Tripurotsava
Kartikii or Kartik Purnima is also known as Tripurari Purnima or Tripurotsava. This was the day when Bhagawan Shiva destroyed Tripurasuras, the 3 sons of Tarakasura. Tripuri Purnima is only next to Mahashivaratri amongst festivals dedicated to Bhagawan Shiva. To commemorate the killing of Tripurasura, images of Bhagavan Shiva are carried in procession. Temple complexes are lit up throughout the night. Deepmalas or towers of lights are illuminated in temples.
पौर्णमास्यां तु संध्यायां कर्तव्यस्त्रिपुरोत्सवः ।
दद्यात् पूर्वोक्तमन्त्रेण सुदीपांश्च सुरालये ॥
(भविष्यपुराण, दीपावली-माहात्म्य)
paurṇamāsyāṃ tu saṃdhyāyāṃ kartavyas tripurotsavaḥ |
dadyāt pūrvokta-mantreṇa sudīpāṃś ca surālaye ||
Meaning: On the evening (sandhyā) of the full moon day (Paurṇimā), one should perform the Tripurotsava — the festival commemorating Lord Śiva’s destruction of the three cities (Tripura-dahana). On that sacred occasion, lamps (dīpas)should be offered in temples and divine shrines (surālaya) while chanting the previously mentioned mantras.
This verse from the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa (in the Dīpāvalī–Māhātmya section) instructs that on Kārttika Pūrṇimā evening, devotees celebrate Tripurāri Pārva, marking Lord Śiva’s victory over the demon Tripurāsura.
कार्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे यः कुर्यात् स्वामिदर्शनम् ।
सप्तजन्म भवेद् विप्रो धनाढ्यो वेदपारगः ॥ (Skanda Purāṇa, Kāśī–khaṇḍa)
kārttikyāṃ kṛttikā-yoge yaḥ kuryāt svāmi-darśanam |
sapta-janma bhaved vipro dhanāḍhyo veda-pāragaḥ ||
On the day of Kārttik Pūrṇimā, when the Moon is in the Kṛttikā nakṣatra (kṛttikā-yoga),
whoever beholds (has darśana of) Svāmī, that is, Lord Viśveśvara (Śiva of Kāśī),
becomes — for seven successive births — a brāhmaṇa endowed with wealth and complete mastery over the Vedas.
Why is it called Deva-Deepaavali?
On this day, the gods (devas) descended to the Earth (to Kashi) and took bath in the Ganga after the victory of Bhagavan Shiva; hence the lamps are lit in honour of the divine presence and triumph. Hence Kartik Purnima is also called Deva-Deepawali, the festival of lights of the gods. Chaturmas ends and worship of Gods/opening of temples starts on this day in some traditions. Further, Varanasi’s ghats are filled with rituals of bathing, lamp-floating, aarti and special processions. People gift lamps to priests. The lamps are kept throughout the night in houses and Shiva temples. This day is also known as "Kartik Diparatna" - the jewel of lamps in Kartik.
Tiruvannamalai Mahadeepam
Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam is also lit at around 6 pm at the top of 2668 ft high holy Arunachala mountain. The entire Mountain is generally worshipped as a Shiva Linga. The Maha Deepam will be visible around the Holy Mountain in a radius of 35 km. Lakhs of devotees will perform 16 km Girivalam (circumambulation of the holy mountain).
जले स्थले ये विरचन्ति जीवा:।
दृष्ट्वा प्रदीपं न हि जन्मभागिनः।
ते मुक्तरूपा हि भवन्ति तत्र॥
jale sthale ye viracanti jīvāḥ |
dṛṣṭvā pradīpaṃ na hi janmabhāginaḥ |
te muktarūpā hi bhavanti tatra ||
आग्नेयं तु यदा ऋक्षं कार्तिक्यां भवति क्वचित् ।
महती सा तिथिज्ञेया स्नानदानेषु चोत्तमा ॥
यदा याम्यं तु भवत्यृक्षं तस्यां तिथौ क्वचित् ।
तिथिः सापि महापुण्या मुनिभिः परिकीर्तिता ॥
प्राजापत्यं यदा ऋक्षं तिथौ तस्यां नराधिप ।
सा महाकार्तिकी प्रोक्ता सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी ॥
(Padma Purāṇa, Uttara–khaṇḍa, Kārttika–māhātmya)
āgneyam tu yadā ṛkṣaṃ kārtikyāṃ bhavati kvacit |
mahatī sā tithijñeyā snānadāneṣu cottamā ||
yadā yāmyaṃ tu bhavati ṛkṣaṃ tasyāṃ tithau kvacit |
tithiḥ sāpi mahāpuṇyā munibhiḥ parikīrtitā ||
prājāpatyaṃ yadā ṛkṣaṃ tithau tasyāṃ narādhipa |
sā mahākārtikī proktā sarvapāpapraṇāśinī ||
The verses describe the astrological conditions that make the Kārttikī Tithi even more auspicious. It says:
When the Moon’s nakṣatra (constellation) on the Kārttikī day happens to be Āgneya (belonging to Agni, i.e., Kṛttikā), that day is called Mahatī Tithi — supremely sacred, especially for holy bathing (snāna) and charity (dāna).
