Karthigai Deepam

The second day is Maha Deepam, which is the grand finale of the Deepam festival. A huge fire (Maha Jyoti or Annamalaiyar Deepam) is lit on the top of the Tiruvannamalai hill in the evening when the moon is in conjunction with the Krittika star. This is called the Maha Deepam, which symbolizes Lord Shiva as the Jyotirlinga. Thousands of devotees witness this divine sight and offer their prayers. The Maha Deepam is visible for several kilometers around the hill.

Vishnu Deepam is observed by devotees who believe that Lord Vishnu is the supreme God and the source of all light. They worship Lord Vishnu by lighting bonfires known as Sokka Panai, made of dried palm leaves and coconut husks. They also offer prayers and offerings to Lord Vishnu and his avatars, especially Lord Krishna.

Thiruvannamalai is a town in Tamil Nadu famous for its ancient temple of Lord Arunachaleshwara, the form of Lord Shiva as the fire element. The temple is one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalas, the five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva as the five elements. The temple is also one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, the temples that are revered in the verses of the Tamil Saiva Nayanars.

Thiruvannamalai is the main center of the Karthigai Deepam festival, where the Maha Deepam is lit on the hill. The Maha Deepam is also known as Thiruvannamalai Deepam. The hill is considered the natural form of Lord Shiva, also known as Annamalai or Arunachala. The hill has eight directions with eight lingams, and the devotees circumambulate it as a form of worship. This is called Girivalam or Giri Pradakshina, which covers a distance of about 14 kilometers. Girivalam is believed to bestow spiritual and material benefits in abundance.

Karthigai Deepam 2023 will be celebrated from November 25 to November 27. The Bharani Deepam will be lit on November 25 at 4:00 AM and the Maha Deepam on November 26 at 6:00 PM. The festival will be marked by various rituals, ceremonies, processions, and cultural events in the temples and streets of Thiruvannamalai. The devotees will also light lamps in their homes and temples and offer prayers and offerings to Lord Shiva, Muruga, Vishnu, and the Krittika stars.

Karthigai Deepam is a festival of lights, and it is believed that lighting lamps during this time will bring prosperity, happiness, and peace to the devotees. Some rituals are followed by the devotees during this festival, such as:

Lighting lamps: The devotees light lamps in their homes, temples, and streets using oil, ghee, or camphor. They also decorate their houses with kolams (rangoli) and flowers. The lamps are lit in the evening and kept burning throughout the night. The lamps are believed to ward off evil and darkness and invite the blessings of Lord Shiva, Muruga, and the Krittika stars.

Offering prayers: The devotees offer prayers and offerings to Lord Shiva, Lord Muruga, and the Krittika stars in their homes or temples. They also chant mantras, sing bhajans, and perform aarti. Some typical offerings are milk, honey, fruits, flowers, coconut, and sweets. The devotees also seek forgiveness for their sins and ask for their wishes to be fulfilled.

Performing Girivalam: The devotees perform Girivalam or Giri Pradakshina, the circumambulation of the Tiruvannamalai hill, where the Maha Deepam is lit. The devotees walk barefoot around the hill, which covers a distance of about 14 kilometers. They also visit the eight lingams and the temples along the way. The Girivalam is considered a sacred act that can grant salvation and liberation to the devotees.

Witnessing Maha Deepam: The devotees witness the Maha Deepam, the huge fire lit on the top of the holy Annamalai hill on the tenth day of the festival. The Maha Deepam is lit in the evening when the moon is in conjunction with the Krittika star. The devotees watch the divine sight from a distance and light lamps in their homes and temples. The Maha Deepam is believed to be the manifestation of Lord Shiva as the Jyotirlinga, the pillar of light.

Karthigai Deepam is a festival of lights celebrating the glory of Lord Shiva, Lord Muruga, and the Krittika stars. It is a time of joy, devotion, and gratitude for the devotees. It is also a time of enlightenment, purification, and transformation for the seekers. Karthigai Deepam is a festival that connects the devotees with the divine light within and without.

If you want to know more about the Karthigai Deepam festival's significance and rituals, you can contact the astrologers registered with Sulekha. They can provide you with more insights and guidance on celebrating this festival and benefit from its blessings.

The flag-hosting ceremony, known as Dwajaroghanam, marks the beginning of the Karthigai Deepam Brahmotsavam celebration.

Starts with the 63 Nayanmarkal Procession, which is carried out twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, and features a procession of Lord Panchamurthigal on a magnificent silver chariot.

The morning parade of Lord Panchamurthigal upon the gigantic horse (kuthirai) vahana. The procession for the Lord Sri Pichandavar Utsavam takes place at night.

Karthigai Deepam is one of the most ancient and important festivals of lights in Hinduism. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Karthigai (November-December) and coincides with the star Krittika or Kirthigai. The festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who appeared as a column of fire or Jyoti Linga to settle the dispute between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu over their supremacy. It is also associated with Lord Muruga, who was born from the six sparks that emerged from Lord Shiva's third eye.

On this auspicious day, devotees light earthen oil lamps or agal vilakku in their homes, temples, and streets to symbolize the dispelling of darkness and ignorance by the divine light of Shiva. The lamps are lit in the evening after sunset and are kept burning throughout the night. The lamps may vary in shape and size, and each shape has a different meaning and significance for the devotees.

As per religious texts, 12 types of lamps have different shapes and bestow unique benefits for the devotees. Lighting them on Karthigai Deepam is considered very auspicious and sacred. Here is a brief description of each type:

This lamp has only one wick. It represents the oneness of the self and the supreme. Lighting this lamp is believed to bestow unity and harmony to the family and society.

This lamp has two wicks facing opposite directions. It represents the duality of creation and dissolution or life and death. Lighting this lamp is believed to grant balance and stability to life.

This lamp has three wicks facing three directions. It represents the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, or the three aspects of creation, preservation, and destruction. Lighting this lamp is believed to bring blessings from the three gods and their consorts.

This lamp has four wicks facing four directions. It represents the four Vedas or the four sources of knowledge and wisdom. Lighting this lamp is believed to bestow enlightenment and prosperity.

This lamp has five wicks facing five directions. It represents the five elements of nature or the five constituents of the body and the universe. Lighting this lamp is believed to grant health and harmony with nature.

This lamp has six wicks facing six directions. It represents the six tastes or the six emotions of the mind. Lighting this lamp is believed to provide control over the senses and the mind.

This lamp has seven wicks facing seven directions. It represents the seven colors or the seven chakras of the body. Lighting this lamp is believed to grant activation and alignment of the energy centers.

This lamp has eight wicks facing eight directions. It represents the eight forms of Lakshmi or the eight types of wealth and prosperity. Lighting this lamp is believed to bestow abundance and happiness in all aspects of life.

This lamp has nine wicks facing nine directions. It represents the nine planets or the nine influences of astrology. Lighting this lamp is believed to grant auspiciousness and protection from adverse effects of planetary positions.

This lamp has ten wicks facing ten directions. It represents the ten incarnations of Vishnu or the ten avatars of God. Lighting this lamp is believed to bring grace and salvation from cycles of birth and death.

This lamp has eleven wicks facing eleven directions. It represents the eleven Rudras or the eleven forms of Shiva. Lighting this lamp is believed to grant power and liberation from bondage and ignorance.

This lamp has twelve wicks facing twelve directions. It represents the twelve months or the twelve phases of time. Lighting this lamp is believed to bring auspiciousness and success in all endeavors.