Karthika Masam

Karthika masam or month is one of the most auspicious month in a lunar calendar. The lunar calendar has been divided into two parts Dakshinayana and Uttararyana. Karthika Masam comes under Dakshinayana. Out of the two ayanas Dakshinayana is set aside for Sadhana. Sadhana means a process by which one would get salvation. Out of all the months in Dakshinayana Karthika Masam is best suited for Sadhana. Hence Karthika Masam is one of the most auspicious months of the lunar calendar.

 The most important significance of the Karthika Masam is that, Karthika Masam is auspicious to both the devotees of Lord Shiva as well as Lord Vishnu. During Karthika Masam temples of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are busy with devotees thronging both the temples. Karthika Masam helps us to understand that Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are not different but only one.

The Important Rituals of Karthika Masam or Karthika Month

 Lighting of Diya or Lighting a Lamp

During Karthika Masam diyas are lit and placed in front of Tulasi plant and near the main entrance of the house before Sun rise and just before Sun set. It is considered auspicious to lit a diya during Karthika Masam.

Temples would light a Diya and would bring the diya to the top of the Dhwaja Sthambam in the temple and tie it there on Karthika Purnima or Karthika Pournami. This diya is called as Akasa Deepam.

Karthika Pournami is celebrated in similar lines of  Diwali and the whole house is decorated with diyas. Crackers are burnt on Karthika Pournami.

Bathing in River or Nadi Snanam

Another important significance is bathing in river during Karthika Masam or Karthika Month. The rivers have received fresh water during the rain season comprising of Shravan and Bhadrapada Months. As the rivers over flow banks and are furious bathing in rivers during Shravana and Bhadrapada is prohibhited. The river completely settle by the time Karthika Masam starts.

Also the Moon during the Sharad Ruthuvu is a special one. Sharad Ruthuvu is known for the Moon light. Sharad Ruthuvu comprises of Ashwayuja or Ashwin month and Karthika Masam or Karthika Month. All along the Aswayuja Masam the river would absorb the energy from Moon by bathing in the river in Karhika Masam one can absorb this energy from the river. Hence it is mandated that one should take a bath in the river or perform Nadi Snanam in Karthika Masam.

The process of performing the Nadi Snanam is to close the nose with the two thumb fingers and close the ears with the middle fingers and take a dip so that the whole body along with the head is under the water. This has to be repeated for a  minimum of three times.

Karthika Somavara Vratam

Few devotees would observe a Karthika Soma vara Vratham. The normal process of Karthika Somavara Vratham would be to fast for the whole day, perform the Rudra Abhishekam by chanting the Rudra Namakam and Rudra Chamakam. Then eat after seeing the stars.

 The most important aspect of Karthika masam is hearing Karthika puranam. It is called as Karthika vratham. It normally includes the following rules:

• Waking up early in Brahmi muhartham (4.00A.M)
• Taking bath in rivers or ponds remembering Ganga
• Shiva puja / Damodara (Vishnu) puja
• Lighting Akasha deepam on sun-set
• Understanding Karthika puranam

.