VIDEO:
Today
is the holy day of Karthika Pournami. Karthika Masam is the name of the current
Lunar month and today is Pournami which is Full Moon Day hence the day is
called Karthika Pournami. Today is also called Karthika Punnami and Karthika
Poornima / Purnima. It is a holy celebration of both Lord Shiva and Lord
Vishnu. It is the day on which Lord Shiva killed Tripurasura a demon king and
protected the world. With boons from Lord Ganesha, Tripurasura became
indestructible, grew into an evil force and defeated all the kings of Earth and
the Gods in Heaven. According to Lord Ganesha’s boon, Tripurasura could be
killed only by Lord Shiva. After witnessing the evil deeds and destruction
unleashed by Tripurasura, Lord Ganesha approached Tripurasura in the guise of a
Brahmin with a plan to eliminate him.
The Brahmin displayed 64 arts to the demon king, and pleased with the
Brahmin; Tripurasura offered to grant him any wish he made. The Brahmin asked
for the Idol of Chinthamani which is with Lord Shiva. As Lord Shiva refused to
part with the Idol, a war took place between Lord Shiva and Tripurasura. The
Chariot that Lord Shiva rode in this war is described as Prithvi (Earth) with
the Sun and Moon as its wheels and the bow as Meru (the huge mountain) and Lord
Vishnu as the arrow. This single arrow from Lord Shiva destroyed all the
materialistic boons that Lord Ganesha had offered to Tripurasura in the form of
palaces and vimanams (planes). The speed and force of the arrow caused heavy lightning
which made Tripurasura faint and ultimately brought about his end.
People
in very large numbers bathe in the holy rivers of the country today. They visit
Temples and offer prayers. ‘Abhishekam’ is performed to Lord Shiva. As such,
Karthika Masam that is the entire month of Karthikam is considered very
auspicious. During this entire month and especially today oil lamps are lit at
Temples, at holy rivers and houses with hundreds of wicks, sometimes thousands
of wicks (‘Karthika Deepa-aradhana’) and in modern days 365 wicks to represent
the days of the year. Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi along with all the Gods
are said to visit and reside under Amla that is Usiri or Gooseberry trees by
the side of Tulisi plants that is Basil plants, in this month. Hence a lot of
prominence is given to these plants, prayers are offered to the plants on this
day and in this month, and picnics are organized outdoors, preferably under
Amla trees. These rituals are called Vana Mahotsavam or Vanabhojanalu. All
these actions are considered very beneficial, they are said to liberate us from
all sins and bless us with good health, wealth, prosperity, success, longevity
and fulfilment of all wishes.
The
attached photographs and video show Karthika Pournami puja at our house today.
