Karthik And Margashirsha

Karthigai Masam, or Karthika month, is the eighth month in a traditional Tamil calendar and it derives its name from the Nakshatram, or star, ‘Krithiga.’ Tamil Month Karthigai in 2011 begins on November 17 and ends on December 16. The Mondays in the month are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Karthikai Somavara Vratam is observed. Another important ritual in the month is the Karthikai Deepam. Ayyappa devotees start the 41-day Ayyappa Deeksha Vratam and take a pilgrimage to Sabarimala in this month. Karthigai Masam (November to December) is a highly auspicious Tamil month. Fasting and pujas performed in this month is considered very very auspicious and it is said will fetch much greater returns than usual.I must indeed without fail mention here that it is no doubt most sacred to do all fast and penances without expecting anything in return.Itis also a unique month because both Siva and Vishnu are both worshipped during this month.
The month of Karthigai is also very sacred to Krishna and also known as Damodara Mas. Sri Krishna Damodara Leela or Ulukha Leela was during this month of Karthigai.KARTIK MAAS, the auspicious,Holiest, the best among months for performing austerities. Shree Radha Rani is the presiding Deity of this month.Vrundavan has the special importance in this month. Dhruv Maharaj also performed austerities here in this Kartik maas only.


Lighting of Lamp / diya with sesam oil, under the GOOSEBERRY TREE /AMLA or TULSI TREE is recommanded with this mantra......

नम: पितृभय: प्रेतेभ्यो नमो धर्माय विष्णवे!
नम: यमाय रुद्राय कांतारपत्ये नम:!!

this cleanses sins, blesses with health wealth and proficiency !


Shree Krihna says, "Of all plants, the sacred Tulsi is most dear to Me; of all months, Kartik is most dear, of all places of pilgrimage, My beloved Dwarka is most dear, and of all days, Ekadashi is most dear ."(Padma Puran, Uttara Khand 112.3)

Kartik or the festival of offering lamps to Shree Krushna, glorifies the " Uukhal Leela ". Shree Krihna was named as DAMODAR after this Leela. Observing vrat in the month of Kartik is glorified in the Puranas.

"As Sat-yuga is the best of yugas (ages), as the Vedas are the best among scriptures, as Ganga is best of rivers, so Kartik is the best of months, the most dear to Bhagvan Shree Krishna."(Skand Puran)

One may observe the following foremost activities throughout the entire month of Kartik:
1. Japa – chanting the holy names of Shree Krishna.
2. Worship Bhagvan Shree Krishna by offering ghee lamps (diyas), flowers, incense, food, etc.
3. Practice brahmacharya – celibacy.
4. Worship of Tulsi.
5. Give charity / Daan.
6. Perform austerities.

In this month of Kartik, many special festivals like Dhan-Teras, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Duj,Pandav Panchami, Gopashtami, Aavla Navmi, Tulsi Vivaah, Vaikunth Chaturdashi... and others take place.

Importance of the pious Kartik month:

"If somebody performs even a little worship of Bhagvan Shree Hari in this month, He offers that devotee His own abode / Vaikunth,whatever sins he has acquired for millions of ages are destroyed. One who eats once a day , becomes famous and powerful.A person who happily reads the "Bhagavad Gita" in the month of Kartik does not return to the world of birth and death.

Kartik Snan-

Early morning bathing for the satisfaction of Shree Krushna, offering argh as - O Janardan, O Damodar, O Devesh...please accept unto your lotus feet.

It is believed that, Shree Hari Vishnu appeared in the form of Matsya (fish) / Matsyavtar , to restore the Vedas in this month. The greatness of taking a bath in the holy rivers in Kartik month is mentioned in Puranas and other scriptures. Bhagvan Shree Krushna , himself has narrated about the importance of " Kartik mahina " to Satyabhamaji .

Also Bhagvan Shiva destroyed demon - Tarkasur on the Poornima in this month, known as Kartik Poornima / Tripurari Poornima.

