KARTIGAI DEEPAM—KAARTIK POORNIMA

KARTIGAI DEEPAM — KARTIK POORNIMA

(Discourse by N. R. Srinivasan)

 

This festival of lights like Deepaavali is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Kartigai (November-December) which falls on the ascension of the Star Kritigai. This is one of the ancient festivals celebrated by Tamilians wherever they are settled dating back to Sangam Days (around 200 B.C.). It falls on 21 November in 2010 this year. This is the fortnight culminating in Poornima after the wedding of Tulsi to Lord Vishnu on Dwadashi (twelfth day of the waxing moon) who rises after his four-months repose (Chaturmasa).

 

This day is also called Deva–Divaali Day to commemorate the day the Lord descended on earth as Matsya, the divine fish that saved the children of the Earth, plants and animals from the cosmic deluge.

 

On Kartigai day people in Tamilnadu make bonfire in front of temples of Siva in the evening symbolizing the legend that Siva burnt the chariots of several demons torturing sages and celestials.

 

Siva known also as Tripuraantaka and called affectionately as Tripuri (foe of the demon Tripura) killed Tripuraasura on this day.

 

Krishna and his beloved Radha danced Raasa on this day called Raasaleela which is celebrated in Brindavan.

 

This is the birthday of Kartikeya who was nurtured by six Krittikas.

 

This is an important day to observe Satya Narayana Vrata. This is generally observed on the Full Moon Day of Kartik, Vaisakh, Sraavan and Chaitra Poornima days and the Sankranti Day.

 

This is the day on which Lord Siva appeared as a column of fire. He is celebrated as Jyotirlinga (as fire on Mount Arunachaleswara) in Tiruvannamalai in Tamilnadu. Huge beacon is lit on the holy hill Arunachala. When the light on the top of the hill is seen on the Kartigai Deepam day, devotees see (have a darsan of) the light and worship. This day is called Mahaadeepam. This day is also called Tripuraari Poornima.

 

On this day floors are cleaned and Kolams (Rangoli) are made with rice flour by ladies in South India. Lamps are placed on the Kolam and worshipped by ladies. Ladies also place rows of earthen lamps in front of the house on the evening of Kartigai Deepam and worship the Lord and pray to god to annihilate the three impurities, ego, selfishness and delusion.

 

It is the most sacred day for taking bath in Ganges in Vaaraanasi.

 

This day coincides with the birthday of Guru Nanak, the Sikh Guru.

 

Muslims pray for the departed souls and the well being of their dear and near ones on this day.

 

Pushkar Mela starts on Ekadasi day in Kartik and ends on Kartik Poornima day. This festival is dedicated to Lord Brahma.

 

Maharashtra observes Kartik Swami Darshan paying obeisance to Lord Kartikeya.

 

Ayodhya holds Kartik Mela on this day. People take a holy dip in the river Sarayu.

 

Orissa celebrates Boita Bandana and BaliYatra during this period.

 

Jains visit Shatrunjaya hills of Palitana the most famous Jain pilgrimage Center dedicated to the first Teerthankara.

 

Vaishnavites in Tamilnadu celebrate this day as Vishnu Deepam and Saivites as Siva Deepam. They pray to Lord to ward off evil and usher in prosperity and joy.

 

Some Brahmin ladies of Vaishnavism in South India worship elephant made out of moist clay on this day and send it off to the forest with plenty of food affectionately on the third day. Elephant is symbolic of Gajalakshmi. The legend goes that Gandhari of Mahabarata fame worshipped on this day Gajalakshmi praying for the longevity of her husband, Dhritarashtra. As you know elephant has the longest life amongst mammals and Gandahari also had the longest married life living together with her husband! It is a practice amongst these families to gift their daughter with a silver elephant while sending her away to their husband's place like gifting her with Raja and Rani wooden dolls for celebrating regularly Navaratri festival. Probably this is the way the traditions of celebrating such festivals are kept!

 

Thus Kartik Purnima is an important day of festivals and a day of religious observance throughout India.

 

 

Shubham karoeti kalyaanamaaroegyam dhanasampadah | satrubuddhivinaasaaya deepajyoeti namoestu te ||

 

I prostrate to the lamp-light, which brings the brilliance, the auspiciousness, the health, the wealth and possessions, and for the destruction of bad thoughts of my enemy.

 

Deepajyoti parabrahma deepajyoti janaardhana |

Deepoe may haratu paapam deepajyotir namostu te ||

 

I salute the Lord, the sustainer of Creation who is in the form of this Light. I pay my obeisance to the Light. May he destroy any affliction resulting from my commissions and omissions!

