Karthigai Deepam: Karthika Deepam is one of the most auspicious days in the Tamil Solar Calendar. It is celebrated on Kathigai Pournami (Full Moon Day in the month of Karthigai) when Karthigai Nakshatram prevails. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and his son Lord Murugan (also called Kartikeya, Shanmugham, or Subramanyam), this festival is celebrated at temples and homes with devotion.
The Thiruvannamalai Temple in Tamil Nadu is famous for Karthigai Deepam festivities and attracts devotees every year. This festival falls in December this year and is mainly celebrated by natives of Tamil Nadu.
Karthigai Deepam 2024 Date
Karthigai Deepam Date 2024 falls on December 6.
Karthigai Deepam 2024 Karthigai Nakshatra Timings
Karthigai Nakshatra will be in effect from 8:38 am on December 6, 2024, to 10:25 am on December 7, 2024.
Karthigai Deepam Significance
Karthigai Deepam festival is associated with Lord Shiva and Lord Kartikeya.
Karthigai Deepam and Lord Murugan
According to some scriptures, Lord Murugan was born on the day of Karthigai Deepam.
Lord Shiva created Lord Kartikeya with the fire emitted from his third eye to eliminate the demon Tarakasura. The baby had six faces & twelve hands, and six different nymphs (Kritikas), called Abhrayanti, Varshayanti, Dula, Nitatni, Meghayanti, and Chipunika brought up the child.
Each of the six faces represents a specific trait and they are Aghoram, Sadyojatam, Vamadevam, Tatpurusam, Eesanam, and Adhomukam.
As per another version, Baby Murugan was created with fire that emerged from the third eye of Lord Shiva and was born in six different parts in Saravana Poigoi lake. Maa Parvati brought the six parts together and gave form to Lord Murugan.
Karthigai Deepam and Lord Shiva
According to some scriptures, Lord Shiva appeared as an endless ray of light (Jyoti) on this day.
Once, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma ended up getting into an altercation while debating about their supremacy. Therefore, Lord Shiva wanted to remind them that arrogance and pride could lead to downfall. So, he took the form of a ray of light and asked them to find the beginning and end.
Lord Vishnu transformed into a boar and dug deep into the earth and Lord Brahma transformed into Swan and flew up into the sky. After a long quest, Brahma failed to locate the light source hence, attempted to trick Lord Shiva by producing Ketaki or Thazhambu (in Tamil) as a witness for his victory. Lord Shiva knew the truth and punished Brahma and Ketaki for lying.
