Significance of Karthika Masam

What is Karthika masam?

Kartik Maas (also known as Damodar Maas) is the most auspicious month among Hindus. It begins on the day after Deepavali and also marks the beginning of winter season. It begins in the eight month of the year after the sun entering into Tula..

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.

Puranas state that on Karthika pournami Lord Shiva kílled Tripurasuras and protected the world. Puranas also state that Lord Vishnu goes to sleep on Ashadha suddha ekadashi and wakes-up on Karthika suddha ekadashi. In this month Ganga, enters in to all rivers, canals, ponds and wells and flows as antarvaahini, making them as pious as the Ganga. In this month, Ayyappa deeksha is also taken and continued up to Makara Sankranthi.

The daily activities starts early in the morning taking bath with cold water, going to temple, lighting deepam, fasting and saligrama pooja. The most auspicious days in this season are Mondays which is very important to Lord Shiva. As per the puranas it is believed that by performing the karthka Masam vratham we can drive away the past karmas and the sins committed can be destroyed. Lighting Lamps with ghee made from the cow’s milk during the sunrise and sunset brings prosperity, wealth, health into our lives. It also burns the material desires in between our birth and death.

Lighting of Diya or Lighting a Lamp

During Karthika Masam, it is considered auspicious to light a diya. 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. Diyas are also lit in temples, on top of the Dhwaja Sthambam on Karthika Pournami. These diyas are called  Akaasa Deepam. On Karthika Pournami, the whole house is decorated with diyas.

Bathing in River or Nadi Snanam

Another important significance is bathing in rivers during Karthika Masam. The rivers have received fresh water during the rainy season comprising of Shravan and Bhadrapada Months and have completely settled by the time Karthika Masam starts. Also, Sharad Rithu (season) known for its special Moon light comprises of Ashwayuja and Karthika Months. All along the Aswayuja Masam, the rivers would absorb the energy from Moon and by bathing in the river during Karthika Masam one can absorb this energy from the river.

Vanabhojanalu during Karthika Masam

It is a common ritual that people would go out with families and friends to parks or nearby forests to have a dinner during the Karthika Masam or Karthika Month. These are known as Vanabhojanalu.

Performing of SatyaNarayana Vrat

Devotees of Lord Vishnu will perform the Satyanarayana Vrat during the holy month of Karthika Masam. It is believed that performing Satyanarayana Vrata on Karthika Pournami would help them to free themselves from all the sins.

Performing of Ekadasa Rudra Abhishekam

Devotees of Lord Shiva would perform the Ekadasa Rudra Abhishekam for the whole month of Karthika Masam to please Lord Shiva.

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. They then eat after seeing the stars.

Nattalu or Natta Vratam

Nattallu or Natta Vratam is observed by the devotees. The process of observing Nattallu or Natta Vratam is to fast for the whole day and eat only after seeing the stars for the whole month of Kathika Masam. So only if this routine is followed for the complete month it is called as Natta Vratham or Nattalu.

The Ekadashi of Karthika Masam is very special and hence people would also observe the Karthika Ekadasi Vrat.

Significance of each day in Karthika Masam: 

Padyami: 1st day of Karthika Masam. Devotees generally go to Lord Siva or Lord Vishnu temple to pray them to give strength to do the puja for the whole month. This is the Day we start lighting Akasa Deepam. The Lamp you light either at the entrance of your house or at Siva or Vishnu temple 

Vidiya: 2nd day of karthika masam. Brother should go to his sister's house on this auspicious day and eat the food cooked by her and bestow her with blessings and gifts

Thadiya: 3rd day of the month. Good Day to do Thrilochana Guri Vratham.. Those who are unable to do the Vrath can do Kumkuma archana or Puja to Maa Parvathi on this day

Chavithi: 4th Day is Chavithi. It is said to be Nagula Chavithi in Andhra. On this day it’s good to worship Lord Subramanya swamy (Murugan)

Panchami: 5th day is Panchami, also known as Jnana Panchami. Need to do archana for Lord Subramanya swamy.

