Celebrating Karthigai Deepam
Karthigai Deepam festival, the festival of lamps, is one of the oldest of Tamil festival, ushering in prosperity and joy. Celebrated in the month of 'Karthigai' (mostly November) this festival is celebrated when the full moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai. Crackers are bursted and lamps are lit in temples and houses to celebrate this wonderful day. Celebrated for three days you can find references to the festival in the book of poems "Ahananuru", which dates back to the Sangam Age (200 B.C. to 300 A.D.) Karthigai Deepam is celebrated as an extension of Diwali. It is a luminous sight to see little lamp arrayed in and around the house. It is a beautiful sight in the villages, where houses are lined with lamps glowing. The observance of this wonderful festival is believed to bring in fresh hope, peace, prosperity and happiness in one's life. The festivities go on for 3 days and celebrated with happiness and joy throughout Tamilnadu. Karthigai Deepam is one of the oldest festivals celebrated in the state perhaps even before people began celebrating Navratri and Deepavali.
Legend of Karthiigai Deepam
Legend of Siva (Arunachaleshwara) in Thiruvannamalai, has a special significance with regards to Karthigai Deepam-the festival of lamps. Brahma and Vishnu entered into an argument, as to who was the powerful of them. Lord Siva arose as a huge column of fire, of immeasurable height and asked them to find out the exact location of his head and his feet. Meanwhile, he transformed himself into a huge pillar of fire. Brahma assumed the form of a swan and moved upwards. Vishnu transformed himself into a boar and started digging deep into the earth. After searching for years, they were not able to find the ends of the pillar. Accepting defeat, they prayed to Lord Siva that the blazing pillar should establish itself as a Hill (Thiruvannamalai), and that Lord Siva should take the form of a Lingam on the east of the Hill. They entreated that as a remembrance of the Greatness of Lord Siva, a Jyothi should appear every year on the top of the Hill during the time of Karthigai Deepam. That is how this festival came to be known as Annamalai Deepam. Thiruvannamalai, near Chennai is and important temple of the festival. A special torch is lighted on the zenith of the Hill and it is believed that Lord Siva's Jyothi will be visible on this day.
Karthigai Deepam festival, the festival of lamps, is one of the oldest of Tamil festival, ushering in prosperity and joy. Celebrated in the month of 'Karthigai' (mostly November) this festival is celebrated when the full moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai. Crackers are bursted and lamps are lit in temples and houses to celebrate this wonderful day. Celebrated for three days you can find references to the festival in the book of poems "Ahananuru", which dates back to the Sangam Age (200 B.C. to 300 A.D.) Karthigai Deepam is celebrated as an extension of Diwali. It is a luminous sight to see little lamp arrayed in and around the house. It is a beautiful sight in the villages, where houses are lined with lamps glowing. The observance of this wonderful festival is believed to bring in fresh hope, peace, prosperity and happiness in one's life. The festivities go on for 3 days and celebrated with happiness and joy throughout Tamilnadu. Karthigai Deepam is one of the oldest festivals celebrated in the state perhaps even before people began celebrating Navratri and Deepavali.
Legend of Karthiigai Deepam
Legend of Siva (Arunachaleshwara) in Thiruvannamalai, has a special significance with regards to Karthigai Deepam-the festival of lamps. Brahma and Vishnu entered into an argument, as to who was the powerful of them. Lord Siva arose as a huge column of fire, of immeasurable height and asked them to find out the exact location of his head and his feet. Meanwhile, he transformed himself into a huge pillar of fire. Brahma assumed the form of a swan and moved upwards. Vishnu transformed himself into a boar and started digging deep into the earth. After searching for years, they were not able to find the ends of the pillar. Accepting defeat, they prayed to Lord Siva that the blazing pillar should establish itself as a Hill (Thiruvannamalai), and that Lord Siva should take the form of a Lingam on the east of the Hill. They entreated that as a remembrance of the Greatness of Lord Siva, a Jyothi should appear every year on the top of the Hill during the time of Karthigai Deepam. That is how this festival came to be known as Annamalai Deepam. Thiruvannamalai, near Chennai is and important temple of the festival. A special torch is lighted on the zenith of the Hill and it is believed that Lord Siva's Jyothi will be visible on this day.
The birth of Lord Murugan also holds special significance to the festival of lamps. It was on this day that Lord Muruga who incarnated as six infants, (out from six sparks from the third eye of Lord Siva, in Saravana Poigai (a holy tank) was conjoined into one, with the embrace of Goddess Parvati.
Significance of celebrating
The significance of celebrating Karthigai Deepam festival, is symbolized in the functioning of a lamp. The oil used to light the lamp, symbolizes the innate tendencies in one, which, is responsible for the ego to thrive. The wick is the ego. The flame of the lamp symbolizes, spiritual knowledge, which empties the oil, as it also burns the wick, the ego (body, mind complex). With the draining of the innate tendencies and the burning of the wick, one attains the spiritual goal, the realization of the ultimate truth. The little flames of different lamps symbolize the essence of universal oneness.
Significance of celebrating
The significance of celebrating Karthigai Deepam festival, is symbolized in the functioning of a lamp. The oil used to light the lamp, symbolizes the innate tendencies in one, which, is responsible for the ego to thrive. The wick is the ego. The flame of the lamp symbolizes, spiritual knowledge, which empties the oil, as it also burns the wick, the ego (body, mind complex). With the draining of the innate tendencies and the burning of the wick, one attains the spiritual goal, the realization of the ultimate truth. The little flames of different lamps symbolize the essence of universal oneness.
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