Reading of Bhagvat Gita, Gopi Geet, Damodar Ashtak, Kartik Mahina Mahatmay is recommended.
Chanting of Damodara ashtakam during this month with devotion and bhakti will immensely please Krishna.
Karthigai and lamps are synonymous,so lighting lamps at home,temples,and also giving it as dana is indeed auspicious.
In most Tamil households every festival is generally related to the sweet meats and the periphary.Children eagerly look forward to the special food stuff mae for the occasion and also new clothes too many times.I used to always get a new pavadai for karthigai.My mother used to make the pori urundais and appam and adai for neivedyam on karthigai day.
We light plenty of agal vilakku's we had at home and arrange them in neat rows and around the kolam.My mother had the lamps in so many different sizes and shapes which have been cming down from generations.Lamps used to be lit for three days,and after neivedyam at home we used to carry a few new agal vilakkus to the nearby Shivan and Ganesha temples and light them there too.Every year a few new agal lamps are added to the kitty of lamps at home.
Karthigai deepam is also considered auspicious for brothers and a special prayer for their health and happiness is never missed out.
There is so much attached to Karthigai masam and I have attempted to jot down a few points that I did get to learn over the years and also through the information available on line.

Legend has it that Lord Shiva gave darshan to Lord Vishnu and Brahma in the form of a pillar of fire with no beginning or end on this day. This form is also referred as Annamalai Deepam in Tamil and is observed at Thiruvannamalai.
Another significant event in this month is the Mahabharani which is observed in Shiva temples by lighting bonfires and is known as Barani Deepam.

The month is also highly auspicious for Lord Muruga devotees as the month is named after the six Krithika stars. Son of Lord Shiva, Muruga was born as different babies – Shanmugha and was looked after by the Six Kritika stars. Later Goddess Parvati joined the six babies to give birth to Kartik or Muruga. Karthigai Masam (November to December) is a highly auspicious Tamil month. Fasting and pujas performed in this month is believed to be highly meritorious. Special significance is associated with Gooseberry or Nellikkai (Awala or Amla) and Karthigai Masam. It is believed that hearing stories of Muruga or Kartikeya under the Nellikkai tree will help in attaining good health and prosperity.
If food is taken under the gooseberry tree it will help in good health. If food is offered to the hungry or poor people or any living being under a gooseberry tree it will help in fulfilling your prayers and desires.
It is also said that if women of the family eat under the nellikai tree in Karthigai Masam it will help in the prosperity of the entire family.
Significance of Gooseberry or Nellikkai in Karthigai Masam is mentioned in the Padma Purana and Skanda Purana. The popular belief is that during the Karthigai month gods and sages reside on the Nellikkai Tree. Therefore worshipping the tree during the period can help in destroying sins and in fulfilling wishes.

Kartika masam- A month of sanctity
Kartika masam is considered very auspicious for the Hindus in south
India.It is very sacred to both the Saivites and Vaishnavites and the
devotees indulge in month-long prayers to the gods and believe they
would ward off all the sins. People observe strict austerities during
the month. They wake up early in the morning, take bath and visit
temples.
Among the important festivals during the month are Kartika Poornima when
special pujas are held and Poornima Dhyanam or meditation is performed,
and Kartika Ekadasi when devotees go on fast and break it on the next
day known as Ksheerabdi Dwadasi. On the Dwadasi day, a new Tulsi plant
along with a tender branch of amla tree is worshipped. Puja to Goddess
Lakshmi with offerings in coins is performed on the occasion.
Another practice is the lighting of lamps and leaving them in the river
on Poornima night and Amavasya morning in the month. Those living close
to rivers perform the ritual on a daily basis. Bathing in the river is
considered very sacred and the devotees during the month make it a point
to take a bath before sunrise and after sunset, and offer prayers to
keep both the body and mind pure and healthy.


IMPORTANCE OF MARGASHIRSHA MASAM(Marghazhi masam)
Margazhi is an important month,and people get up early in the morning and decorate the entrance to the houses with big rangolis and also keep a yellow flower in the centre of the rangoli.A deepam is also lit and kept out side the door.There is a nagaraa sankirtan and usually people go around the important streets of the city around the temple doing bajhans.After a parikrama they return back to the temple and then deepa aradanai is performed and usually the prasadam that is offered during this month is ven pongal in the mornings.A more spiritual and in depth understanding of the month of margahzi as I recently read by a very pouplar and well know acharya is as under:

" Margazhith thingal madhiniraindha nannallal
Neeradap podhuveer! Podhumino, nerizhaiyeer!
Seermalgum aippadich chelvach chirumeergal!
Koorvel kodunthozhilan Nandago pankumaran
Erarndha kanni Yasodai illanjchingam
Karmenich chengann kadirmadhiyam polmugathan
Narayanane namakke paraitharuvan
Paror pugazhap padindhelo rembavai. "

