Pranam
The importanc eof Karthika in India
The rows of agil vilakkus in front of each house … This is the image
that immediately comes to mind when we think of Karthigai Deepam – the
festival of lights that is celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Andhrapradesh,
Karnataka and Malayalam during the month of Karthigai (November December).
Some of us do not know that this is one of the oldest festivals celebrated
in South India, maybe even before people start celebrating Deepavali and
Navarathri. In addition, unlike many other Hindu festivals, Karthigai is
basically a south Indian festival and is virtually unknown in most other
parts of the country. One of the first references to the festival is the
Ahananuru, a book of poems dating from the age of Sangam (200 BC to 300
AD). The Ahananuru clearly states that Karthigai is celebrated on the full
moon day of the Tamar month of Karthigai (November December). It was one of
the most important festivals (peruvizha) of the ancient Tamils. Avaiyyar,
the famous poet of the time, refers to the festival in his songs. The
inscriptions in our temples also refer to the festival. A
mid-sixteenth-century inscription on the Arulalaperumal temple of
Kancheepuram refers to the Thiru Karthigai Thirunal festival. Karthigai is
basically a festival of lamps. The illuminated lamp is considered a
favorable symbol. It is believed to remove the forces of evil and lead to
prosperity and joy. While the illuminated lamp is important for all Hindu
rituals and festivals, it is indispensable for Karthigai. There is an
interesting story that explains the connection between Karthigai and the
lamps. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma began to fight to
know who was the most powerful of the two. While they fought, Lord Shiva
appeared before them in the form of an enormous pillar of fire. Lord Vishnu
and Lord Brahma stopped fighting and decided to find the top and bottom of
the pillar.
2 Therefore, Brahma assumed the shape of a swan and moved upward.
Vishnu became a wild boar and began digging deep into the ground. But even
after searching for several years, neither of them could find the ends of
the pillar. Finally, they realized that the pillar was none other than Lord
Shiva. Soon after, Lord Shiva appeared as a hill (Arunachala Hill) in
Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. In fact, the same names “Tiruvannamalai” and
“Arunachala” are translated as “hill of the sacred fire”. The Shivalinga in
the temple here is the agni linga. It is believed that the small lamps lit
during the Karthigai festival (Karthigai Deepam) are the miniature replicas
of the fire linga. Every year, thousands of devotees from all parts of the
world flock to Tiruvannamalai to see the spectacular Karthigai Deepam. The
lamps on occasion are of different sizes, shapes and colors. Traditionally,
lamps are lit in temples and agal vilakkus adorns the thin houses. Large
clay lamps; Stone and metal were lighted in the houses. It is said that the
ancient Tamils even imported lamps from Greece and Rome, through the ports
of Arikamedu (near Pondicherry), Mallai or Mamallapuram and Mylai or
Mylapore (part of Chennai). One of these imported lamps was of the pendent
variety, conceived in the form of a swan with a fish placed at the top.
3 Terracotta lamp Arikamedu. Another lamp variety, common to the
early Tamil Nadu, was the Lakshmi vilakku or Pavai vilakku. It had the
shape of a woman in her folded palms, the tahali or a shallow bowl
containing oil to light the lamp. In Arikamedu, archaeologists unearthed a
flat circular clay lamp with four nozzles or petals or openings for four
locks. Another clay lamp discovered in this site contains 12 nozzles. The
ubiquitous five-nozzle kuthu vilakku has been used since the days of Cholas
or maybe even before. When the British East India Company began to rule
parts of southern India, it presented the petals or kutu vilakku nozzles on
some of the pieces that were hit. It is also said that the five petals or
nozzles indicate that the five principal elements represent the five
elements of nature: earth, water, fire, air and sky or space. The five
nozzles also identify the five main elements necessary for a successful
life: health, wealth, learning, value and longevity. Traditionally, after
Karthigai, most of these lamps, except those that were used daily, were
cleaned and stacked, and removed only the following year for the festival.
