Importance of Kartik Purnima
After Shivrathri, Lord Shiva is worshipped for the whole month of Kartik and the full moon day called as Kartik Purnima Lord Shiva is worshipped with lots of dedication by the people. This day is also called as Tripuri purnima or Tripurari Purnima and Ganga Snan The whole month of ‘Kartika’ is considered to be the most sacred among all the twelve months of the year.
Kartik Purnima is the festival that is celebrated by Hindus and sikhs.The day of Kartik purnima is considered as an auspicious day wherein Sikhs do special prayers to honour the founder of their religion, Guru Nanak, Muslims pay homage to the departed souls and pray for the well being of their near and dear ones. But Kartik Purnima has immense religious value according to the Hindu mythology.
Kartik purnima is also reffered to as Dev-Diwali, Dev-Deppawali, the festival of lights of the gods. It is believed that annually on the day of Kartik purnima, the gods descend on earth and reside in the sacred rivers. Devotees take sacred bath in Ganges and other sacred rivers during kartik month to get rid of their negative poisons and receive the blessings from all the Gods.
By bathing in these sacred rivers we cleanse our inner selves, our mind in the spiritual waters. It is not the show of cleaning the outer selves but to rid of our mind and life of its wrong qualities like fear, greed, envy, anger, arrogance and wrong desires and replacing those with forces of love, compassion, generosity, kindness, and light.
During the month of kartik, Hindus avoid eating fish, meat or egg. The last five days are considered more sacred and Kartika Purnima is the last day of the Hindu month that follows the last five days of celebrations known as Panchaka. During these five days women after taking purificatory bath in the early morning draw beautiful flower-designs around the ‘chaura’ a Tulasi temple in their homes and do fasting these days and visit Shiva temple to worship Lord Shiva. They take food only once in the afternoon which is known as ‘Habisha’ during fasting.
Legends associated with Kartik Purnima:
It is believed that Lord Shiva has killed demon Tripusara on the day of Kartik Purnima and so people celebrate the power of Lord Shiva.
Kartik Purnima is also celebrated by Jains as Jain light festival called as Deva Diwali when Lord Mahavira is worshiped with amps are lit under the moonlight sky and a family feast celebrates this day and visit ‘Palitana’ one of the most famous Jain pilgrimage places.
On the day of Kartik Purnima even Lord Vishnu is worshipped for his birth of Matsya(fish) avatar.The Kartik Purnima day is also the birthday of Vrinda, the epitome of the Tulsi plant and of lord Kartikeya, who is the chief of all gods and is the last day to perform the ‘Tulsi Vivah.
It is also believed that Lord Vishnu in his incarnation of Lord Krishna worshipped Radha on the day of Kartik Purnima. Kartik Purnima is also dedicated to the dead ancestors. On this day a ritual bath at a pilgrimage place is advised, which is known as “Kartik Snan”. A holy bath at Pushkar or in the river, especially at Varanasi is considered as most auspicious pornima.
It is sometimes called Deva-Diwali or Deva-Deepawali – the festival of lights of the gods. Karthikai Deepam is a related festival celebrated in Andhra Pradesh, KarnatakaTelanagana, TamilNadu, Kerala and SriLanka.
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.
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 multifold.
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.
Karthika Purnima is also the birth day of Sri Guru Nanak and is celebrated with great devotion by Sikhs.
Even for Jains Karthika Purnima is a big festival and is celebrated with great devotion.
In Andhra Pradesh, on the day of full moon or Karthika pournami, a big lamp with 365 wicks is lit to ward off any evil and the holy text of Kartheeka puranam is recited to invite auspiciousness and good fortune.
Donations to Brahmins or scholars is considered as good.
Amla fruit deepam is lit in Temples and near the Tulasi plant and Brahmins are given the “Danam of Amla Fruit”
Kartik Purnima 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. Chaturmas penance ends on this day. Many fairs that begin on Prabodhini Ekadashi end on Kartik Purnima, Kartik Purnima usually being the most important day of the fair. Fairs that conclude on this day include Prabodhini Ekadashi celebrations at Pandharpur and Pushkar Fair. Kartik Purnima is also the last day to perform Tulsi Vivah ceremony that can be performed from Prabodhini Ekadashi.
Karthika Pournami SMS Wishes
Be Grateful Towards Who
Met You With Yourself
Wishes On Karthika Purnima
Happy Kartik Poornima.
Today is the day to be grateful towards
whom you learn from.
Wishes on Kartik Purnima.
- May you be bestowed with health and prosperity on the auspicious day of Kartik Purnima.
- May the blessings of lord Shiva be bestowed on you. Happy Kartik Purnima.
- Wishing that all good things happen to you and your loved ones on the holy occasion of Kartik Purnima.