KARTHIGAI DEEPAM: STORY BEHIND THE FESTIVAL

Karthigai Deepam is the festival of lights that is celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Andhrapradesh, Karnataka and Kerela during the month of Karthigai (Nov-Dec).

Tiruvannamalai Mandir is known for Karthigai Deepam festival.

@LostTemple7

Legend says that once Sri Vishnu and Brahma had a fight to know who was the most powerful of the two.
Shiva appeared before them in the form of an enormous pillar of fire. The two decided to find the top and bottom of the pillar.
However, neither of them could find its end.
Shiva, then, appeared as a hill (Arunachala Hill) in Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. The Shivalinga here is Agni linga.
It is believed that small lamps lit during Karthigai are miniature replicas of the fire linga. Every year, thousands of people come to see the Karthigai Deepam.
Lamps called 'agal' are placed in front of Prabhu and in Kolams.

Different patterns of lamps are used - Lakshmi villaku shaped like a woman with folded hands, Kuthu villaku shaped like a five petal flower and the Gajalakshmi villaku—the elephant lamp.

More from Jaya_Upadhyaya

More from All

॥ॐ॥
अस्य श्री गायत्री ध्यान श्लोक:
(gAyatri dhyAna shlOka)
• This shloka to meditate personified form of वेदमाता गायत्री was given by Bhagwaan Brahma to Sage yAgnavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य).

• 14th shloka of गायत्री कवचम् which is taken from वशिष्ठ संहिता, goes as follows..


• मुक्ता-विद्रुम-हेम-नील धवलच्छायैर्मुखस्त्रीक्षणै:।
muktA vidruma hEma nIla dhavalachhAyaiH mukhaistrlkShaNaiH.

• युक्तामिन्दुकला-निबद्धमुकुटां तत्वार्थवर्णात्मिकाम्॥
yuktAmindukalA nibaddha makutAm tatvArtha varNAtmikam.

• गायत्रीं वरदाभयाङ्कुश कशां शुभ्रं कपालं गदाम्।
gAyatrIm vardAbhayANkusha kashAm shubhram kapAlam gadAm.

• शंखं चक्रमथारविन्दयुगलं हस्तैर्वहन्ती भजै॥
shankham chakramathArvinda yugalam hastairvahantIm bhajE.

This shloka describes the form of वेदमाता गायत्री.

• It says, "She has five faces which shine with the colours of a Pearl 'मुक्ता', Coral 'विद्रुम', Gold 'हेम्', Sapphire 'नील्', & a Diamond 'धवलम्'.

• These five faces are symbolic of the five primordial elements called पञ्चमहाभूत:' which makes up the entire existence.

• These are the elements of SPACE, FIRE, WIND, EARTH & WATER.

• All these five faces shine with three eyes 'त्रिक्षणै:'.

You May Also Like

Still wondering about this 🤔


save as q