# Karthika Deepam

Karthika Deepam (Tamil: Kārtikai tīpam) is a Hindu festival of lights. It is mainly observed mainly by Tamils in India, Sri Lanka and other regions with significant Tamil diaspora. The festival is celebrated on the first full moon day of the month of Kartika coinciding with Kṛttikā nakshatra, falling on the Gregorian months of November or December. Though it corresponds to the Kartik Purnima, it falls on a different day due to the correction of equinoxes in the Tamil calendar. The festival is associated with Shaivism, is celebrated to commemorate the origin of Kartikeya, the Hindu god of war, and Shiva's manifestation as Jyotirlinga. In Kerala, it is celebrated as Thrikarthika, in honour of goddess Parvati.

## History

One of the earliest references to the festival is found in the Tamil anthology Akanaṉūṟu, dating back to the Sangam period (200 BCE to 300 CE). The festival is referred in songs of poetess Avvaiyar. The festival is also referred in the Sangam literature as Peruviḻa.

## Theology

According to the Kanda Puranam, three asuras (a race of celestial beings) Surapadman, Tarakasuran, and Singamukhan performed austerities to propitiate god Shiva. Shiva granted them various boons which gave them near-immortality and the ability to conquer the three worlds. They subsequently started a reign of tyranny in their respective realms which forced the celestial beings devas to plead with Shiva for his assistance. In response, Shiva manifested five additional heads and a divine spark emerged from each of the six heads. The sparks were carried by wind-god Vayu, and fire-god Agni to Ganga river. The water in the Ganga started evaporating due to intense heat, and so the goddess Ganga took them to the Saravana lake, where each of the sparks developed into a baby boy. The six boys were raised by handmaidens known as the Kṛttikās and they were later fused into one by Parvati, thus giving rise to the six-headed Kartikeya. As per Hindu mythology, the six Kṛttikās–Śiva, Sambhūti, Prīti, Sannati, Anasūya, and Kṣamā, who helped in rearing the child, were granted with immortality by Shiva and transformed to become eternal stars in the sky as a part of the Pleiades star cluster. The festival commemorates the Kṛttikās and the day Parvati united the six forms of Kartikeya.
According to the Shiva Purana, Brahma (the god of creation) and Vishnu (the god of preservation) had an argument over their supremacy. To settle the debate, Shiva took the form of jyotirlinga, an infinite pillar of light. Shiva declared that the dispute would be resolved if the two could discover his head and feet. Vishnu took the form of a boar Varaha and descended to locate his feet, while Brahma rode his swan Hamsa to locate his head. Vishnu failed in his search of the feet and returned, honest about the outcome of his quest. However, Brahma chanced upon a Pandanus flower falling down from Shiva's head and presented the same to Shiva claiming that he had seen Shiva's head. The dishonesty of Brahma angered Shiva, causing him to curse the creator deity that he would not be worshipped; he also declared that Vishnu would be eternally worshipped for his honesty. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the manifestation of Shiva as jyothirlinga.

## Occurrence

Karthika Deepam is a festival of lights observed mainly by Hindu Tamils in India, Sri Lanka and other regions with significant Tamil diaspora. The festival is celebrated on the first full moon day of the month of Kartika coinciding with Kṛttikā nakshatra, falling on the Gregorian months of November or December. Though it corresponds to the Kartik Purnima, it falls on a different day due to the correction of equinoxes in the Tamil calendar. In Kerala, the festival is known as Thrikarthika, and is celebrated in as a form of veneration to goddess Parvati.

## Practices

On the occasion of the festival, people light clay oil lamps. The oil lamps are considered auspicious symbols and is believed to ward off evil forces, and usher in prosperity and joy. People also burst fire crackers, and exchange sweets. Maavali is a traditional firework made from burnt palmyra flowers and spun around to create sparks.
In Hindu temples, special pujas are performed and a lamp cauldron is usually lit to commemorate the festival. In Tiruvannamalai, the festival is marked by the lighting of a large ghee lamp atop the Arunachala hill. Millions of devotees participate in the car festival of Arunachalesvara Temple at Tiruvannamalai and circumambulate the hill.
On the occasion of Thrikarthika, oil lamps are lit after sunset. The lamps are decorated by leaves from coconut and mango trees and placed on banana stems. Special dishes are prepared, and offerings are made to cattle.