Karthika Pournami Festival Story And Its Significance

Karthika Pournami Festival Story, Why Do We Celebrate Karthika Pournami Festival, Celebration of Karthika Pournami Festival, Karthika Pournami Festival significance, Karthika Pournami Festival history, importance of Karthika Pournami Festival, how to celebrate Karthika Pournami festival, Kartik purnima Festival significance, Rituals on Karthika Pournami, Rituals on Kartik Purnima, fasting on Karthika Pournami, fasting on Kartik Purnima, Karthika Pournami vratam, Kartik Purnima vratam

 The full moon day of the Karthika Month of the lunar calendar is one of the most auspicious days for a Hindu. Karthika Month is the only month in which both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are worshipped. Karthika Pouranmi or Karthika Purnima is also one of the days when the temples of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are full with the devotees wanting a darshan of their deities.
The other names of Karthika Pournami are Deva Deepawali or Deva Diwali, Tripuri Purnima or Tripurari Purnima.
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Kathika Purnima is also clebrated as the day on which Lord Vishnu incarnated as Matsya or Matsyavatram happened 之on Karthika Purnima. Matsyavatara was to save Manu from the MahaPralaya.

Dev Deepawali or Deva Deepavali

Dev Deepawali is celebrated in Varanasi and other northern parts of India. It is believed that Lord Shiva killed Tripurasura on Karthika Purnima and hence Gods celebrated by lighting diyas. In Varansi all the Ghats are lighted with diyas. It is a visual delight. Not only the Ghats but almost all the houses in Varanasi also decorated with diyas.

Tripura Purnima
Lord Shiva killed the demon Tripurasura on Karthika Purnima and hence the name Tripura Purnima or Tipurari Purnima. Karthika Purniam is also associated with Prabodini Ekadasi. Prabodini Ekadasi marks the end of the four month long Chaturmas Vrat. A lot of fairs and festivities which begin on Prabodini Ekadasi end on Karthika Purnima.

Legend Behind Karthika Pournami-Kathika Purnima:
One of the great sacred texts, Mahabharata demonstrates the story behind the holiness of Karthik purnima. According to that, demon Taraka was killed by Kartikeya (Lord Shiva’s son). Tarakasura’s three sons – Taraksha, Kamalaksha and Vidyunmali. Usually demons are very intelligent and strong but they misuse their knowledge and powers.


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These three demons performed a severe penance for Brahma and got a boon that they would live for thousand years in three strong, moving cities called as Tripuri and they could only be destructed by an arrow which makes the cities into one and sets them to fire.

After the end of thousand years of the negative rule of the three demons, the Gods went to Lord Shiva and prayed to him to demolish the asuras. Lord Shiva performed ‘Rudra Tandava’ (Dance of Lord Shiva which is like an earthquake and also known as ‘Dance of Destruction’). ‘Rudra Tandava’ rocked the three cities – ‘Tripuri’. Lord Shiva’s arrow pierce through the three asuras at a time and the fire from his third eye burnt ‘Tripuri’.

As a commemoration of the demolition of the demons which occured on the Full Moon day, the event is celebrated as Karthik Purnima or Tripuri Poornima. Kartik pournami is also called as Dev Diwali as it is a brighter day for the Gods who fought against the demons to destroy the evil powers of them.

Rituals on Karthika Pournami-Kathika Purnima
Nadi Snanam or River Bath
The common rituals of Karthika Purnima are having a river bath and praying to Lord Shiva and observing a fast for the whole day. Devotees would prefer to have a bath in the holy rivers as it is believed that by simply performing the Nadi Snan or river bath in the Karthika Month one gets a lot of virtue and if it is on Karthika Purnima the virtue is multi folded.
If a devotee is able to perform the Tripura Purnima Snan, the bath that is performed in Varanasi in the holy river Ganga it is believed that the virtue of the bath would bring Salvation. All the steps in the Ghats of the river Ganga in Varanasi are lit with diyas.

Lighting of Lamps in Temple or Near Tulasi
Devotees would visit the temple of Lord Shiva and lit lamps. A pack of 365 wicks is usually lit. Each wick is for each day of the year.
Some devotees would light a wick on the floats made from the stems of the Banana Tree and set it afloat on the river.
Few devotees would also give Deepa Danam or donate a lit diya.
Devotees also would lit the diya infront of Tulasi plant, where the idols of Radha and Krishna are kept.

Performing of SatyaNarayana Vratam
One of the most auspicious days for performing the Satya Narayana Swamy Vrat is Karthika Purnima. Karthika Purnima is one of the favorite days of Lord Vishnu.Hence devotees would prefer and try their level best to perform the SatyaNarayana Vrat on Karthika Purnima. The virtue of performing the SatyaNarayana Vrat on Karthika Purnima is multi folded when compared to performing the same on other days.

