Kartikeya Purnima
Kartikeya,
Purnima, Tripuri Poornima also known as Deva-Diwali is on November 6th,
Thursday. Purnima (full moon) day in year 2014 or the fifteenth lunar day of
Kartika (November ...) All Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains celebrate. Kartik Poornima is closely
associated with Prabodhini Ekadashi which marks the end of Chaturmas,
a four-month period when Vishnu is believed to sleep. Prabodhini Ekadashi signifies
the awakening of the God. In addition, it is believed that Vishnu, on
this day, returns to his abode after completing his stay in Bali.
Hence, the day is known as Deva-Diwali. Kartikeya,
Purnima, is strong and auspicious Moon. Usually this is the full Moon in the month
of November. It has many names including the Diwali of the Gods and Tripuri
Purnima. This day marks the victory of Lord Shiva over the demons Tripuri. The
Kartik Purnima festival also coincides with the Jain light festival. Jains who
celebrate it by visiting Palitana a Jain pilgrimage centre. Sikh holy festival because it is Guru Nanak's
Birthday.
Tripuri Poornima or
Tripurari Poornima originates its name from Tripurari - the
demon Tripurasura.
In some legends of Kartik Poornima, the term is used to symbolize the three
demon sons of Tarakasur. Tripurasura is
a collective name given to the three Hindu
demons Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha and Viryavana, who were sons of the
demon Tarakasur. Brahma was pleased at this difficult tapasya. He appeared before
them and said, "What boon do you want?" "Make us immortal",
answered Tarakasura’s sons. "I can’t make you immortal", replied
Brahma. "I don’t have the power. Ask for something else instead".
"Very well", then, said Viyunamali, Tarakaksha and Viryavana.
"Grant us the following: Let three forts be made. The first will be of
gold, the second of silver and the third of iron. We will live in these forts
for a thousand years. These forts built in different worlds shall align once in
every 1000 years. This combined fort will be called Tripura. And if anyone can
then destroy Tripura with only a single arrow that shall be the death destined
for us".
Tripurari is
a nickname of God Shiva. Shiva in his form as Tripurantaka ("Killer of Tripurasura")
killed Tripurasura on this day. Tripurasura had conquered the whole world, defeated
the Gods, and also created three cities in space, together called "Tripura". The killing of the demons and
destruction of their cities with a single arrow - by Shiva jubilated the Gods
and they declared the day as a festival of illuminations. This day is also
called "Dev-Diwali" - the Diwali of the Gods. Diwali is the Hindu
festival of lights.
Kartik poornima is also the birthday God Vishnu's fish-incarnation (Avatar). another legend associated with Kartik Poornima is
of Lord Vishnu’s Matsyavatar. It is believed that on this day, Vishnu was
incarnated in Matsya incarnation and protected Manu, the first man, from Maha
Pralay (deluge).
The story of a great Deluge-flood is found in
many civilizations across the earth. It is often related to the Genesis narrative of the flood and Noah's Ark. The fish motif and saving of the
scriptures from a demon being additions in the Hindu tale. Similar flood myths
also exist in tales from ancient Sumer and
Babylonia, Greece, the Maya of Americas and the Yoruba
of Africa.( Mount
Ararat (39°42′N, 44°17′E),
satellite image – a stratovolcano, 5,137 meters (16,854 ft) above sea level,
prominence 3,611 meters (11,847 ft), believed to have erupted within the
last 10,000 years. The main peak is at the centre of the image) Matsya
is believed to symbolize the first stage of evolution, as aquatic life
was the first beings on earth the
tale of Matsya might be interpreted as a creation myth where Manu creates beings of the world
and men after they destroyed in the flood, though the creation is never the
focus of the legend. Some authors consider the tale not a flood myth, but
symbolic in nature. Annakuta, an offering of
food to the deities, is held in temples. People who have taken vows on Ashwin full
moon day, end them on Kartik Poornima. God Vishnu is also worshipped on this
day. Any form of violence (himsa) is prohibited on this day. This
includes shaving, hair-cutting, cutting of trees, plucking of fruits and
flowers, cutting of crops and even, sexual union. Charity especially
donation of cows, feeding of Brahmins, fasting are religious activities prescribed for
Kartik Poornima. Giving gift of gold is said to fulfill all desires of
people.
It is also the birthday of Vrinda, the
personification of the Tulsi plant and of Kartikeya, the God of war
and son of Shiva. This day also is considered special for Radha, The relationship
of Radha and Krishna is the embodiment of love, passion, and devotion. Shri Krishna is known as "Radhika" two-body
one soul. Vishnu's incarnation. It is
believed that Krishna and Radha danced rasa and Krishna worshipped Radha on this
day. This day is also dedicated to the pitrus, who is dead
ancestors.
Underhill
believes that the origins of this festival may lie in ancient times, when a
sacrifice called ‘Shakamedhah’
was performed to attain victory over enemies.
The festival has even more significance when
the day falls in the nakshatra (lunar mansion) Krittika and is then called Maha Kartik. The nakshatra is Bharani, the results are
stated to be special. If it is Rohini nakshatra,
then the fruitful results are even much more. Any philanthropic act on this day
is supposed to bring benefits and blessings equal to the performing of ten yajnas (sacrifices).