How is the elegance of these hymns? The first five hymns, starting with
'Margazhi thingal', are a preface. Then until the 16th hymn she wakes up the
gopis. In the following hymns she wakes up Nappinnai, then the Perumal, then His
guards at the gates ('dwarapalakas'). In this manner she wakes up each and
everyone. She wakes up Balarama (Krishna's brother). In the next hymn she
requests the Lord to get up from His bed ('sayana thirukolam') and bless them.
But she suspects if this blessing would be a true one! Hence, requests Him to
sit on the throne ('seeriya singasanathirundu') and bless them. Since Bhagavan
walks up to His throne and blesses them, she sings the praises of the Lotus Feet
of the Lord and then prays for the grant of eternal service to the Lord.

'Margazhith thingal' --- In Chaturmasya (the four months of monsoon - roughly
from mid-July to mid-November) the ascetics go on fast. 'Sayana Ekadasi'
('Ekadasi' is the 11th day after the new/full moon) is spoken of in Perumal,Vishnu
temples. In the Tamil month of Aipasi Lord Vishnu is asleep ('sayana
thirukkolam'). He wakes up now (in the month of Margazhi). What type of period
('kala') is this whence Bhagavan Himself is asleep? We should wake up at 3'o
clock in the morning. What should we do when we wake up early in the morning
('pratha kala')? There is a great Divine power ('shakti') in the cosmic. If we
wake up at 3'o clock this power brings peace ('ranjanam') to the mind. And this
time, whence the mind is at peace, is congenial to meditation ('dhyana'). We are
able to meditate well. So, we should wake up at 3'o clock in the morning and
meditate. Later, after 5'o clock we
should chant prayers ('slokas'). We should chant whatever 'slokas' our Achharya
/ Guru (spiritual Teacher/Guide) has blessed us with. Then, we should perform
'puja' to the Lord, followed by reading ('parayana') of holy texts. We should
then have our food and rest a while. At dusk we should sing kirtanas (hymns)
then again meditate a while in the night. This is the routine discipline
('anushtana krama') that one has to follow everyday. Similarly, there are
disciplines prescribed for the whole year. Beginning from 'Sayana Ekadasi' to
'Uthhana Ekadasi' one should perform penance ('tapas'). What is the reason?
Bhagavan Himself is asleep. The Lord's nidra is known as yogic sleep ('Yoga
nidra'). Why has the Lord gone into Yogic nidra? Our one completed year is equal
to a day of the Devas. In that one day, beginning from 'Sayana Ekadasi' to
'Uthhana Ekadasi' the Devas are also asleep. When do these Devas who are asleep,
wake up?

They wake up in this month of Margazhi. Our Margazhi month is 'pratha kala',
i.e. 3 to 5 in the morning, for the Devas. The Devas wake up at 'pratha kala'.
What do these Devas who wake up in the early hours of morning do? It is said
that there is no Vishnu in Deva loka. Devas do not have Perumal but it is said
that Vishnu does exist in heaven as Upendra. Though this Upendra is 'seen' by
them He does not exist in the form of a deity ('archhavatara') as in a Temple.
But, when the Devas desire to worship Bhagavan where do they go? It is said that
they come down to the earth. On the earth they worship the Perumal in the
various Temples, have His darshan. Since these Devas come to the earth in
'pratha kala' we should wake up at this time. What is the meaning of drawing
huge 'kolams' at the door of the house? The Devas pass the streets. In each and
every 'Raja veedhi' or wherever there is a Perumal temple one finds South
sannidhi street, north sannidhi
street, etc... The Devas visit such Holy places ('kshetras') on the earth;
hence, we should draw big kolams at the door. So, 'Margazhith thingal', ----
Since the Devas wake up early in the morning and worship Bhagavan we should also
worship Him. In the Gita, Bhagavan says, " Amongst the months I AM Margazhi. " -
'Masanam Margasheershoham' Margazhi month is said to be an inauspicious one
('peedai masam').

Marriages and other auspicious functions are not conducted in this month. When
the Lord spells out that amongst the month He is Margazhi, why is this month
considered inauspicious? In fact, this should be a revered/most favorable month.
One should be able to conduct marriages, house warming ceremony or any other
auspicious function in this month. But I pondered over, " why have the Mahans
termed this month as inauspicious? " And the conclusion that I drew is that if
performance of marriages or any other auspicious function were permitted in this
month then our minds would continue to be drowned only in such worldly affairs!
At least, this one-month let the people worship the Lord! Is this not the period
to worship Bhagavan? This is the time to worship. Is it not? Early morning
perform 'Thiruaradhana' for Bhagavan, perform Nama Sankirtana, meditate
('dhyana'). Since this one-month (the thirty days) is early morning ('pratha
kala') for the Devas, people should be made to involve themselves only in spiritual matters. Hence, they have been forbidden from conducting such worldly functions! This is the reason for labeling this month as inauspicious!

'Margazhith thingal madhiniraindha nanallal' --- The Devas wake up in this
'pratha kala'. Andal has chosen this time. The Gopis had also chosen this same
time and performed worship of Goddess Karthyayini. Here Andal does not worship
Karthyayini but performs 'puja' for the Lord herself. Though it is said that she
performed 'puja' for Manmata it was not done here.

'Margazhith thingal madhiniraindha nanallalam' - Periyavachhanpillai says, " She
(Andal) is the daughter of Periyazhwar who has studied the Shastras. Then why
has she chosen Margazhi month? " The Swamy goes on to answer his own question.
" There is something called 'rasa kulligai'. What will one who holds this 'rasa
kulligai' in his hand do? This 'rasa kulligai' possesses the power of turning
any object into gold by its very touch. Similarly, anyone who holds on to
the Lord has no auspicious or inauspicious time. They are not bound by any hard
and fast rule regarding the period to perform or abstain from carrying out a
work. This is because Bhagavan is their protector. What is the greatness of
Bhakti? One who practices Yoga attains all the siddhis, one who practices Vedanta
enquiry attains 'siddhis', one who practices 'Karmanushtanas' attains 'siddhis'
but the one who is full of devotion does not attain any kind of 'siddhi'.
Bhagavan feels that one who is devoted to Him needs no 'siddhi'. That is because He is the protector('Rakshaka'). He gives whatever is required (by His devotee), removes whatever is not needed, leads the devotee in the path suited to him/her; Since the Lord takes utmost interest in the devotee's needs the latter will not earn/attain any 'siddhi'. The greatest 'siddhi' is the Lord Himself! "

Also, just as having a 'rasa kulligai' in the hand, the devotees ('Bhakthas')
hold Krishna in their fists! Since Andal holds Krishna Himself in her fist is
there any want for her? Therefore, the month that she chooses is the most
auspicious one. So, 'Margazhith thingal' -- the month of Margazhi - 'thingal'
means month. Or, 'Margazhith thingal madhiniraindha nanallal' - this Margazhi
month: everyone knows that Margazhi itself refers only to Margazhi month. So,
here the usage of the term 'thingal' could have been to mean Monday (in Tamizh
'thingal' carries the dual meaning of 'Month' and 'Monday'). 'Madhinirainda
nannallal' - The Swamy says it is full moon ('Poornima') The moon is full. -
('madhi'-moon; 'nirainda'-full) so, 'madhinirainda nanallal'. In another place
he says, 'Today it has struck you to perform a good act, take a vow of worship
for the attainment of God. So, only today you have a good buddhi.
-’Madhinirainda nanallal' - Only today the 'buddhi is full'. Why? You have realized that you should attain Bhagavan. The thought to take up this vow of worship (‘nonbu’) with a view to attain Bhagavan has come into you. And how is this 'nonbu'? This is also experiencing Krishna ('Bhagavat anubhavam'). Here it is not performance of religious rites('Karmanushtanas'). It is not a difficult path. Since this path is of getting together to speak about the Lord, it is 'madhinirainda nanallal' - It is 'suklapaksha' (when the movement of time/ days is towards full moon).
'Suklapaksha' is auspicious for the conduct of any good work. The Swamy explains
that it is full moon (pournami). The ‘nonbu’ has been taken up in the
month of Margazhi on a Monday and whence it is full moon. He does not mention
the Star of the day because in each month one knows the star that falls on full
moon. When one says Chithra poornima it is the star Chithra on that day. When
one speaks of (the month) Vaikasi poornima everyone knows that it is Visakha star.
On Adi poornima the star is Pooram. Similarly, on Purattasi poornima the star is
Shravanam. The star is Poosam in Thai poornima. And Margazhi poornima it is
Thiruvadhirai. - 'Margazhith thingal madhiniraindha nanallalam'

(This is a talk given by Sri Murlidhara Swamigal)

My sincere and humble pranams to one and all.
Jai Gurudev...
More on the way....