Holy Month of Karthik

Holy Month of Karthik-

May we see for a hundred autumns!
And may we live for a hundred autumns,
May we hear for a hundred autumns,
May we speak for a hundred autumns,
And may we hold our heads high for a hundred autumns,
Yes, even more than a hundred autumns.
(-Holy Shukla Yajurveda Samhita 36:24)

Now, there is more to this month Kartik than just the beginning of the ancient Vedic new year. Kartik is arguably the holiest of month in the Hindu calendar, as Ramadan is to the Islamic calendar. Per ancient legends, Kartik was given prominence by none other than Shiva Himself. Upon the commandment of Shiva, it is said, that Ganapati was given the honor of being the first Deity to be worshipped. To ensure that His other divine Son should not feel left out, Shiva dedicated the first month of the year to Kartikeya, the Lord of discernment. While Ganapati was the first to be worshipped, Kartikeya-Murugan was the first to be remembered and comemorated in the new year. In fact, in all traditions except the Tamil, the sixth lunar day in the bright half of Kartik (Kartik Shukla Shashthi) is called Skanda Shashti, a special day for worship of Lord Kartikeya.

It is, therefore, per the commandment of Shiva Himself that the month when the full moon occurs on the asterism Krittika (Pleiades) and aptly called Kartik, is considered the holiest, the best and the first of months. The month of Kartik is still to this day considered a month when one looks within and finds divinity; a month when every action is blessed, and every wish fulfilled. It is a month of fasts, prayers, holy river dips, and introspection. Holy traditions never forget history, even if people do. Praises be to the holy month of Kartik!

The height and glory of the holy month of Kartik is felt most prominently during its defining full moon festival. The full moon day of Kartik known as Kartik Purnima or Deva Diwali (the Lord’s Diwali) commemorates a welcoming of the Lord, both as Shiva and as Vishnu depending on tradition, into our lives by lighting oil lamps much in the same way as the main Diwali festival fifteen lunar days prior commemorates the welcoming of the Divine Mother into our lives.

HERE COMES THE MAIN PARAGRAPH OF THIS POST. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY-
"NOW, ONE MAY WONDER WHY KARTIK PURNIMA, THE SECOND FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS OF HINDUISM, IS CALLED THE LORD’S DIWALI. THIS IS SIMPLY FOR US TO REALIZE THAT THE MAJOR DIWALI FESTIVAL WHICH OCCURS 15 LUNAR DAYS PRIOR DURING THE NEW MOON IS DEVI DIWALI, THE GODDESS’ DIWALI. ONLY BY PASSING THROUGH THE GODDESS’ DIWALI, CAN ONE REACH THE LORD’S DIWALI. DURING THE MAIN DIWALI, MAHALAKSHMI IS WORSHIPPED; DURING THE DEVA DIWALI, MAHAVISHNU IS WORSHIPPED. DURING THE MAIN DIWALI, MAHAKALI IS WORSHIPPED, DURING DEVA DIWALI MAHESHVARA IS WORSHIPPED. THE MAIN DIWALI IS DEDICATED TO SHAKTI, THE DEVA DIWALI TO SHIVA. THE MAIN DIWALI IS DEDICATED TO REALIZATION, THE DEVA DIWALI TO LIBERATION. DURING THE MAIN DIWALI, THE TIRTHANKARA MAHAVIRA REACH REALIZATION; DURING THE DEVA DIWALI, MAHAVIRA ATTAINED LIBERATION. THE MAIN DIWALI IS DEDICATED TO FREEING ONESELF FROM FETTERS (BANDI CHHOD), THE DEV DIWALI IS DEDICATED TO BECOMING A LIBERATED BEING (GURU NANAK DEV JAYANTI). IT IS ONLY BY REALIZING SHAKTI (MAIN DIWALI), CAN ONE BECOME LIBERATED INTO SHIVA (DEVA DIWALI); THE HOLY LAMPS DURING BOTH FESTIVALS ARE BUT A CAPTURE OF THE RESPLENDENCE OF REALIZATION AND LIBERATION INTO PARAMASHIVA, THE DIVINE ULTIMATE."

Rejoice child mine for the Lord of all things is about to rise,
From the slumber of chaturmasa, the four months of rain;
Yet again He shall leave the solitude of the holy temples;
And come out to grace the world and its inhabitants!
O autumnal month of Kartik, blessed art thou indeed!
For thou hath been given prominence by Shiva Himself;
Named after Lord Kartikeya, and considered ever so holy;
May we cherish every passing moment within thy expanse!

AUM NAMAH SHIVAY


(From SHIVADARSHAN)