When the Moon is in a Yāmya nakṣatra (belonging to Yama, i.e., Bharanī), that day too is extremely meritorious and has been praised by sages.
And when the Moon occupies a Prājāpatya nakṣatra (belonging to Prajāpati, i.e., Rohiṇī), that day is known as Mahā–Kārttikī, the most sacred of all, capable of destroying all sins.
Meaning:
The Mahā–Kārttikī (the supremely sacred Kārttik Pūrṇimā) or Mahā-Pūrṇimā occurs when both Jupiter (Jīva) and the Moon (Indu) are in the Kṛttikā nakṣatra.
विशाखासु यदा भानुः कृत्तिकासु च चन्द्रमाः।
स योगः पद्मको नाम पुष्करे त्वतिदुर्लभः ॥
(Padma–Purāṇa, Uttara–khaṇḍa, Kārttika–māhātmya)
viśākhāsu yadā bhānuḥ kṛttikāsu ca candramāḥ |
sa yogaḥ padmako nāma puṣkare tv atidurlabhaḥ ||
Meaning:
When the Sun is in Viśākhā nakṣatra and the Moon is in Kṛttikā nakṣatra, that combination is called the Padmaka Yoga. It is said to be extremely rare, even at Puṣkara (the holiest of pilgrimage sites). The verse highlights the exceptional sanctity of this cosmic alignment, making any ritual on such a day — especially in Kārttika month — supremely meritorious.
Thus, the Purāṇas give a precise astronomical guide for identifying the most powerful Kartik Pūrṇimā, highlighting that the combination of tithi (Kārtikī) and certain nakṣatras greatly amplifies its spiritual merit.
वरान् दत्त्वा यतो विष्णुर्मत्स्यरूपोऽभवत् ततः । तस्यां दत्तं हुतं जप्तं दशयज्ञफलं स्मृतम् ॥ (पद्मपुराण)
varān dattvā yato viṣṇur matsyarūpo ’bhavat tataḥ |
tasyāṃ dattaṃ hutaṃ japtaṃ daśa-yajña-phalaṃ smṛtam || (Padma Purāṇa)
Bhagavan Kartikeya Manifested:
Brahmapurana mentions the following verse:
ततःश्चन्द्रोदये पूज्यास्तापस्य: कृत्तिकास्तु षट्। कार्तिकेयस्तथा खड्गी वरुणश्च हुताशनः॥
धान्यैः सशूकैर्द्वारोर्ध्वं भूषितव्यं निशामुखे। माल्यैर्धूपैस्तथा…… दीपादिभिः पूजयेत्॥ 〔ब्रह्मपुराण〕
kārtikeyaḥ tathā khaḍgī varuṇaś ca hutāśanaḥ ||
dhānyaiḥ saśūkaiḥ dvāro rd hvaṃ bhūṣitavyaṃ niśāmukhe |
mālyaiḥ dhūpaiḥ tathā …… dīpādibhiḥ pūjayet ||
कार्तिके पौर्णमास्यां तु सोपवासः स्मरेद्धरिम् ।
अग्निष्टोमफलं विन्देत् सूर्यलोकं च विन्दति ॥
(Brāhma–Purāṇa, Kārttika–Māhātmya)
kārtike paurṇamāsyāṃ tu sopavāsaḥ smared dharim |
agniṣṭoma-phalaṃ vindet sūrya-lokaṃ ca vindati ||
Meaning:
On the full moon day (Paurṇimā) of the month of Kārttika, whoever, having observed a fast (upavāsa), remembers or meditates on Lord Hari (Vishnu), obtains the merit equivalent to performing the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice and, after death, attains the radiant realm of the Sun (Sūrya-loka).
