Karthigai Deepam

Karthigai Bharani Deepam’, is a beautiful Hindu festival of lights. This auspicious occasion is one of the oldest festivals of Mother India. In North India they call it Dev Deepavali.

In the Vedic tradition, Karthigai Deepam is the Day of Light – the Conscious Light Awareness.

Etymology

Deepam means light. Karthigai Deepam happens in the Tamil month of Karthigai when the astrological star Krittika is on the ascendant and usually occurs on a full moon day. Karthigai Deepam (also known as the bharani deepam) is the festival of lights.

Introduction

During Karthigai Deepam, thousands of ghee lamps are lit by lighting one lamp from the flame of the other, signifying the ultimate cosmic truth that ONE becomes MANY and MANY become ONE. Of the five elements – earth, fire, water, air and ether, it is only the fire element through which this ultimate truth of ‘ONE becomes MANY and MANY become ONE,’ can be demonstrated. Karthigai Deepam is the festival that carries this truth to humanity, by lighting millions of lamps across the world in this way.

Significance

It is the day Mahadeva (Lord Shiva, the Rejuvenator) appeared in the form of a pillar of a flame of light, to bring to completion the incompletions between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma (the Creator) and Lord Vishnu (the Sustainer) once had an argument on who was the greater of the two. Mahadeva happened as an infinite column of light, and the darkness and ignorance that they were in were dispelled.

Karthigai Deepam is also the day when after a long period of arduous penance that Goddess Parvati performed with great devotion to her Divine Consort Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva granted her half his body so that the Two would become totally united in One form, marking the birth of Lord Ardhanareeswara (deity having the body as half-male and half-female). Physically It signifies the Divine Union of Shiva and Parvathi. Spiritually it signifies the absolute union of Advaita. Not two but One. Shiva and Parvathi are not two but One. Man and God are not two but One.

“Karthigai Deepam” is the day Mahadeva happened, assuming the form of a huge light shaft, to give the Shivoham experience to Vishnu and Brahma, remove the conflicts within them, and incompletions within them, and bring Completion to them. And, this is the same day he appeared for Devi and gave Shivoham experience to her. - Paramahamsa Nithyananda

Celebrations at Bengaluru Aadheenam

Every year, during the early morning hours on the day of Bharani Deepam, His Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda blesses the celebrations, lighting the first Deepam lamp. He honors each Temple Deity, placing the lamps at their feet. His lamp is then carried to all Deities and Murtis around the ashram. Each department is responsible for keeping lamp lit all day until evening, at which time the fire is returned to the Temple.

At the evening Karthigai Deepam, all the small lamps are returned to the main Lamp at the Temple, which is lit by His Holiness at the same time it is happening at Arunachula - many lamps become one. Just as we perceive we are separate from the Cosmos, Mahadeva, the Lamps symbolize how with self-realization, we merge with the Cosmos, returning back to our Source.

Ramakrishna beautifully says, ‘A person who cannot celebrate deities and temples will live a dry spiritual life!’ I tell you, such people will only have stomach pain and headache! For people who can’t celebrate deities and temples, their whole spiritual practice is like logic grinding logic. Sometimes, you may see that when dogs have a wound, they will start eating their own legs. It is like that – as if they are eating themselves!

It is the temples and deities that bring the joy of Hinduism into our lives!

As a legitimate, clear and apolitical voice of integrated Sanatana Hindu Dharma, I tell you – festivals and celebrations are as important as Completion and the creation of space in our lives! - Paramahamsa Nithyananda Paramashivam

References

http://articles.nithyananda.org/2013/11/blessings-on-kartigai-deepam-festival/ http://www.nithyananda.org/photo-gallery/nithyananda-diary-25th-november-2015-bengaluru-aadheenam-nithyanandeshwara-brahmotsava#gsc.tab=0 http://www.nithyananda.org/photo-gallery/ashram-updates-and-karthigai-deepam?page=10#gsc.tab=0 http://nithyananda.org/photo-gallery/nithyananda-diary-karthigai-deepam-17th-november-2013-festival#gsc.tab=0 http://www.nithyananda.org/video/change-world-chanting#gsc.tab=0