Karthika Somavaram Importance
Karthika Somavaram is the Monday of the Karthika masam, which is considered as very auspicious Day according to Hinduism.
Though all Mondays are considered as Lord Shiva favorite days, Karthika Somavaram or Karthika Masam Mondays have special importance.
Lord Shiva is also known as Soma or Someshwara – which means the one who wears Soma or moon crescent on his hair or head.
Performing Monday rituals makes our individual consciousness gets tuned into the higher realms. Monday is ruled by the moon which governs the human mind.
Performing Mondays pradosha vratham and meditation of lord shiva can glimpse the supreme spirit and also makes to attain siddhi.
There is a saying in scriptures that one who fasts on Mondays till evening, feed a Brahmin and takes the food after seeing the stars will receive the full grace of lord shiva.
Fasting on Mondays helps oneself to gain mastery over ones mind, and can transcend all the moods and pervasions of the mind.
Lord Shiva with a moon beam on his head signifies that – he controls the movements of the moon, thus he is named as lord Chandra shekara.
People observe Karthika Somavaram Vratham by waking up before dawn and perform punya snana in the river or pond or take head bath at home.
Devotees visit Lord Shiva temples, and pray to Lord Shiva and perform Abhisheka for Lord Shiva.
They observe fasting till evening and complete the fast with fruits or dinner in the evenings.
Devotees also perform Rudrabhishekam or Archana, offer bilva patri to Lord Shiva.
Light diya when the stars are in the sky, light 1000 wicks ghee diya in Shiva temple and do deepa danam to a brahmin in the evening.
Taking blessings of an elderly couple is considered as taking blessings from parvathi parmeshwara.
Observing Karthika Masam Vratham will make one to enjoy many pleasures and finally reach kailasham. Lord Shiva grants his boons and grant wishes.
Performing Ekadasa Rudra Abhishekam on Karthika Somavaram is considered as very auspicious.
Koti Somavaram is the day when the saptami conincides with Shravana Nakshatra before karthika pournami is also considered as auspicious.
So perform Karthika Somavaram Vratham to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva.