Karthigai Deepam 2017

02nd

December 2017

(Saturday)

Karthigai Deepam Starts in : 02/12/2017

Karthigai Deepam Ends in : 02/12/2017

2017 Karthigai Deepam

karthigai-deepam
Karthigai Deepam

Karthigai Deepam 2017

Karthigai Deepam 2017

Karthigai Nakshathram Begins = 12:07 on 2/Dec/2017
Karthigai Nakshathram Ends = 09:21 on 3/Dec/2017

Karthigai Deepam is mainly celebrated by Tamil Hindus. It is one of the oldest festivals celebrated by Tamil people. Houses and streets are lit up with rows of oil lamps or Deepam in the evening of the festival day. The idea behind this festival is to keep away bad things from life and welcome the good and holy things of life.

According to Tamil belief, if a person takes birth in Tiruvarur and dies in Varanasi or Chidambaam, his life is fulfilled to the utmost level. People believe that Lord Shiva appeared in Thiruvannamalai hills on this day and the people like to commemorate the situation by lighting a huge fire on the top of the hill. Ghee and camphor are used to light the huge fire to set up connection to God directly. The place looks fabulous and people shout saying Annamalaiyarku Arohara. Most people find the pleasure to watch this happening with own eyes by standing near the fire. The occasion is marked by a fair occurring in the area. People love to visit the fair and buy everything that is sold there. Cattle are also sold at the fair.

The deities are placed on the vehicle and carried along the roads like procession for the people to have a look. The vehicles are magnificently decorated to make them fill happy and interested. The lighting of the flame on the hill starts mostly at 5 pm in the evening. No one wants to miss the auspicious occasion and rush out of their homes to be present there.

 

Legends of Karthigai Deepam

The earliest Hindu scripture states that the two great deities of Hindu culture Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma started fighting among them regarding the superiority. They both thought each one was stronger than the other. To stop this huge fight, Lord Shiva came in front of them and tried to show his supremacy. He took the shape of a huge fire and challenged the two fighting Gods to find the end of the fire from the top and bottom. Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and tried to reach the end of the fire beneath the earth. He failed miserably and came back to Lord Shiva saying that he was unable to find the end of the fire from the bottom. Lord Brahma on the other hand, took the shape of a swan and flew to find the beginning of the fire on the topside.

But his search was also in vain and he was unable to find the top of the fire. Thus, Lord Shiva proved his supremacy over the two Gods and managed to stop the fight. Lord Shiva actually proved that he is the main God of the earth and there is no use in fighting among other Gods regarding their supremacy. He then appeared like hill shape on Thiruvannamalai region. In fact, the names Tiruvannamalai’ and `Arunachala’ denote “holy fire hill”.  Later on the kings and famous personnel built a temple on the hill in commemoration of Lord Shiva. This festival is celebrated with great marvel in this particular place.

Another legend links karthigai Deepam to Lord Muruga.  Lord Muruga adopted the form of six babies in Saravana poigai, a lake and was looked after by six krittika stars. On this day, Goddess Parvathy united all the six forms of Skantda. Thus, Lord Karthikeya has six faces and popularly known as Aarumugan in Tamil culture.

Karthigai Deepam and Karthikai Deepam are used interchangeably. Karthigai Deepam takes its name from Nakshatra Karthikai or Krittika. Karthigai Deepam is performed on the day when Krittika Nakshatra is prevailing. Karthigai Deepam is done in honor of Lord Shiva. According to Hindu Mythology on this day Lord Shiva converted himself in an endless flame of light to prove his supremacy to Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma.

Although Karthigai day is observed every month but the most significant day falls in the month of Karthikai (which is same as Solar month Vrischika in other Hindu calendars).