 

He who sees the Light that is burning eternally in the chambers of his spiritual heart through constant meditation attains immortality.

CELEBRATE KARTIK SUKLA PAKSHA AS FOOD CHARITY FORTNIGHT

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Nashville is celebrating  Prabodhini Ekadashi Shakotsav  annual celebrations today.  Over hundred varieties of raw vegetables will be offered to the Swaminarayan Bhagwan and Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj in haatdi. Devotees bring all different types of raw vegetables to offer in the Shakotsav Annakut. After the ceremony, the gathered devotees will have the opportunity to take home the raw vegetables as prasad.

The greatness of Prabodhini Ekadashi elaborated in Skanda Purana  holds great significance for Hindus as it marks the beginning of the auspicious ceremonies like marriages, child naming ceremonies, griha pravesh and so on. Prabodhini Ekadashi holds immense importance among the ‘Swaminarayan sect’.  The following Uttana Dwadasi is celebrated as Tulasi Vivaha Day that open the s flood gates for marriage celebrations for many. This day honors the religious initiation or ‘diksha’ of Swaminarayan by his guru and mentor Guru Ramanand Swami. Devotees observe this sacred fast to wash away their evil deeds and sins committed during the lifetime. Also by offering prayers to Lord Vishnu with devotion on the day of Prabodhini Ekadashi, followed by liberal  acts of food charity on Kartik Purnima Day (annadaana), also called Dev Diwali day; it is believed that a person can attain salvation or ‘moksha’ and go straight away to ‘Vaikunth’ after death.

“In Hindu tradition, serving spiritual seekers and monks has always been of utmost importance. This can be a path in itself. The most beautiful expression of this is the Annadanam – the sacred offering of food ”to the needy” - says Jaggi Vasudev.

Important occasions in your life, such as birthdays, anniversaries or any other day of your choice, can be an opportunity to offer Annadanam and be a part   your endeavor to spread joy, health and wellbeing. You can also offer Annadanam in memory of a loved one. For special occasions like Mahashivaratri ,Guru Purnima,  Mahalaya Paksha and Kartik Suklapaksha. .It is Annadanam from generous donors that allows Temples anmd other charitable  foundations to serve food to the lakhs of devotees who visit the place. Through a simple act of donating Annadanam, you can touch another life and enrich your own.

Anna Abhishekam to Lord Shiva

 Abhishekam

Abhishekam is the process of bathing the deity. According to Siva Agamas (pooja rules) abhishekam is considered as one part of the shodashopachara pooja. Siva Agamas give lot of importance to abhishekam in Siva pooja and it makes the ceremonies many times more effective. Your priest may perform Abhishekam by simply using holy water or perform elaborately with milk, curds, honey, ghee, sugar, coconut water, holy ash, sandal paste, fruit juice etc.

Lord Siva will be pleased by the process of bathing with the prescribed eleven ingredients like water, milk, curd, ghee, honey etc. If you pour a drop of water on the ‘Linga form’ you will the blessings of Lord Siva. He will remove all your difficulties and will grace with happiness and joy.

Unique Annabhishekam to Lord Shiva

The seventh month in the calendar is the holy month. According to astrology Sun resides in the house / rasi Libra. The harvesting of paddy in Tamil Nadu would have got completed by this time. People are more interested in thanking Lord Siva with Annam (cooked fragrant rice). They believe that Lord Siva has only created annam (cooked rice) and He alone offer His grace and protect His subjects with annam (cooked rice). This month’s conclusion is celebrated on Kartik Purnima day with Annabhishekam for Siva as an annual event.

Annabhishekam is performed next to milk on this specific day. During abhishekam ‘Sri Rudram’ (hymn at chapter 16 & 18 of Yajurveda part of veda) is chanted. Rhythm chanting of the Sri Rudram will purify the entire atmosphere. Sri Rudra has eleven sections. Similarly Lord Siva has eleven forms (Ekadasa Rudra). Annabhisekam will take place mostly in the evening. In some temples it may take place in the noon. Annabhishekam 

The Siva Lingam will be covered with cooked rice. They may even cover floor of the sanctum sanctorum and may extent up to the steps. They will use the snacks like Vadai, appam to decorate the deity. They will also use vegetables and fruits. As a result the Siva Linga will looks with eyes, ear, nose and mouth. The fruits and vegetables will be piled up on the floor and steps. The ‘harathi’ will be followed. The Siva linga will remain covered with annam for about one yamam or one and half hours.

