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. 

0

sarannya

21:27

 

 

First Day:	Asweyuja Bahula Thrayodasi, Dhanatrayodashi, Yamadeepdaan
Second Day:	Narkachaturdashi
Third Day:	Kaumudi Mahostavam, Balindra Pooja, Karthigai Deepam, Thalai Deepavali
Fourth Day:	Bali Padyam / Bali Pratipada
Fifth Day:	Yamadwitheya , Bhatri Ditya

1) Clean the house and business premises thoroughly before the Diwali day, or the Dhanteras. Do the laundry, clean all the rooms and sort out your papers in both your home and business. Clean the oven, smear it with lime and apply four or five dots with kumkum on it.

2) Do Shopping. Get new clothes, utensils, jewellery, small gifts for your family, relatives and friends.

a) Note down the items you are gonna prepare on diwali day and get all the items needed. Listing out some of them.

            1) Dress and other cosmetics
            2) Diwali lamps/candels
            3) Crackers for diwali
            4) Flowers for pooja
            5) Groceries
            6) Rangoli Powders
            7) Mehandhi(henna) cones

 
3) Put Mehandhi (henna) designs in hand. Apply to kids, relative women's and friends.

4) Make the entrance way to your home or business colourful using the traditional motifs of Rangoli designs, bells, flower garlands, wall hangings, mirrors, LED lights, etc. This is a joyful way to welcome the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. Rangoli designs can be found across the internet.

5) Decorate Pooja Room.  For Diwali Festival, in the traditional pooja room, betel leaves, betel nuts, plaintain fruits, flowers, sandal paste, kumkum, gingelly oil, turmeric powder, scented powder is kept. Crackers and new dresses are placed in a plate after smearing a little kumkum or sandal paste.

6) Oil Bath on Diwali Day. The Diwali day begins with everyone in the family taking an oil bath before sunrise, a custom arising from a belief that having an oil bath in the morning on the day of diwali is equivalent to taking bath in the Ganges. Before the bath, elders in the house apply gingelly oil on the heads of the younger members.

7) Wear new clothes and get blessings. Lit lamp in pooja room. After praying to god, elder member of the house will give the new dress to the family members, presented infront of God. After wearing new dress, get blessings from elders.





 

 
8) Light some firecrackers and fireworks. These are a common part of Diwali, used to symbolize warding off evil from your surroundings. They are usually set off in greatest numbers on the actual day of Diwali.

9) Bake sweets, snacks, and savouries. These are traditional offerings for Diwali and are given as gifts. In Tanjore, the custom is to first take a small quantity of deepavali lehiyam (medicinal, ayurvedic paste) after the oil bath and then have breakfast. Often sweets are eaten after wearing new clothes. In almost all houses, items like ukkarai, velli appam, idly, chutney, sambhar, omapudi, boondhi are prepared. For lunch, jangri, pathir peni, or one variety of the poli are made.

 

10) Burn lamps every night during the festival. In the evening, light small oil lamps (called "diyas") and place them around the home. Turn all the lights on and light some candles.










 

11) Pooja in evening. Lit kuthu vilaku (oil lamp) in the pooja room. Mats or wooden planks are placed facing east. After naivedhya (offering to the Gods) of the items, a plaintain fruit is given to each member of the family followed by betel leaves and betel nuts. Those who have to perform 'pithru tharpanam' will have a second bath perform the tharpanam and don't eat rice at night.

12) Exchange gifts, burst crackers and enjoy. Invite your friends and relatives home. Offer sweets, snacks and savouries. The basic idea behind the tradition of exchanging Diwali Gifts is to accelerate the feeling of love, bonding, affection and appreciation. People convey their respect, good wishes, blessings, love and appreciation for their dear ones through gifts. Since Diwali is a religious festival, sending Diwali Gifts also symbolises one's prayers to the almighty for the prosperity and well being of the recipient.

We wish you all, a happy and safe diwali!!!

2

sarannya

08:52