In the old tiled houses, the agil vilakkus were invariably stacked in the
attic under the roof. In recent times, changes in lifestyle and taste have
led to changes in the lamps used for the festival. Until recently the
humble agal vilakku was brought to our door by the lamp manufacturer
himself who carried his fragile goods on his head or on the back of a
donkey. People bought these lamps in dozens. Now they are packed in
colorful boxes and sold in prestigious craft warehouses and handicrafts as
well as annual lampshows organized by the town by Poompuhar to coincide
with Karthigai. Design clay lamps are becoming popular among younger
generations. These come in exotic forms and are often decorated with
painted patterns, colored stones, pearls and zari. Many modern families in
Chennai no longer prefer oil lamps that stain the floor and walls. Instead,
they use scented candles, including those in the form of agal vilakku. On
floors that do not have balconies or open spaces, the only lighted candle
next to the front door bears witness to a hollow tradition
4 Thirukarthigai/Karthigai Deepam comes on the tamil month
Karthigai on Pournami day(Full moon day). Throughout the month lamps are
lit in the front of the house in the evening. On the
Thirukarthigai/Karthigai Deepam day the whole house is decorated with the
oil lamps. Thiruvannamalai is famous for Thirukarthigai/Karthigai Deepam.
5 Thus origin of karthika festivals and all other purana modes
tirned as expansions of similar worships ONLY WHEN SAKTHAM WORSHIP
ORIGINATED FULL FLEDGE. Kerala because of Nambudris of bothe sects doing
devi upasana in good faith and bad faith as black magic spread equally all
the festivals on shakthis. KR IRS 28522
On Fri, 27 May 2022 at 08:20, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty <
[email protected]> wrote:
> *THRIKKARTHIKA AND CELEBRATIONS IN DEVI TEMPLES- FORWARD*
>
> Dear friends,
>
> I found a very interesting article linking festival Karthika with Devi
> temples in Kerala. I have visited and prayed in all the temples except
> kadampuzha during my official tours and Kadampuzha at my own accord many
> times. Hope an interesting reading
>
> Gopalakrishnan dated 27-5-2022
>
> *THRIKKARTHIKA*
>
> Thrikkarthika or Karthikai Deepam Festival is a grand *Festival of
> Lights.* The festival is observed in most Hindu homes and every temple of
> Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and falls in the month of Vrishchikam. *This
> occurs on the day when the moon is in conjunction with the constellation
> Karthika(Pleiades) and Pournami*. This constellation appears as a group
> of six stars in the firmament in the shape of a pendant from the ear.
>
> Keralites celebrate the festival of lights literally on 'Thrikkarthika
> day', rather than Deepavali. In the month of Vrichikam(Nov-Dec), Karthika
> day which mostly falls on the full moon day is celebrated as Thrikkarthika.
> As usual the celebration includes a feast with sweets, visiting nearby
> temples in morning and evening especially Devi Temples. *Some people
> believes it is a celebration for the killing of demon "Narakasura'* *but
> most of the people believes this day as the birth day of Goddess
> 'Karthyayani Devi'. *
>
> Usually on Thrikkarthika day no crackers are lighted but the highlight is
> given for devotion. In Many parts of Kerala people do not even make a feast
> on this day but make rice soup(Kanji) with 'Karthika Puzhukku'(A vegetable
> preparation of a mixture of several underground stems ). In the evening
> each and every Hindu home is illuminated with small earthen oil lamps in the
> lawn,on the walls, on the terrace, in the pooja room, on the steps and in
> each and every corner and it will be a beautiful sight. *Almost all Devi
> Temples in Kerala will also be decorated with thousands of lighted small
> oil lamps.*
>
> The lighting of the lamp is significant because in our visual experience,
> it is light which makes us see. It plays a significant role in our
> perception of the world around us. If there is no light, there is no
> experience of anything around us. *Like Diwali, Thrikarthika’s message is
> also the same – victory of dharma. *So, people are lighting traditional
> lamps known as ‘Chirad’ made of clay in their homes and temples at evening
> twilight. Actually children are more interested in lighting lamps than
> elders. Lamp is known as ‘Vilakk’ in both Malayalam and Tamil and hence
> lighting lamps on Karthika day of Vrischikam month is known as Karthika
> Vilakk.
>
> *Many legends and lyrical poetry have grown around Karthika star. The six
> stars are considered in Indian mythology as the six celestial nymphs who
> reared the six babies in the saravana pond which* later were joined
> together to form the six faced Muruga. He is therefore called Karthikeya,
> and in Tamilnadu, this day is celebrated as Lord Muruga's birthday. As
> the six nymphs helped in growing the six child, lord shiva blessed
> immortality to the six nymphs as ever living stars on the sky. Any
> worship performed to this six stars is equal to worshiping lord Muruga
> himself. They are worshiped by lighting up rows of oil lamps (Deepam) in
> the evening of the festival day around the houses and streets.