Lord Siva: the Preserver of Annam

Lord Siva is the preserver of annam (Annanam Pathaye Namaha). He is considered as annam and he is also the consumer of annam (Ahamannam .. Ahamannatho). The devotees believe that anyone who witnesses annabhshekam will be relived from the troubles of rebirth. Rudra is focused as Brahman  who is the preserve of annam as Vedas declare  in this ritual.

Devotees will collect the cooked rice covered around Lingam and immerse it in rivers or ponds. The cooked rice used to cover the base and floor will be collected and distributed to devotees.

Maha Harathi

After removal of the cooked rice, the Siva Linga will have abhishekam with the remaining yogurt five ingredients (Total ingredients: eleven – Five before annabhishekam). After this the main deity will be decorated with clothes and jewels. The Maha Harathi will be shown to the deity. With this the annabhishekam will be concluded.

The Shiva Linga abhishekam is done with the prescribed 11 ingredients: 1) Gingely oil, 2) Pancha kavyam (mixture of five ingredients i.e. milk, curd or yoghurt, ghee and cows urine) 3) Panchamrutham (mixture of five ingredients i.e. fruit, jaggery, ghee, honey and sugar candy) 4) Ghee 5) Millk 6) Curd or yoghurt 7) Honey sugar cane juice 9) lime juice 10) Tender coconut water   11) Sandal paste

IMPORTANCE OF FOOD CHARITY

Daanasoora Karna (Karna was known for his charitable disposition and hence the title) of Mahabharata fame forgot one thing in his list of charity in this world. He offered no food as charity to others in his entire life. So he felt the pangs of hunger even in the higher worlds. He was therefore sent back to Earth for fourteen days to make up for his deficiency. On his return to higher regions after Annadaana (Food Charity) he had plenty of food and enjoyed his life.

Life depends on food. Food Charity (Annadaana) is important. The gift of food is the greatest gift. Therefore focus your thoughts on food charity not only during this special fortnight but all through the year. All celebrated temples in India have in their program Food Charity Scheme (Annadaana Kainkarya). USA also runs such programs during Thanksgiving and Christmas when they collect all food materials from all residents and distribute to the poor. Celebrate Kartik Suklapaksha as Food Charity Fortnight!

Vedas say : annatto praanam--Life grows with food,   annam  na nindyaat-- don’t abuse food and annam bahu kurveeta, multiply food. The purport of the above rituals is to be generous and at the same time not to be foolish to waste food, think of the ritual as motive force  for liberal  food charity  to the needy making the ritual symbolic for spiritual inspiration.

Vedas say: Annena praanam, praanat balam, balena jnaanam, jnaanena vijnaanam,  vijnaanaat  atman,  atmanaa vindate veeryam……

With food one is able to lead life, build physical strength in life, with strength   gain worldly knowledge, go deep with knowledge turn inwards or visualize Self within; with Self gain spiritual strength to focus on joining the source.

“Man does not belong merely to earth: in essence man is a universal being, but he has a special manifestation on earth.” So  the Self  has to find out the path to proceed further up to reach the source through spiritual uplift after its special manifestation as per the divine will! Hence all these rituals!

Happy Karthika Pournami

Hartum tamaha sadasati:cha vive:ktumi:so: | maanam pradeepa-maiva kaaruniko dadaat | Te:na:valo:kya krutinaha paribhunjate: tam| Tatraiva ke:pi chapala:ssalabhi: bhavanti

– Sri Rangaraja sthavam composed by Sri Parasara Bhattar

God (the controller) gives scriptures (Vedas) to us out of compassion; whoever uses the Vedas like a lamp that removes ignorance (darkness) and brightens up with wisdom will construct themselves (atma ujjeevanam) and experience good fortune of all kinds; 

Those who try to disprove them will end up destructing themselves (atma vinaasanam), like those insects which play with fire, and ultimately burn themselves.  

Karthika masam (month) is the time when God wakes up. It is the right time to pray for His grace using a deepam (diya). 

Deepam reflects the internal wisdom which brightens up our surroundings (external environment). The prayer lights us up from within (internal realization).  The essentials to light up a deepam for exterior brightnesare: oil, source of fire, censer. What about the essentials to light us up frowithin? It is simply right prayer!

The prayer must seek God to help us remove ignorance from our hearts and light it up with wisdom that lets us differentiate between: right and wrong, truth and false, what exists and what doesn’t, what to take in and what to let go. When one achieves this kind of wisdom, it translates into bhakti – devotion to God. 

Devotion means incessant love for God. When you love your acharya, the emotion is termed as ‘sraddha’. When you love your child, it is termed as ‘vaatsalyam’. When it is towards parents, it is called ‘gowravam’. It’s the same emotion, but when directed towards different people, it takes different names.

