Helpful Tips - On Karthika Masam Significance (151)

This section Helpful Tips is all about Frequently Arising Questions. Sri Narendra Babu Sharma widely known as Brahmanda Guruji, share the knowledge on general topics and Hindu Sanathana Dharma in his Television Programme - Lakshmi Kataksha, telecasted in Kasthuri Kannada Channel, which i have put in this section. Guruji also share information of knowledge on Vasthu Shastra and lot of Helpful stuffs. Many People have lot of doubts on Hindu Sanathana Dharma, which is also covered in this section.
Please do ask a priest or elders, if you have any doubts in below, who knows very well about our customs and practices and clarify the same.

• Introduction - Karthika Maasam:
  
  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 among 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. Dhanams 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 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 maadam and doing nitya poojas to Goddess Tulasi, Chanting Vishnu Sahasranamam or Shiva Sahasranamam, at least 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 at least we can adapt some rituals and do simple pooja with scuchi and subratha.
  
  Karthika Masam is considered highly auspicious and a sacred month for worshipping Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu as well as Lord Subrahmanya (Karthikeya) with great austerities. Devotees of Lord Shiva perform the Ekadasa Rudra Abhishekam for the whole month of Karthika Masam to please Lord Shiva. Devotees of Lord Vishnu perform Satyanarayana Vrata on Karthika Pournami. Devotees of Subrahmanya perform Skanda Shasthi during this month. Any austerity performed during the month of Karthika would help the sadhakas to free themselves from all sins and leads them towards moksha.
  
  Kartik Maas, also known as Damodar Maas. Kartika masa is the most auspicious and holiest month for Hindus.
  Pujas are to be performed for the whole month. Those who cannot perform for 30 days (full month) they can do minimum for 10 days. These 10 (ten) days are "initial starting five days of Karthik masam and 5 days before pournima". These 10 days are important days in this month.
  As per puranas, there is no sacred month like Karthik, there is no God similar to Lord Vishnu, there is no scripture like Vedas and there no river like Ganga.
  
  Karthik month is the favorite month to both of the supreme Gods Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva. Water in rivers, lakes and ponds get holy power to destroy ill effects during the month hence Karthik Snaan (bath) is one of the most popular Hindu rituals.
  
  The pujas, all other rituals, rules and code during the month are called as Kartika Masa Vratam. There are certain rules and codes to perform Kartika Masa Vrata. The Karthika Purana details the rituals and customs to be performed during the month of Karthik. Various Hindu sacred texts have mentioned the list of basic rituals and customs of Kartika masam. Kartik is the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. It usually overlaps with the months October & November in the English calendar. Kartik Maas is described in the scriptures as the best among months for performing austerities.

• Importance of Karthika Masam:
  
  Lord Vishnu goes to sleep on Ashadha suddha ekadashi and wakes-up on Karthika suddha ekadashi.
  
  Lord Shiva killed Tripurasuras on Karthika Pournami and protected the world.
  
  In this month Ganga (Godess of river Ganges) enters in to all rivers, canals, ponds and wells and makes them as pious as Ganga.
  
  Ayyappa deeksha is also taken in Karthika masam and is continued up to Makara Sankranthi (Jan 15th).

• Bathing In River Or Nadi Snanam:
  
  
  Bathing in River or Nadi Snanam another important significance is bathing in rivers during Karthika Masam. The rivers have received fresh water during the rain season comprising of Shravan and Bhadrapada Months and have completely settled by the time Karthika Masam starts. Also, Sharad Rithu (season) known for its special Moon light comprises of Ashwayuja and Karthika Months. All along the Aswayuja Masam, the rivers would absorb the energy from Moon and by bathing in the river during Karthika Masam one can absorb this energy from the river.
  
  As per the Science, in Kaarthika Masam Water enrich with more Magnetic Power from the Earth and will be stored in water before the Sunrise this may be the one of the reason for taking a Kartika Snanam before Sunrise.
  As in Magnetic Therapy, taking bath on Kaarhika Somavaram (Monday) in any Flowing Water for 15 minutes. That Human being will get relief from STOMACH DISORDERS, LEVER DISORDERS, and GENERAL Health Problems.
  
  The process of performing the Nadi Snanam is to close the nose with the two thumb fingers and close the ears with the middle fingers and take a dip so that the whole body along with the head is under the water. This has to be repeated for a minimum of three times.

• Lighting of Diya Or Lighting a Lamp:
  
  
  Lighting of Diya or Lighting a Lamp during Karthika Masam, it is considered auspicious to light a diya. Diyas are lit and placed in front of Tulasi plant and near the main entrance of the house before Sun rise, and just before Sun set. Temples light the Diya and bring the diya to the top of the Dhwaja Sthambam in the temple and tie it there on Karthika Pournami. This diya is called as Akaasa Deepam. On Karthika Pournami, the whole house is decorated with diyas.
  
  He who Lights up a Deepam in Kaarthika Masam will have the blessings of PITRUDEVATHALU (who are our ancestors) and also the blessings of SIVA and VISHNU.
  
  Deepam should be lighted up only in Mud Plate (Mati Pramida). If by any chance non availability of Mud Plates kindly use Silver Articles only.
  
  At any point of time don’t use Steel Articles for Deepam (usage of Steel Articles for Pooja and Deepam increases our Poverty).
  
  Use Cow Ghee or Gingelly Oil. Do not use Mustard Oil, for Deepam.

• Deep Daan (offering lamps):
  
  Worship the Lord by offering lamps (diyas), flowers, incense, food, etc. Lighting a diya before the Lord is called as "deep-daan" and affords immense religious merits when performed during the Kartik month.
  
  In the Padma Purana, Kartik Mahatmya, there is a very famous story of a mouse.
  
  In a temple of Lord Vishnu, there was a mouse who used to eat the ghee from the extinguished ghee lamps which had been offered by devotees to Him. One day when she felt hungry to eat ghee, she tried to eat the ghee from a lamp which was not yet extinguished. While eating ghee from the lamp, the cotton wick got stuck in her teeth. Since the ghee wick had a flame, the mouse started jumping in front of the Lord's Deity form and thus died due to fire. But Lord Sri Vishnu accepted the jumping of that mouse with a lit ghee wick in her mouth as His aarti. In the end, He gave her liberation, the highest destination.
  
  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."
  
  Of all gifts, the gift of a lamp during the month of Kartik is the best. No gift is its equal."
  
  The Pushkar Puran states, "The person who lights the lamp of sesame (til) oil in the name of Lord Shri Hari in the month of Kartik (during Sandhya) gets unlimited prosperity, beauty, blessedness and wealth."
  
  On the full moon day of the month of Kartika (November-December) which falls on the ascension of the Kritigai star, the Hindus celebrate the Kartika Deepam. It is on this day that the huge beacon is lit on the holy hill Arunachala, in South India.
  
  It is celebrated in a special manner in Thiruvannamalai. Lord Shiva asks Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu to find out the exact location of his head and his feet. Since Lord Shiva takes a gigantic form, they are not able to find out anywhere. Then Lord Shiva takes the form of a jyothi (light of fire) on the hill of Thiruvannamali. Therefore, this festival is also known as Annamalai Deepam. Here, a special torch is lighted on the zenith of the hill and it is believed that Lord Shiva’s jothi will be visible on this day.

Continued....