Karthigai Thirunaal

First of all I wish Tamilians all over the world "இனிய தீப திருநாள் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்" :)

Karthigai Deepam is a festival of Lights celebrated in the Tamil month Kaarthigai(matches with December in English Calender). It is celebrated on the full moon day of Kaarthigai coinciding with the Krithigai star. It is regarded as the Lord Shiva in the form of Fire. Lord Muruga took the form of six babies in a lake called "Saravana Poigai". On this day, all his six forms were united by Parvathi(his mother) and this way, he had six faces. Special poojas are performed to Lord Muruga.

People celebrate Karthigai by lighting many oil-lamps(agal-vilakugal) in front of the house and decorating the house with beautiful Rangolis("kolam"). The sight of lamps in the lampblack dark night is breathtaking. Some people celebrate by lighting crackers and bright lightworks. I remember that I reserved some of the crackers and flowerpots just for this occasion.

The mythological background of the Deepam explains many points like the absence of Lord Brahma in Shivan Temple and interdiction of 'Thazhambu' in Shivan worship. Lord Shiva, in an attempt to end the duel between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu for the supremacy, appeared as a flame of light. He asked Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu to search for His head and feet to test their powers. Lord Vishnu took the form of Varahar and dug into earth but his effort was abortive and futile. He accepted His inability and surrendered to Lord Shiva. On the other hand, Lord Brahma took the form of Swan and ventured to look for the head. Here comes the twist. Our Lord Brahma, chancing upon a piece of `thazhambu`, a flower learnt from it that it had been floating down for thirty thousand years from Lord Shiva`s head. He seized upon this and claimed to Lord Shiva that he had seen the other`s top. Lord Shiva ,obviously irritated at the falsehood, punished Lord Brahma immediately by not allowing any shrine for Him and forbidding Thazhambu forever during His worship. Impressive storyline rite? Well, God punishes those people on the spot but whiles away His time in punishing terrorists. I cant get the irony.

I personally feel the Deepam as the source of inspiration for the villages surrounding Thiruvannamalai. High flame ensures light for the locality during winter when the sunset is very early. Many people say light must wash away the ignorance, poverty and selfishness. But all those are our own perceptives rite? Nowadays, people commercialize the event. Usually Mahadeepam is lighted in Tiruvannamalai Hills. It is so famous and people rush in from all over the world. However I am hurt at seeing Live coverages by more than four channels and people blabbering in the name of commentary. Full commercialisation.

Not to mention we have good food to eat then. Sweets, payasam and vadai make my day. Thats more impressive than the lightworks.:D