Karthigai Deepam

Karthigai Deepam is observed in every home and every temple in Tamil Nadu. This occurs on the day when the moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai (Pleiades) and purnima. This constellation appears as a group of six stars in the firmament in the shape of a pendant from the ear. Many legends and lyrical poetry have grown round this star. The six stars are considered in Indian mythology as the six celestial nymphs who reared the six babies in the saravana tank which later were joined together to form the six faced Muruga. He is therefore called Karthikeya, the one brought up by the Karthigai nymphs. Houses and streets are lit up with rows of oil lamps (Deepam) in the evening of the festival day.

Karthikai Deepam is one of the oldest festivals celebrated by the Tamil people. The festival finds reference in Sangam literature like Ahananuru and the poems of Auvaiyar.

Mythological aspects 

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(Sanskrit:Varaha, Tamil:Varahan) and delved deep into the earth, Lord Brahma that of a swan(Sanskrit:Hamsa, Tamil:Annam) 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 Maha Deepam.

Celebrations

Rows of Agal vilakkus (oil lit lamps) are lit in every house. Karthigai is essentially a festival of lamps. The lighted lamp is considered an auspicious symbol. It is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy. While the lighted lamp is important for all Hindu rituals and festivals, it is indispensable for Karthigai. This festival is also celebrated to commemorate the bonding between brothers and sisters in south India(analogous to Bhaiya-Dhuj and Raakhi). Sisters pray for the prosperity and success of their brothers and light lamps to mark the occasion.

First day of this festival is called as "Appakarthigai" and the second day is called as "vadai karthigai". All devotees will offer pori, adhirasam,vella Seedai, vetrilai pakku, fruits as neivedhyam for God Shiva.

In down South of Tamilnadu and in Kerala, Hindus will pray god for goodness of their brothers and they will light a elephant lamp(Gajalakshmi Vilaku) which marks as a sign of prosperity and wealth. The story behind lighting elephant lamp(Gajalakshmi Vilaku) is given below.

Why we light Elephant lamp on Karthigai ?

Once upon a time there lived a King and he had only one daughter. She loved an elephant which grew with her and she considered the elephant as her own brother. After her marriage she missed her brother elephant very much. So for every Thirukarthigai/Karthigai deepam occasion, she will light elephant lamp(Gajalakshmi vilaku) and she will prepare tender coconut, elephant leg size milagu Milagu Adai, Pori, Adhirasam, Vella Seedai and keep them as neivedhyam for this festival.

So we on this auspicious occasion all devotees should chant the following lines

கீட: பதங்கா மசகாஸ்ச வ்ருதா

ஜலே ஸ்த்யேயே விசரந்தி ஜீவா

தருஷ்டவா ப்ரதீபம் ந ச ஜன்ம பாகிந:

பவந்தி நித்யம் சவ பசா ஹி விப்ரா

and also

Yaanai Vaazha

Arasan Vaazha

Penn Vaazha

Piranthagam Vaazha

and put one piece of pori in the lamp and perform the pooja along with neivedhyam.


கார்த்திகையன்று வீட்டிலோ அல்லது கோயில்களிலோ திருவிளக்கு பூஜை நடத்தினால், லட்சுமி கடாட்சம் நிலைத்திருக்கும். எல்லா இடங்களிலும் இருக்கும் இறைவனை நம் இல்லத்திலோ, ஊரிலோ எழுந்தருளச் செய்வதே விளக்கு வழிபாடு. ஆதியில் வேதரிஷிகள் ஹோமம் செய்து இறைவனை வழிபட்டனர். அப்போது, யாக குண்டங்களில் அக்னி எரியும். இதுவே எளிமையாக்கப் பட்டு தீப வழிபாடாக மாறியது. விளக்கு வழிபாடு சுற்றுப்புற இருளை அகற்றுவதோடு, மனதின் இருளையும் அகற்றுகிறது. பூஜையறையில் வெள்ளிக்கிழமைகளில் வாசலில் மாக்கோலம் இட்டு, அதன் மத்தியில் விளக்கை ஏற்றிவைத்து, அதனை வீட்டு பூஜையறைக்குள் கொண்டு வந்து வைத்தால் விளக்குடன் மகாலட்சுமியும் இல்லத்திற்குள் வருவாள் என்பது ஐதீகம்.