🪔 Karthigai Deepam - Sunday, 26th November 2023 🪔
Karthigai Deepam is celebrated on the full moon day of Kartigai month (November-December) which falls on the ascension of the Kritigai star. It is on this day that the huge beacon is lit on the holy hill Arunachala (Tiruvannamalai), in South India.
Karthigai deepam sloka
to be chanted while lighting the lamp
कीटा: पतङ्गा: मशका: च वृक्षाः
जले स्थले ये निवसन्ति जीवाः|
दृष्ट्वा प्रदीपं न च जन्म भाजा:
सुखिनः भवन्तु श्वपचाः हि विप्रा:||
keeTAh patangAh mashakAh cha vrukshAh
jale sthale ye nivasanti jIvAh
drushTvA pradeepam na cha janma bhAjAh
sukhinah bhavantu svapachAh hi viprAh
கீடா: பதங்கா: மசகாச்ச வ்ருக்ஷா:
ஜலே ஸ்தலே யே நிவஸந்தி ஜீவா: |
த்ருஷ்ட்வா ப்ரதீபம் ந ச ஜன்ம பாஜா:
ஸுகின பவந்து ச்வபசா ஹி விப்ரா: ||
Meaning:
keeTA: = insects.
patangA: = fire flies.
mashakA: cha = mosquitoes.
vrukshA: = plant kingdom.
ye jeevA: = those living beings
nivasanti = whose abode is
jalE sthalE= either water or land.
drushTvA pradeepam = when ANY such living beings happen to see the light from this kArtigai deepam na cha = May they end janma
bhAjA: = the cycle of samsAram.
sukhina: bhavantu = may they ALL all become happy.
svapachA: hi = be they the dog-meat eating
chanDAlAs viprA: = or be they highly revered vedic pundits, the bramhaNas.
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Mahaperiyava's explanation
Story of Karthigai Deepam
Once Lord Shiva assumed the form of a hill at Tiruvannamalai in South India. Here He quelled the pride of Brahma and Vishnu who were quarreling as to their relative greatness.
Lord Shiva appeared as an endless flame of light before Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, who each considered himself supreme and said that the matter could be tested if the two could search for Lord Shiva's Head and feet. Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and delved deep into the earth, Lord Brahma that of a swan and flew towards the skies. Lord Vishnu failed in his search and returned. But Lord Brahma, chancing upon a piece of Thazhambu, a flower, learnt from it that it had been floating down for thirty thousand years from Lord Shiva's head. He seized upon this and claimed to Lord Shiva that he had seen the other's top. Lord Siva realized the falsehood and pronounced that there would never be a temple for Lord Brahma in this world. He also interdicted the use of the flower Thazhambu in his worship. Lord Shiva appeared as a flame, this day is called Karthikai Maha Deepam.
One day, when Lord Shiva was in meditation, Parvati left Him and went to the hill of Arunachala. There She performed penance. She was the guest of the sage Gautama. It was during Her penance here that Mahishasura was killed by Durga hidden by Parvati. Parvati saw Shiva as Arunachalesvara. She was taken back by the Lord to His side, and made His Ardhangini once more, that is, She occupied half of the body of the Lord.
Arunachalesvara is Tejo Lingam. Arunachala or the Tiruvannamalai Hill is the place that represents the fire element. (The five elements are represented by five holy places in India.)
When the light on the top of the Tiruvannamalai Hill is unveiled on the Kartigai Deepam day, people see the big light and worship it. They recite again and again in a loud voice “Harohara”.
The esoteric meaning is that he who sees the light of lights that is burning eternally in the chambers of his heart through constant meditation attains immortality. The light on the Arunachala brings the message to you that the Self or Lord Shiva is self-effulgent, He is the light of lights.
💥 On the Kartigai Deepam day in South India, people make bonfires in front of temples in the evening. It is said that Lord Shiva burnt the chariots of several demons who were torturing sages and celestial. This bonfire symbolises this legend.
💥 People place rows of earthen lamps in front of their houses on the evening of Kartigai Deepam and worship the Lord. They also light a variety of fireworks. Annihilate the three impurities, namely, egoism, selfish action and delusion. Burn the mind, senses and the desires in the fire of knowledge of the Self or Shiva-Jnanam.
💥Attain full illumination and behold the light of lights, which illumines the mind, intellect, sun, moon, stars, lightning and the fire. This is real Kartigai Deepam.
May the light of lights illumine us all!
May Lord Shiva bless us with more light!
May we merge in this supreme light and attain
the eternal abode of bliss and immortality!
- Om Namah Shivaya -
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