Karthigai the month of illumination and brightness

The tale of the gods

The 'Devas', the heavenly immortals, put in their best possible efforts to have a complete darshan of Lord Shiva. While in this process Lord Brahma took the form of a swan and Lord Vishnu in the form of a boar conducted an extensive search in the sky and in the nether world respectively. Accordingly Lord Shiva gave a darshan to them in the form of flaming light whose ends cannot be defined. That is called as the 'Annamalai Deepam'. Other than this the Mondays of the 'Karthigai' month is celebrated as 'Karthigai Somavaaram' in all the Shiva temples.

The tale of the rat

Let me recall an interesting story. A small rat, in a Shiva temple, accidentally drew out the wick of the lamp, thereby, making the lamp glow and fill the temple with brightness. It is believed that this rat was, later on, born as a king as a reward for drawing out the lamp unknowingly. As a mark of this event on the full moon day or on the day of the 'Bharani' star of the Tamil month Karthigai called as the 'Mahabharani' on which day bonfires (called as 'sokkapaanai' in Tamil') are conducted in the temples. This is to mark that we have to set fire to our old thoughts, sins and sorrows.

It is in the month of 'Karthigai' the devotees of Lord Ayyappa take on a pilgrimage to Sabarimala, the abode of Lord Ayyappa. Similarly 'Karthigai' month is very special for Lord Vishnu too.

If the new moon day falls on a Monday during the Karthigai month then going round the peepul tree is tantamount to going round the Trimurthis - namely Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. That is why the Lord in the Bhagavad Gita states, "of all the trees I am the peepul tree." Similarly 'annabishekam' is being performed on the full moon day of the Karthigai month for Lord Shiva.

Of the five holy shrines of Lord Shiva, the 'Pancha bootha kshetram', Thiruvannamalai is the 'Jyothi Kshetram' where the Lord is personified as the divine light combined with brightness and wisdom. ('Pancha Bootham' refers to the five elements of nature namely earth, water, fire, sky and air. Lord Shiva is worshipped in these forms in five shrines known as the Pancha Bootha Kshetram.) We are all aware that during the Karthigai month a huge light is lit on the hilltop and we all believe that the Lord is in the form of that light. Apart from this lamps are being lit in all the houses and it is a feast to see the houses glow with the lamps.

So the Tamil month Karthigai is always associated with poojas, illumination, offerings and what not. It has always been a special month for the Hindus. So it can be ultimately concluded that Karthigai means illumination and brightness.

Compiled by Veda Gopalan
Translated by: Sujatha Pradeep