When this love outpours, it results in a series of activities offered towards the object of love. These activities are put under an umbrella word called ‘service’. When it comes to love for God, that service we offer is simply an automatic response of knowing His existence and His qualities. 

God neither expects nor needs anything from us. But, He has given us the body with a heart, the senses, the intellect, friends and family, the nature. Utilize all that He has given and offer them in serving God.

Where do we go to serve God?

When you love someone, you understand the person and offer them what they desire through their body. For example: favorite delicious dish to your child by the time he comes back from school. Similarly, when you love God – understand Him and serve Him through His body.

What is God’s body?

Rushis and Devatas state firmly that whatever we see around is part of God’s body--jaagath sarvam sareeram tay: Wherever you go, and whatever you do – if you react and respond to the needs of that situation using all the abilities you are blessed with, then you are serving God. But, if you restrict yourself only to your body’s comfort and needs – then you are not utilizing any opportunity to serve God. Wake up (put an end to the ignorance) and light up the diya of serving God through every breath, every deed and through every step you take!

--From the discourse of Sri Chinna Jeeyuar Swamiji
 

Two Wicks in a Diya

Have you ever wondered why we light deepam with two wicks? Why do we use oil? Do you also wonder about the purpose of this “old-fashioned” process when electric lights are available in various beautiful forms and colors?

During Karthika maasam (when a star named Krittika is closest to the Moon) everyone who follows Vedic recommendations lights up Diyas. It is believed that one acquires great fortune by performing this ritual. This is retold through various stories from our puranas. Our rishis are experts at seeing what’s beneath the surface. What did they want to teach us through this ritual? 

Diya or Pramida represents our manas (heart).

Fill the Diya (manas) with a bonding agent, oil (love). The sticky, non-breaking, nature of oil bonds different elements together. Let the love in our hearts for each other bond us all together. Electric current flows but does not have the binding ability like that of oil, which is the key aspect in a loving, sharing relationship. 

Maybe we all love each other anyway. What is this ritual teaching us that we don’t know?

Our ignorance lies on the foundation on which love exists between two beings. Do we love someone because we know he is part of our family? Then, we are restricting ourselves from being bonded with other families. Do we love someone because we know he/she is part of our caste/ creed/ color/ gender/species? Then, we are restricting ourselves from bonding with the rest. What we forgot (or don’t know) are the natural bonds us amongst entity in existence. Vedas refer to everyone as descendants of God, the elixir (Amrutha Swaroopa): srunvanthu viswe: amruthasya putra:

Why did we forget this? What is our natural state? What is the goal of this knowledge? What is the nature of God who is the common binding source of all beings? What is the goal of knowing God? All these questions are answered through the knowledge underlying this procedure in lighting of so many Diyas.

Such knowledge is represented by two wicks being joined together and lit up. The first wick represents knowledge defined in prime, root sources (Vedas, called Upabrumhyamu). The second wick represents knowledge resulting from descriptive forms (Upabrumhanamas) of the Vedas. These exist in five groups: smrithi, ithihasa, purana, aagamas, and prabandha. (representing five faces of the deepam – each face has two wicks, one is the source and the other is one of the descriptive forms)

If we only learn the source in its original form, but do not know the right meaning of it through descriptive scriptures, we will not grasp its practical essence. If we only look at the descriptive scriptures, then we are likely to miss the aim of the root source (Vedas). Thus, both the prime source and the explanatory/descriptive scriptures are important.

The two wicks joined together (knowledge obtained from source and descriptive forms) soaked in the oil (transformed into love) gives light (joy of knowledge). Worship the source of existence, God in this light. Now, share this joy with everyone by lighting up another diya (another heart) with the fire of the first diya. No matter how many diyas one lights up, the light at the source diya will be the same as the light at the final diya.

This is why, knowledge shared by Veda vyasa Millenia ago was beautifully vibrant in the hearts of our acharyas like Ramanujacharya thousand years ago. 

The essence of all knowledge is to do our duties properly backed by understanding while knowing our limits.

Duties and limits are different at different levels. School children have certain rules to follow and duties to fulfill. Women of the house have certain rules to follow and different duties to fulfill. Now, raise a level up from the duties in the current body. Think in terms of a universal being who will continue to exist even after the current body disintegrates. What are the duties you have and limits that you must know as that universal being? This is the knowledge that scriptures aim to teach us. This encompasses all knowledge, including and not limited to know-how of leading life happily in the current body.

 Let’s all share this wisdom of love with everyone.