Example (Padma Purāṇa Uttara):
Kārttikasya site pakṣe dvādaśyāṃ madhusūdanaḥ |
tulasī-vivāhaṃ kuryāt sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate ||
In the bright fortnight of Kārttika, on Dvādaśī, one should celebrate the marriage of Tulasī with Madhusūdana; he becomes freed from all sins.\
Thus, Prabodhini Ekādaśī–Dvādaśī (11th–12th day of bright Kartika) is fixed for the marriage, not the birth.
Apart from the sadhanas mentioned above, here are a few suggestions based on Puranas. One can follow whatever one is able to.
- Wake up during Brahma Muhurta.
- Take a holy bath in a river or at home with Tulsi-mixed water. Begin the day with purity and prayer. Wear clean/ideal garments and maintain purity: avoid tamasic behaviour, meat, alcohol etc. Bhaviṣya‑Purāṇa says:
- Observe water-fast for full day with devotion or consume only fruits. Optionally, after the evening puja, partake of simple, sattvic food (vegetarian, no garlic/onion) and distribute prasad. If you cannot fast due to health reasons, its fine.
- Maintain celibacy or abstinence on the vrata day
- Chant “Om Namo Narayanaya” and recite the Bhagavad Gita or Vishnu Sahasranama.
- Perform the traditional pooja of Bhagavan Vishnu(specifically Matsya Avatara) & Ma Lakshmi with Tulasi leaves and Bhagawan Shiva as Tripurantaka with Bilva leaves. Worship the Krittikas along with Bhagavan Kartikeya. Offer flowers, incense, lamp, fruits etc.
- At dusk, light Ghee diyas at home near Tulsi, in the temple, in the courtyards or by rivers. Perform aarti and let diyas float on water — Deep Pravah.
- Listen to the stories of Tripurasura Vadha and Matsya Avatar to contemplate the inner victory of truth (satya) over illusion (maya).
- Ganga-snan, Daana & chanting on this day bring the highest merit.
- Donate to Brahmins, the needy: food, clothes, lamps, ghee for temple lamps. Give what you can — with a pure heart. Here are a few of the specific verses about charity in the month of Kartik and its benefits:
कार्तिक्यां तु वृषोत्सर्ग कृत्वा नक्तं समाचरेत् ।
शैवं पदमवाप्नोति शैवव्रतमिदं स्मृतम् ॥ (मत्स्यपुराण)kārtikyāṃ tu vṛṣotsarga kṛtvā naktaṃ samācaret /
śaivaṃ padam avāpnoti śaivavratam idaṃ smṛtam //
In the month of Kārtika, after doing the vṛṣa‐utsarga(donation/charity of a bull), one should carry out (the observance) during the night. By doing so one attains the Śaiva abode/state — this (observance) is called the Śaiva vow. (Matsya Purana)
If one does Kanyadana on this day, then Santana-vrata gets completed.
कार्तिक्यामुपवासी यः कन्यां दद्यात् स्वलंकृताम् ।
स्वकीयां परकीयां वा अनन्तफलदायिनी ॥kārtikyā ṃ upavāsī yaḥ kanyā ṃ dadyāt svalaṃkṛtām |
svakīyā ṃ parakīyā ṃ vā anantaphaladāyinī ||In the month of Kārtika, the one who, being on fast (upavāsa), gives a maiden (kanyā) adorned (sv-alaṃkṛtā) — whether his own (svakīyā) or of another’s (parakīyā) — will receive endless fruit (anantaphaladāyinī).
Bhaviṣya‑Purāṇa says:
कार्तिक्यां नक्तभुग् दद्यान्मेषं हेमविनिर्मितम् ।
एतद् राशिव्रतं नाम ग्रहोपद्रवनाशनम् ॥
kārtikyā ṃ naktabhuga dadyān meṣaṃ hemavinirmitam |
etad rāśivrataṃ nāma grahopadravanāśanam ||
On Kārtika Purnima, one should have only evening-meal (naktabhug) & donate a ram (meṣa) made of gold (hemavinirmitam). This is called the “Rāśi-vrata” and helps in the destruction of the planetary disturbance (grahopadrava-nāśanam).