Shasti: 6th Day is Shasti. Should not eat your favorite items today

Saptami: 7th Day is Sapthami: Pray to Lord Surya (Sun God) and donate tie wheat in a red color cloth and donate

Ashtami: 8th Day is Ashtami, also known as Gopala ashtami, Need to do puja to Go matha (Holy Cow)

 Navami: 9th Day is Navami, good to start Vishnu Thri rathra vratham, which need to be done for 3 days. Its good to do puja for Lord Vishnu in the evening and Night time.

 Dasami: 10th Day is Dasami, pray to Lord Vishnu today

Ekadasi: 11th Day is Ekadasi, Do fasting (Upavasam) and break the fast on Dwadasi.

 Dwadasi: 12th Day is Dwadasi, known as Khseerabdi Dwadasi . Lord Vishnu will wake up from his yoga nidra on this day. Do Puja to Lord vishnu. Good to do Puja under Gooseberry tree or Tulsi plant.

 Trayodasi: 13th Day is Trayodasi, Good day to skip dinner. Auspicious to donate Saligrama Sila

Chathurdasi: 14th Day is Chathurdasi, good to donate Iron and Sesame today, not to eat your favorite food

Pournami: 15th Day is Pournami. Need to do Nadi Snanam (Taking Bath in River). Do puja to Lord Varuna. Auspicious to light diya at Lord Siva or Vishnu temple. It brings a lot of good even if you see the deepa at the temple

 Bahula Padyami: 16th Day is Bahula Padyami. Not to eat stocked food and curd

Vidiya: 17th Day is Vidiya. Good day to do Vana Bhojanam. It is said that offering prayers to Lord Vishnu under Gooseberry tree and then having food there with relatives and friends will bring great benefits.

Thadiya: 18th Day is Thadiya. Good to donate Thulasi Mala to Bramhin

Chavithi: 19th Day is Chavithi. Need to do pooja to Lord Vinayaka with Garika ( a type of grass, favorite for Ganapathi)

Panchami: 20th day is Panchami. Need to feed the animals, ants, birds etc

 Shasti: 21st day is Shasti. Need to do Puja to Grama Devatha. Good to donate what ever you can depending on your status.

Saptami: 22nd Day is Sapthami. Need to do puja to Lord shiva with white Calotropis Gigantea (Jilledu in telugu, Erukku in tamil)

Ashtami: 23rd Day is Ashtami. Need to do puja for Kala bhirava with Vada ( Garelu in telugu)

Navami: 24th day is Navami. Good to donate water, red color saree, blouse piece, bangles etc

Dasami: 25th day is Dasami: Good to donate food , need to do upavasam (fasting)

Ekadasi: 26th day is Ekadasi: Doing Deeparadhana (lighting the Lamp), Listening to Puranas will give great benefits today

Dwadasi: 27th Day is Dwadasi: Good to donate food for the needy

Thrayodasi: 28th Day is Thrayodasi. Need to do puja to Navagraha. Good to do Fasting on the name of Navagraha

Chaturdasi: 29th Day is Chathurdasi. Today is known as Masa Siva rathri, Need to pray lord siva and doing fasting in day time is good.

Amavasya: 30th Day is Amavasya. Need to donate food on the name of pithru devathalu (the deceased). Good to do fasting. Last day of lighting Akasa Deepam. Need to light the lamp at temple and offer coconut to Lord.

Dos and Don'ts in Karthika Masam:

• Must take shower (including hair) daily.
• Must light deepam every evening and do pooja.
• Read one chapter in karthika puranam book everyday.It is even good to hear the story if someone is reading it loud.
• Prepare prasadam on Mondays, karthika poornima, koti somavaram and remaining days you can even keep some fruit as prasadam
• One should not eat Onion, garlic and non-veg food for the whole month.
• Should not use seasame oil for anything except for lighting diyas
• Should not eat urad dal
• Must take meal only once per day for the 30 days. We can eat breakfast at nights or at least, we must follow this on auspicious days like Mondays, karthika poornima, koti somavaram etc.