>
> *The Thrikkarthika day is the main festival day of several Devi temples of
> Kerala*. The most importance is given to the Devi at 'Kumaranallur' of
> Kottayam District. Some people even refer to this day as 'Kumaranallur
> Thrikkarthika'.
>
> *KUMARANALLOOR DEVI TEMPLE:*
>
> The Kumaranalloor temple is situated in the Perumbaikad village of
> Kottayam Taluk. Located around *5 kilometers away from Kottayam* town,
> the Devi temple has an interesting legend behind. The temple was originally
> intended for Kumaran (God Subramanian) but was occupied by Devi telling
> *Kumaran-alla-ooru* means the place is not for Kumaran and thus came to
> be called Kumaranalloor.
>
> The Kumaranalloor Thrikkarthika festival is celebrated here in the month
> of Vrishchikam (November - December). The ten day festival starts with the
> hosting of holy flag (Kodiyettam) on the first day. Special poojas are
> conducted from second day onwards. There will be 'Arattu' (holy bath) of
> the idol in the nearby *Meenachil River*. The ninth day or the day
> 'Karthika' is the most important one. It is very special for Devi and the
> resplendent "deepakazcha" at the temple in the evening is a divine
> experience.
>
> *CHAKKULATHUKAVU DEVI TEMPLE:*
>
> Sree Chakkulathukavu Devi Temple, dating back to about 3000 years, is
> located at *'Neerattupuram' on the border of Patthanamthitta and
> Alappuzha Districts of Kerala. *
>
> Here the Devi - goddess is in swayambhu - self- manifested in the shape of
> Lingam. Thrikkarthika Festival' (the birthday of the goddess) in the
> Malayalam month of 'Vrichikam' is well celebrated on a grand scale in this
> temple. On this important day, the major attractions are *'Laksha Deepam'* (
> 100,000 oil lamps are light on the temple premises) and 'Karthika Pillar.
> The former is symbolic of spread of wisdom, prosperity and goodwill and the
> latter refers to an event in which Aricanut tree, decorated with
> plantain, straw, dry leaves, etc., is set on fire, symbolizing eradication
> of evil thoughts, negative elements from our mind.
>
> *On Thrikkarthika Day the 'Pongala Festival' here is performed by lots of
> women devotees who light up* oil lamps at the temple and in their houses.
> Women folks prepare Pongala (in Tamil Pongal) by cooking rice with Jaggery
> (Naattu sakkarai or Vellam) and grated coconut in earthen pots set in the
> open places near the temple and offer it to the goddess. The make-shift
> hearth is made of bricks and one can see lines of Pongala pots on the paths
> leading to the temple.
>
> *VADAKKUNNATHAN TEMPLE:*
>
> On the Thrikkarthika day in Vrischikam(November-December) morning poojas
> for Vadakkunnatha are conducted at the Southern compound wall. It is
> believed that on this day Lord Vadakkunnatha will sit on the compound wall
> looking
> Southwards to see his consort's (Kumaranalloor Kathyayani Devi) return
> procession after the Thrikkarthika Aarattu in Meenachil river.
>
> Vilwamangalam Swamiyar once visited this temple in the morning on
> Thrikkarthika day. He realized the absence of Vadakkunnatha inside the
> Sreekovil. So he went around and found the Lord on the compound wall. *It
> was Vilwamangalam who started the pooja on Southern compound wall on
> Thrikkarthika day.*
>
> *KADAMPUZHA DEVI TEMPLE:*
>
> The Karthika day in Vrischigam is celebrated as Pradishta day in Temple
> with Sudhi, Navakom, Panchagavyam, special kalasams etc on the auspices of
> the Thanthri of the temple. *The Poomoodal and all special poojas on this
> day are performed by Devaswom directly.*
>
> Unlike other temples, the Karthika deepam lightings are done *in the
> early hours in the morning.* There will be large scale Prasada Ootu to
> the devotees in specially put up vast pandal in temple compound from 10.30
> am onwards which may extend to the evening. The number of devotees who
> attend this religious feast may well cross 15000. There will be special
> poojas and vadhyams particularly in *Sree Madambiyarkavu, a Kiratha
> Moorthy Temple situated 2 km away from here*. Due to the ceremonial
> connections the Karthika day poojas in this Temple are offered by
> Kadampuzha Devaswom.
>
> *By Team Devaayanam at December 05, 2016*
>
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