Karthigai Deepam Festival-Festival Of Lamps

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Karthigai Deepam is celebrated in the month of 'Karthigai' (October-November) This festival is celebrated when the full moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai. It is the festival of lights, continued from Diwali.

Legend

Legend of Siva (Arunachaleshwara) in Thiruvannamalai, has a special significance with regards to the celebration of Karthigai Deepam-the festival of lamps. Brahma and Vishnu entered into an argument with each other, as to who was the powerful of the two. Lord Siva arose as a huge column of fire, of immeasurable height and humbled Brahma and Vishnu, for they failed to scale Him. Since then a huge cauldron, used as a lamp, is lit atop the Hill of Thiruvannamalai, commemorating the event. (Read detailed account)

The birth of Lord Murugan also holds special significance to the celebration of Karthigai Deepam festival, the festival of lamps. It was on this day that Lord Muruga who first incarnated as six infants, (out from six sparks from the third eye of Lord Siva, in Saravana Poigai (a holy tank) ), was conjoined into one, with the embrace of Goddess Parvati.

Celebrating Karthigai Deepam

People in Tamil Nadu follow Karthigai Deepam as an extension of Diwali. People keep increasing the number of lamps day by day, after Diwali, up till the Karthigai Deepam festival. Some others observe the last three days up to full moon day, which is celebrated as Karthigai Deepam festival, the festival of lamps.

It is a luminous sight to see little lamp arrayed on the extension, in front of the houses, in the courtyard were they are placed on Kolams (Rangolis), on windows, at the backyard etc. It is a beautiful sight in the villages, where houses are lined; little flames appear in an unending extension.

People also burst crackers and celebrate the festival. The temples are all lit up and special prayers are offered. The observance of Karthigai Deepam festival, the festival of lamps, is believed to bring in fresh hope, peace, prosperity and happiness in one's life.

Spiritual Significance

The spiritual significance of celebrating Karthigai Deepam festival, is symbolised in the functioning of a lamp. The oil used to light the lamp, symbolises the innate tendencies in one, which, is responsible for the ego to thrive. The wick is the ego. The flame of the lamp symbolises, spiritual knowledge, which empties the oil, as it also burns the wick, the ego(body, mind complex). With the draining of the innate tendencies and the burning of the wick, one attains the spiritual goal, the realisation of the ultimate truth.

Further more, the little flames of different lamps, symbolise the essence of universal oneness.

Let us thus celebrate Karthigai Deepam festival-the festival of lamps, understanding its significance.