Performing of Ekadasi Rudra Abhishekam
Almost all the temples of Lord Shiva would perform the Ekadasi Rudra Abhishekam on Karhika Purnima. It is bathing Lord Shiva by chanting the Rudra Chamakam and Rudra Namakam Eleven times. Before performing the Ekadasa Rudra Abhishekam the body has to be cleansed by reciting the Mahanyasam.It is believed that by performing the Ekadasi Rudra Abhishekam on Karthika Purnima one would get free of all the sins and would get salvation.

Karthika masam Vratas & festivals

karthika masam is very auspicious and sacred for both saiva and vaishnava devotees and the devotees indulge in month long prayers to the gods apart from various rituals and customs. The devotees observe karthika masa vratham also and get good life and moksha. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the karthika month which coincides with krithika star.

 Karthika masam starts just the day after Deepavali Amavasya. Karthika month is the favorite month for Lord Shiva amongst all 12 months.During Karthika Masa, devotees execute various rituals and customs. They observe karthika Masa Vratam. One really should stick to the rituals to direct a good life and to get Moksha. Danams like swarna, Vastra, Cow will give good results. Upavasams to be performed on Mondays.

Sivasya Hrudayum Vishnuhu, VIshnusya Hrudaygaum Shiva

Etha Shivamayor Vishnu, EEvam Vishnu Maya Shivaha

During Karthika Masam it helps the devotee to understand and embrace within himself that there is no difference between Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva and that both are one.

Karthika masam / Karthika masam is the most auspicious month to our hindus. kartika masam starts the day after Deepavali, the festival of diyas or deepam. Kartika masam is very auspicious and gets us spiritual bliss when we worship Lord vishnu/Shiva. There are many important pooja procedures to be done during this period like Ksheerabdhi dwadasi pooja/ Kartika deepam or Kartika pournami pooja, lighting the lamps near Tulasi kota and doing nitya poojas to Goddess Tulasi, Chanting vishnu sahsranamam or shiva sahasranamam, atleast daily chanting of shiva stotras, fasting on mondays and meditating on Lord shiva.According to kalidharma and kaladharmam we are not able to follow each and every ritual according to Kartika puranam, but atleast we can adapt some rituals and do simple pooja with scuchi and subratha. 

Damodara Month Holiest Spiritual Month

Kartik (Damodar)...The Holiest Month...
Kartik (Damodar) is the best, the purest of purifiers, and most glorious of all months. Kartik month is particularly dear to Lord Sri Krishna. This month is full of bhakta vatsalya. Any vrata, even the smallest, will yield huge results. The effect of performing a Kartik Vrata lasts for one hundred lifetimes, Kartik or the festival of offering lamps to Lord Krishna, glorifies Lord Krishna’s pastime of being bound with ropes by Mother Yashoda.

Everybody should follow following practices in Kartik (Damodar) month:

1. Daily offer a ghee lamp to Krishna and sing the Damodarastakam, meditating on meaning.

2. One should always remember Supreme Lord Hari. Devotees should try to do more Harinam Chanting. Do extra rounds and more kirtana.

3. Hear Srimad Bhagavatam, daily in association of exalted Vaisnavas, if possible. All other duties should be given up in favor of hearing the scriptures from sadhus during this month. It is most beneficial to recite and read Gajendra Moksha Lila-stava from 8th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, which teaches complete surrender/dependence of Supreme Lord.

4. Eat only prasadam.

5. Daily recite Siksastaka of Sriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and meditate on its meaning. Read the commentary on Sikastaka by Bhaktivinod Thakur.

6. Daily Read the the Updeshamrata of Srila Rupa Goswami .

7. Daily offer lamp to Tulsi devi and pray for eternal residence in Vrndavana and eternal service of the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna. Do 4 parikrama (circumbulation) of Tulasi.

8. Make nice offerings for Krishna. Devotees should observe the festival of Annakuta, Giriraj Govardhan Puja.

9. Associate more with devotees.

10. Practice brahmacharya – celibacy.

11. Perform austerities.

Following are excerpts from some scriptures (Puranas) describing the glory of the pious Kartik month:

“If somebody performs even a little worship of Lord Shri Hari in this month, He offers that devotee His own abode.”

“If somebody burns a lamp in the temple of Lord Shri Hari even for a short time (in the month of Kartik), then whatever sins, he has acquired for millions of kalpas (one kalpa equals 1000 yugas) are all destroyed.”

“A person, who for the entire month of Kartik eats only once a day, becomes very famous, powerful and heroic.”

“A person who happily reads the Bhagavad Gita in the month of Kartik does not return to the world of birth and death.”

“Of all gifts, the gift of a lamp during the month of Kartik is the best. No gift is its equal.”

