Karthigai deepam is a festival of lights,celebrated on the full moon day of tamil calendar month karthigai (November/december) ,which coincides with the karthigai star. This year Karthigai deepam falls on 08.12.12 (Thursday). The lighted lamp is considered as an auspicious symbol, it is believed to ward off
evil forces and bring in prosperity and joy in life. On this day, People clean the houses and in evening, they draw kolams in front of houses and also rows of oil lamps (agal Vizhakku) is lit up on the festival day.
Karthigai deepam festival is famous in Thiruvannamalai temple. On this day, a huge fire lamp is lit up on the hill, visible for several kilometers around the hill. This deepam is called Mahadeepam.
Legends / Mythological stories :
Lord shiva appeared as a huge flame of light before Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma , who each considered themselves as supreme and said that it can be tested if the two could search for Lord shiva beginning and end. Vishnu was appointed the end, and Brahma the beginning. Each took their journey, Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and began digging downwards into the earth while Lord Brahma took on the shape of a swan began flying upwards. But neither could find their appointed destination. Lord Vishnu gave up his search and returned back to Lord Shiva. Lord Brahma did not give up so easily. As he was going up, he saw a kaitha(Thalamppu) flower. His ego forced him to ask the flower to bear false witness of Brahma's finding Shiva's beginning. When Lord Brahma told his tale, Lord Shiva, the all-knowing, was angered by the former's
ego. Lord Shiva thus cursed him that no being in the three worlds will worship him. and that the thazhambu flower should not be used while praying to Lord Siva.The place where Lord Shiva stood as a column of fire to eliminate the ego is Thiruvannamalai.
The birth of Lord Muruga also holds special significnce to the celebration of karthigai deepam festival, It was on this day Lord Muruga who first incarnated as six infants in saravana poigai.
This festival is also celebrated to commemorate the bonding between brothers and sisters. Sisters pray for the prosperity and success of their brothers and light lamps...there is a legend relating to this and also as to :
evil forces and bring in prosperity and joy in life. On this day, People clean the houses and in evening, they draw kolams in front of houses and also rows of oil lamps (agal Vizhakku) is lit up on the festival day.
Karthigai deepam festival is famous in Thiruvannamalai temple. On this day, a huge fire lamp is lit up on the hill, visible for several kilometers around the hill. This deepam is called Mahadeepam.
Legends / Mythological stories :
Lord shiva appeared as a huge flame of light before Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma , who each considered themselves as supreme and said that it can be tested if the two could search for Lord shiva beginning and end. Vishnu was appointed the end, and Brahma the beginning. Each took their journey, Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and began digging downwards into the earth while Lord Brahma took on the shape of a swan began flying upwards. But neither could find their appointed destination. Lord Vishnu gave up his search and returned back to Lord Shiva. Lord Brahma did not give up so easily. As he was going up, he saw a kaitha(Thalamppu) flower. His ego forced him to ask the flower to bear false witness of Brahma's finding Shiva's beginning. When Lord Brahma told his tale, Lord Shiva, the all-knowing, was angered by the former's
ego. Lord Shiva thus cursed him that no being in the three worlds will worship him. and that the thazhambu flower should not be used while praying to Lord Siva.The place where Lord Shiva stood as a column of fire to eliminate the ego is Thiruvannamalai.
The birth of Lord Muruga also holds special significnce to the celebration of karthigai deepam festival, It was on this day Lord Muruga who first incarnated as six infants in saravana poigai.
This festival is also celebrated to commemorate the bonding between brothers and sisters. Sisters pray for the prosperity and success of their brothers and light lamps...there is a legend relating to this and also as to :
Why elephant lamp is lit on Karthigai deepam day ?
Once there lived a king and he had only one daughter. She loved an elephant as her own brother. After her marriage she missed her brother elephant very much, so for every karthigai she lits up elephant lamp and prepares Milagu adai, Pori, Appam, Adhirasam for neivedhiyam on this day .
