The Great Story Behind Karthigai Deepam

by Astro Ved Online Astrology Consultation

Karthigai Deepam is one of the most significant festivals in South India. It is celebrated in many states like Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, other than Tamil Nadu. Tamil people celebrate this festival of lights in a grand manner as important legends are related to it. This is an extended Diwali in South India which people there celebrate after Diwali by lighting the lamps every day and carry on the rituals till the day of Karthigai Deepam. 

 

In south India, it appears lovely to witness the festival of lights and lamps where the oil lamps glow the entire state. The festival happens in the same month as Diwali; according to the Tamil calendar, it happens in the month of Karthigai. There is usually a full moon day on which Karthigai Deepam is celebrated, and it also coincides with the Karthigai star. The month is one significant month as this is the birth month of Lord Muruga, who is the most significant deity in Tamil Nadu.

 

The Celebration in Ancient Times

 

The festival has been celebrated since the olden era; the festival has its reference in Ahananuru. This represents the collection of poems from the Sangam age of Tamil history. This era represents things between 200 BC and 300 AD. Avvaiyar, the female poet who was lived during the Sangam period, has also mentioned Karthigai Deepam in her poems. Hence we can see how this festival has been here from the olden periods and is still celebrated.

 

The Ten Days Celebration

 

Karthigai Deepam is a ten days celebration during which special preparations happen in all the temples in South India. The festivity is also known as Tiruvannamalai Deepam, during which special decorations, devotion, and celebration take place at the Arunachaleswarar temple in the Annamalai hills in Thiruvannamalai.

 

The celebration begins on Uthradam day by hosting the flag. The Bharani Deepam is lit in Arunachaleswarar’s sannidhi in the early morning on the tenth day. A large number of devotees come to Annamalai hills to witness and worship the grand Bharani Deepam on the final day.

 

The flame of this Deepam is considered the most sacred and powerful; people believe that this flame doesn’t sputter and reaches the sky. This flame represents Lord Muruga!

 

Legends Behind Karthigai Deepam

 

Once Lord Brahma and Vishnu went into a fight about who was the supreme over the other. The fight got serious, and none of them were ready to neutralize the matter. Seeing the environment, Devas approached Lord Shiva and explained the entire scenario.

 

Shiva then took the form of a huge pillar of light and asked both Lord to find the end of the light. Shiva also stated that whoever will find the end will be the supreme. Both Lord agreed; Vishnu took the form of a boar and went down into Earth to find the end. Brahma became a swan and flew toward the sky to find the beginning of the fire.

 

After months of research, no Lords can find the beginning or end of the fire. However, Lord Brahma lied, stating that he had found the beginning. Lord Shiva understood the lie and cursed Brahma for it.

 

Shiva, however, proved to both Lords that he is endless; there is no beginning or end, and hence is the Supreme upon which both Lords agreed. His form of light pillar appeared in the Thiruvannamalai region. Hence the hill was named Tiruvannamalai and Arunachala, which means the “holy fire hill.” Later, people also built a temple to remember and honor this event forever.

 

Another legend is related to Lord Muruga, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is said that Muruga was born from the fire of Shiva. There were six sparks, and these sparks took the form of six babies who were raised and cared for by the six Karthigai penngal (Karthigai stars) in Saravana Poigai lake. Later, Goddess Paravati, during her visit, encountered the six babies and converted them into one. This is how Lord Muruga was created, and hence he is also known as Aarumugan, the one with six faces.

 

Thus the celebration happens in the Annamalai Hills for both Lord Shiva and Muruga. Shiva is considered the protector of the world who also has the power of destruction. He is the Adi Yogi and hence is worshipped every year during Karthigai Deepam along with Lord Muruga since they are both related to important legends.

 

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Created on Oct 20th 2021 03:11. Viewed 164 times.

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