“The pious result obtained by bathing in all holy places and giving all charities is not equal to one ten-millionth part of the result obtained by following the vow of Kartik."

Damodarastakam : Must sing during Kartik month

(1) namāmīśvaraḿ sac-cid-ānanda-rūpaḿ , lasat-kuṇḍalaḿ gokule bhrājamanam
yaśodā-bhiyolūkhalād dhāvamānaḿ, parāmṛṣṭam atyantato drutya gopyā

(2) rudantaḿ muhur netra-yugmaḿ mṛjantam, karāmbhoja-yugmena sātańka-netram
muhuḥ śvāsa-kampa-trirekhāńka-kaṇṭha-, sthita-graivaḿ dāmodaraḿ bhakti-baddham

(3) itīdṛk sva-līlābhir ānanda-kuṇḍe, sva-ghoṣaḿ nimajjantam ākhyāpayantam
tadīyeṣita-jñeṣu bhaktair jitatvaḿ , punaḥ prematas taḿ śatāvṛtti vande

(4) varaḿ deva mokṣaḿ na mokṣāvadhiḿ vā , na canyaḿ vṛṇe ‘haḿ vareṣād apīha
idaḿ te vapur nātha gopāla-bālaḿ , sadā me manasy āvirāstāḿ kim anyaiḥ

(5) idaḿ te mukhāmbhojam atyanta-nīlair , vṛtaḿ kuntalaiḥ snigdha-raktaiś ca gopyā
muhuś cumbitaḿ bimba-raktādharaḿ me , manasy āvirāstām alaḿ lakṣa-lābhaiḥ

(6) namo deva dāmodarānanta viṣṇo , prasīda prabho duḥkha-jālābdhi-magnam
kṛpā-dṛṣṭi-vṛṣṭyāti-dīnaḿ batānu , gṛhāṇeṣa mām ajñam edhy akṣi-dṛśyaḥ

(7) kuverātmajau baddha-mūrtyaiva yadvat , tvayā mocitau bhakti-bhājau kṛtau ca
tathā prema-bhaktiḿ svakāḿ me prayaccha , na mokṣe graho me ‘sti dāmodareha

(8) namas te ‘stu dāmne sphurad-dīpti-dhāmne, tvadīyodarāyātha viśvasya dhāmne
namo rādhikāyai tvadīya-priyāyai , namo ‘nanta-līlāya devāya tubhyam

TRANSLATION

1) To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who I (due to the offense of breaking the pot of yogurt that His mother was churning into butter and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing) is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed--to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.

2) (Seeing the whipping stick in His mother's hand) He is crying and rubbing His eyes again and again with His two lotus hands. His eyes are filled with fear, and the necklace of pearls around His neck, which is marked with three lines like a conch shell, is shaking because of His quick breathing due to crying. To this Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, whose belly is bound not with ropes but with His mother's pure love, I offer my humble obeisances.

3) By such childhood pastimes as this He is drowning the inhabitants of Gokula in pools of ecstasy, and is revealing to those devotees who are absorbed in knowledge of His supreme majesty and opulence that He is only conquered by devotees whose pure love is imbues with intimacy and is free from all conceptions of awe and reverence. With great love I again offer my obeisances to Lord Damodara hundreds and hundreds of times.

4) O Lord, although You are able to give all kinds of benedictions, I do not pray to You for the boon of impersonal liberation, nor the highest liberation of eternal life in Vaikuntha, nor any other boon (which may be obtained by executing the nine processes of bhakti). O Lord, I simply wish that this form of Yours as Bala Gopala in Vrndavana may ever be manifest in my heart, for what is the use to me of any other boon besides this?

5) O Lord, Your lotus face, which is encircled by locks of soft black hair tinged with red, is kissed again and again by mother Yasoda, and Your lips are reddish like the bimba fruit. May this beautiful vision of Your lotus face be ever manifest in my heart. Thousands and thousands of other benedictions are of no use to me.

6) O Supreme Godhead, I offer my obeisances unto You. O Damodara! O Ananta! O Vishnu! O master! O my Lord, be pleased upon me. By showering Your glance of mercy upon me, deliver this poor ignorant fool who is immersed in an ocean of worldly sorrows, and become visible to my eyes.

7) O Lord Damodara, just as the two sons of Kuvera--Manigriva and Nalakuvara--were delivered from the curse of Narada and made into great devotees by You in Your form as a baby tied with rope to a wooden grinding mortar, in the same way, please give to me Your own prema-bhakti. I only long for this and have no desire for any kind of liberation.

8) O Lord Damodara, I first of all offer my obeisances to the brilliantly effulgent rope which binds Your belly. I then offer my obeisances to Your belly, which is the abode of the entire universe. I humbly bow down to Your most beloved Srimati Radharani, and I offer all obeisances to You, the Supreme Lord, who displays unlimited pastimes