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Karthika Deepam

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Karthika Deepam (Tamil: Kārtikai tīpam) is a Hindu festival of lights. It is mainly observed mainly by 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 equinoxes in the Tamil calendar. The festival is associated with Shaivism, is celebrated to commemorate the origin of Kartikeya, the Hindu god of war, and Shiva's manifestation as Jyotirlinga. In Kerala, it is celebrated as Thrikarthika, in honour of goddess Parvati.

Karthika Deepam
Oil lamps arranged on Kolam during Karthika Deepam
Observed byTamil and Malayali Hindus, and Caribbean Shaktism
TypeHindu
SignificanceShiva's manifestation as Jyotirlinga
Origin of Kartikeya
Veneration of Parvati
CelebrationsPuja, celebrations, lighting of bonfires and lamps
DateKṛttikā nakshatra in the Tamil month of Kartika
2023 date25 November
2024 date13 December
FrequencyAnnual
For other uses, see Karthika Deepam (disambiguation).

History

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One of the earliest references to the festival is found in the Tamil anthology Akanaṉūṟu, dating back to the Sangam period (200 BCE to 300 CE). The festival is referred in songs of poetess Avvaiyar.[1] The festival is also referred in the Sangam literature as Peruviḻa.[2]

Theology

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The Pleiades (Kṛttikā) constellation.

According to the Kanda Puranam, three asuras (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 three worlds.[3] 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 Ganga 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.[4] The six boys were raised by handmaidens known as the Kṛttikās and they were later fused into one by Parvati, thus giving rise to the six-headed Kartikeya.[5] As per Hindu mythology, the six Kṛttikās–Śiva, Sambhūti, Prīti, Sannati, Anasūya, and Kṣamā,[6] 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.[7] The festival commemorates the Kṛttikās and the day Parvati united the six forms of Kartikeya.[8][9]

According to the Shiva Purana, Brahma (the god of creation) and Vishnu (the god of preservation) had an argument over their supremacy. [10][11] To settle the debate, Shiva took the form of jyotirlinga, an infinite pillar of light.[12] Shiva declared that the dispute would be resolved if the two could discover his head and feet. Vishnu took the form of a boar Varaha and descended to locate his feet, while Brahma rode his swan Hamsa to locate his head.[13] 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.[14] The festival is celebrated to commemorate the manifestation of Shiva as jyothirlinga.[9]

Occurrence

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Karthika Deepam is a festival of lights observed mainly by Hindu Tamils in India, Sri Lanka and other regions with significant Tamil diaspora.[15] 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.[16] Though it corresponds to the Kartik Purnima, it falls on a different day due to the correction of equinoxes in the Tamil calendar.[17] In Kerala, the festival is known as Thrikarthika, and is celebrated in as a form of veneration to goddess Parvati.[18]

Practices

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Buildings are decorated with oil lamps during the festival.
 
A large ghee lamp is lit atop the Arunachala hill in Tiruvannamalai.

On the occasion of the festival, people light clay oil lamps.[19] The oil lamps are considered auspicious symbols and is believed to ward off evil forces, and usher in prosperity and joy.[20] People also burst fire crackers, and exchange sweets.[19] Maavali is a traditional firework made from burnt palmyra flowers and spun around to create sparks.[21][22]

In Hindu temples, special pujas are performed and a lamp cauldron is usually lit to commemorate the festival.[23] In Tiruvannamalai, the festival is marked by the lighting of a large ghee lamp atop the Arunachala hill.[19][24] Millions of devotees participate in the car festival of Arunachalesvara Temple at Tiruvannamalai and circumambulate the hill.[25][26]

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.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Glow of prosperity". The Hindu. 29 November 2001. Archived from the original on 5 January 2002.
  2. ^ V., Balambal (1998). Studies in the History of the Sangam Age. New Delhi: Kalinga Publications. p. 6. ISBN 978-8-18516-387-1.
  3. ^ Dalal, Roshen (18 April 2014). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin. p. 1190. ISBN 978-8-1847-5277-9.
  4. ^ Civarāman̲, Akilā (2006). Sri Kandha Puranam. Giri Trading. p. 55. ISBN 978-8-1795-0397-3.
  5. ^ T.K.R, Sridharan (2022). God and Science. Notion Press. ISBN 979-8-8870-4354-8.
  6. ^ Rai Bahadur Srisa; Chandra Vidyaranya (1918). The Sacred Books of the Hindus, Vol 21. The Panini Office (Bhuvaneswari Asrama). p. 29.
  7. ^ Andrews, Munya (2004). The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades: Stories from Around the World. Spinifex Press. p. 175. ISBN 978-1-876756-45-1. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  8. ^ Balfour, Edward (1885). The Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia: Commercial, Industrial and Scientific, Products of the Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal Kingdoms, Useful Arts and Manufactures. B. Quaritch. p. 511. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Karthigai festival". Government of Tamil Nadu. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  10. ^ J. L. Shastri (1950). "Battle between Brahmā and Viṣṇu". The Shiva Purana. Motilal Banarsidass.
  11. ^ Venugopalam, R. (2003). Meditation: Any Time Any Where (First ed.). B. Jain Publishers. pp. 92–113. ISBN 978-8-18056-373-7.
  12. ^ Gwynne, Paul (2009). World Religions in Practice: A Comparative Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell Publication. p. 271. ISBN 978-1-40516-702-4.
  13. ^ Pattanaik, Devdutt (2017). Devlok 2: 2. Random House Publishers. p. 126. ISBN 978-9-38649-515-0.
  14. ^ Gangashetty, Ramesh (2019). Thirtha Yatra: A Guide to Holy Temples and Thirtha Kshetras in India. Notion Press. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-68466-134-3.
  15. ^ Gajrani, S. (2004). History, Religion and Culture of India. Gyan Publishing House. p. 207. ISBN 978-8-18205-061-7. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  16. ^ Spagnoli, Cathy; Samanna, Paramasivam (1999). Jasmine and Coconuts: South Indian Tales. Libraries Unlimited. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-56308-576-5. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  17. ^ Naganath, Dr S. Srikanta Sastri, English Translation by S. (2022). Indian Culture: A Compendium of Indian History, Culture and Heritage. Notion Press. p. 374. ISBN 978-1-63806-511-1. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ a b "Thrikarthika". South tourism. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  19. ^ a b c Chitra Soundar (2018). Gateway to Indian Culture. Asiapac Book. p. 113. ISBN 978-9-81229-905-5.
  20. ^ "Significance of lighting a Diya". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  21. ^ Balasubramaniyan, A.D. (26 November 2015). "Maavali fading into oblivion". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  22. ^ Kabilan, Kannalmozhi (23 November 2021). "Making way for maavali". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Tiruvannamalai Karthigai Maha Deepam - The Story Behind, Significance, Pooja Procedure and Food Recipes". Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  24. ^ Ambujam Anantharaman (2006). Temples of South India. East West Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-8-18866-142-8.
  25. ^ "Tiruvannamalai karthigai deepam festival". Tamil Samayam (in Tamil). 6 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Lakhs witness Karthigai Deepam". The Hindu. 28 November 2012. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
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