred in songs of poetess Avvaiyar.
The festival is also referred in the Sangam literature as
Peruviḻa.
Theology
According to the
Skanda Purana, three
(a race of celestial beings) Surapadman, Tarakasuran, and Singamukhan performed austerities to propitiate god
Shiva. Shiva granted them various boons which gave them near-immortality and the ability to conquer the
Trailokya.
They subsequently started a reign of tyranny in their respective realms which forced the celestial beings devas to plead with Shiva for his assistance. In response, Shiva manifested five additional heads and a divine spark emerged from each of the six heads. The sparks were carried by wind-god
Vayu, and fire-god
Agni to
Ganges river. The water in the Ganga started evaporating due to intense heat, and so the goddess Ganga took them to the Saravana lake, where each of the sparks developed into a baby boy.
The six boys were raised by
known as the Kṛttikās and they were later fused into one by
Parvati, thus giving rise to the six-headed
Kartikeya.
As per
Hindu mythology, the six Kṛttikās–Śiva, Sambhūti, Prīti, Sannati, Anasūya, and Kṣamā,
who helped in rearing the child, were granted with
immortality by Shiva and transformed to become eternal stars in the sky as a part of the
Pleiades star cluster.
The festival commemorates the Kṛttikās and the day Parvati united the six forms of Kartikeya.
According to the Shiva Purana, Brahma (god of creation) and Vishnu (god of preservation) had an argument over their supremacy.[
] Vishnu failed in his search of the feet and returned, honest about the outcome of his quest. However, Brahma chanced upon a Pandanus flower falling down from Shiva's head and presented the same to Shiva claiming that he had seen Shiva's head. The dishonesty of Brahma angered Shiva, causing him to curse the creator deity that he would not be worshipped; he also declared that Vishnu would be eternally worshipped for his honesty.
Occurrence
Karthika Deepam is a festival of lights observed mainly by
Hindu Tamils in India, Sri Lanka and other regions with significant
Tamil diaspora.
The festival is celebrated on the first full moon day of the month of Kartika coinciding with Kṛttikā
nakshatra, falling on the Gregorian months of November or December.
Though it corresponds to the
Kartik Purnima, it falls on a different day due to the correction of
in the
Tamil calendar.
In
Kerala, the festival is known as Thrikarthika, and is celebrated in as a form of veneration to goddess
Parvati.
Practices
On the occasion of the festival, people light clay oil lamps.
The oil lamps are considered auspicious symbols and is believed to ward off evil forces, and usher in prosperity and joy.
People also burst
fire crackers, and exchange sweets.
Maavali is a traditional firework made from burnt
palmyra flowers and spun around to create sparks.
In Hindu temples, special pujas are performed and a lamp cauldron is usually lit to commemorate the festival.
On the occasion of Thrikarthika, oil lamps are lit after sunset. The lamps are decorated by leaves from coconut and mango trees and placed on banana stems. Special dishes are prepared, and offerings are made to cattle.
See also
Thiruvathira
External links