This holy bath is known as "Kartik
snana". A holy bath at Pushkar or in the Ganges river. It is believed that annually on the day of Kartik
purnima, the Gods descend on earth and reside in the sacred rivers. Ganges and
other sacred rivers have elaborate ceremonies on this day. Devotees who bathe
in the sacred rivers on these days can also get rid of their negative poisons
and receive the blessings from all the Gods of the India. Kartik Poornima is the most auspicious popular
day for bathing in the Ganges at Varanasi. The
Ghats come alive with thousands of diyas. People place
360 or 720 wicks in temples, The 720 wicks symbolizes the 360 days and nights
of the Hindu calendar. In
Varanasi, (brightly lit earthen lamps). People
donate the lamps to priests. The lamps are kept throughout the night in houses
and Shiva temples. This day is also known as "Kartik Diparatna" - the
jewel of lamps in Kartik. Lights are also floated in miniature boats in
rivers. Lights are placed under Tulsi, Sacred fig and Amla trees. The lights in the water and
under trees are believed to help fishes, insects, and birds who saw the light
to attain salvation. The devotees also take a bath in the evening during
moonrise, and offer worship by way of six prayers such as Shiva sambuti, Satait,
and so forth
Tamil Nadu, Karthikai
Deepam is celebrated where the Poornima corresponds to the Krittika
nakshastra. People light rows of lamps on their balconies. In Tiruvannamalai,
a ten-day annual festival is held to celebrate Karthikai Deepam. Temple
complexes in southern India are lit up throughout the night. Deepmalas or
towers of lights are illuminated in temples. Telugu households, Kaartheeka maasam
(month) is considered very auspicious. The Kartheeka month starts on the day of
Deepawali. From that day until the end of the month, oil lamps are lit every
day. On Kartheeka Pournami (full moon of Kartheeka month)
oil lamp with 365 wicks, prepared at home, are lit in Lord Shiva temples to secure escape-reaching hell after
death. Apart from that, Kaartheeka puranam is read and fasting is
observed until sunset, every day for the whole month. Bhakteshwara Vratam is also
performed on Kartika Pournami in some places of Andhra. In Andhra Pradesh and some
parts of Karnataka, ‘Shiva Linga Mahajala Abhishekam’ is observed on the day.
Another festival that takes
place in the morning is significant to the ancient history of Orissa. This
reminds the maritime glory of the State. In olden days the 'Sadhabas' (Sea
traders) used to sail off to distant islands like Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Ceylon
etc. for their trade by huge boats ('Boita'). The women of the community were
giving them a hearty send off on this day. The days are now gone, but the
memory is still alive. Now, people float tiny boats made out of cork and
coloured paper or bark of the banyan tree while reminiscing the past glory.
This is called "Boita Bandana".
In the city of Cuttack and some other places huge images of "Kartikeswar" are built and worshipped. At night they are taken out in procession and are immersed in the river Mahanadi, near a Shiva temple.
Kartik Poornima is an
important religious day for Jains who
celebrate it by visiting Palitana a Jain
pilgrimage centre. Thousands of Jain pilgrims flock to the foothills of Shatrunjay hills of Palitana taluka on
the day of Kartik Poornima to undertake the auspicious yatra (journey). Also
known as the Shri Shantrunjay Teerth Yatra, this walk is an important religious
event in the life of a Jain devotee, who covers 216 km of rough mountainous
terrain on foot to worship at the Lord Adinath temple atop the hill. Considered
to be a very auspicious and significant day in Jainism. The day also assumes more
significance for the walk, as the hills, which are closed to the public during
the four months of Chaturmas, are
thrown open for the devotees on Kartik Poornima. As devotees are kept away from worshipping
their lord for four months of the monsoon season, the first day attracts the
maximum number of devotees. Jains believe that Adinath,
the first tirthankara,
sanctified the hills by visiting it to deliver his first sermon. According to Jain texts, millions of sadhus and sadhvis
have attained salvation on these hills.
For Sikhs,
too, the day of Kartik Poornima is very auspicious, as it coincides with their
festival of Guru Nanak Jayanti (Guru Nanak Gurpurab). The founder of their
religion, Guru Nanak was
born on the day of Kartik Poornima in 1469. Apart from Sikhs,
the Nanakpanthi Hindus and other followers of Guru Nanak's philosophy
also celebrate this festival.
Swaminarayan Sampraday also
celebrates this day with faith and fervor. In Kashi Vishwanath temple at Varanasi, Rameshwaram temple,
Arunachaleshwara temple at Thiruvannamalai, Manjunatha temple at Dharmasthala,
Srisailam Mallikarjuna swamy temple, Vemulawada Rajarajeshwara swamy temple,
Keesaragutta Ramalingeshwara swamy temple and Kaleshwaram Shiva temple and all
other famous Shiva temples, Kartika Pournami is observed with much enthusiasm. During Kartik Purnima, Pushkar Mela, the largest cattle fair in the world, is organized in Pushkar town in Rajasthan. Kapal Mochan Mela is another biggest mela celebrated during Kartik Purnima. In Andhra Pradesh, Anantagiri Jathara is celebrated during Kartik Purnima at Ananthagiri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple.
Love,Give and Peace
Rita, Mom to Kishan forever
Gratitude makes our heart soft. Gratitude fertilizes our heart. Gratitude grows the seed of Bhakti..!!
"Be Positive... Think Positive."
"Life has many great options. You don't have to always pick what seems to be the best... Just pick whatever makes you happy..!! "
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