Diyas in Karthigai to dispel inner darkness

Contrary to popular belief, Karthigai deepam is not to be lit only on the day that it is celebrated in Thiruvannamalai temple, but should be undertaken throughout the month. Scientifically speaking, this is the month when daytime becomes shorter, and in many rural areas it becomes dark by 5 pm and lighting a lamp by that hour is a practical necessity. As per astrology, the sun moves to vrichiga rasi this month. The dominant force of this rasi is the fierce Angarakkan, who himself is said to have taken form after a droplet of sweat fell on the ground from Siva’s forehead and raised by the Goddess of Earth. His penance were so pleasing to Siva that He gave Angarakkan a pride of place among the navagrahas, and is said to be the lord of everything on terra firma. The lord of Karthigai natchathram (star) is Agni. The combination of agni, Angarakkan and Surya is a fierce force, and devotees light a lamp in order to please all three of them throughout the month. 

Devotees of Siva throng to Tiruvannamalai to witness the Karthigai deepam festival. For Vaishnavites, it is also the month in which Kaisika ekadasi falls. According to legend, Vishnu gave a darisanam to Nampaduvan, a true devotee of His, at the Thirukurungudi temple, by shifting the flagstaff that blocked the devotee’s vision of Him from the street. To this day, thousands of devotees throng the temple during the Karthigai month. 

Not many people know that Krishna delivered His direct discourse, the Bhagavad Gita, to Arjuna on Kaisika Ekadasi day. In many parts of the country it is also known as the Gita Day. 

In Guruvayur, the ekadasi is observed in a grand manner, as it is on this day (sukla patcham, ekadasi, karthigai month) that Lord Krishna gave viswaroopa darisanam to Narayana Bhattadri and cured his ailment. Above all, Karthigai is the month when Lakshmi— Griha Lakshmi—is said to visit the home of devotees and hence one should light a lamp every evening with pure ghee, and welcome Her home with a sincere prayer. 

Karthigai is the month when great saints were born. Both Thirunmangai Azhwar and Thiruppan Azhwar were born in Karthigai. Dattatreya, who is said to have the essence of Brahma, Siva and Vishnu, was born in this month. Apart from scriptures, even Tamil literature gives prominence to this month and one can find numerous writings on the same in Agananooru, Silapathigaram and Avviyar’s works. The Sholingur temple near Tiruttani also enjoys a special place among devotees. It is said that Lord Nrisimha opens His eyes on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in this month and blesses His devotees. Thousands of devotees throng this temple, which falls under the 108 divya desa kshetram for Vaishnavites.

In Andhra, vana bhojanam is observed in the month of Karthigai and Malaiappar Swamy is carried in a procession, to the ‘forest’ from the Tirupati temple. It is the month when the Gods and Goddesses reach out to devotees and help them overcome their inner darkness of ignorance.