Kartiki or Kartik Purnima

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). 


Sadhanas on Kartik Purnima:

Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Angiraa and Aditya etc. consider this a very auspicious festival. Any auspicious bath, charity, havan, yajna, upasana etc. have infinite results. 

One lights lamps in the evenings and places them in temples, houses, below trees, in water bodies etc. Bhavishya Purana mentions the following:



कीटाः पतंगाः मषकाः च वृक्षे।
जले स्थले ये विरचन्ति जीवा:।
दृष्ट्वा प्रदीपं न हि जन्मभागिनः।
ते मुक्तरूपा हि भवन्ति तत्र॥

kīṭāḥ pataṅgāḥ maṣakāś ca vṛkṣe |
jale sthale ye viracanti jīvāḥ |
dṛṣṭvā pradīpaṃ na hi janmabhāginaḥ |
te muktarūpā hi bhavanti tatra ||

Meaning: Having seen the lamps below trees, in water etc. even the insects, flies, mosquitoes (and other water creatures) attain liberation instantly(What to talk of Human then, who light the lamps on this sacred day?)

Auspiciousness of Kartiki

In the Padma Purāṇa (Uttara-khaṇḍa, Kārttika-māhātmya) and also cited in some manuscripts of the Yama–Saṃvāda section are the following beautiful shlokas about the significance of Kārttika

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.

The festival has even more significance when the day falls in the Krittika Nakshatra and is then called Maha Kartiki Purnima. 

ब्राह्मपुराण — महाकार्तिकी योगः

पूर्णा महाकार्तिकी स्याज्जीवेन्द्वोः कृत्तिकास्थयोः ॥ (Brāhma–Purāṇa)

pūrṇā mahākārttikī syāj jīvendvoḥ kṛttikāsthayoḥ ||

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.

This astronomical combination is regarded as the most auspicious form of Kārttik Pūrṇimā, producing immense merit when one performs bathing, charity, and lamp-offering on that day. 

Padmaka-Yoga: 

If the day falls when moon is in Krittika Nakshatra and Sun is in Vishakha Nakshatra, then it is called ‘Padmak-yog’. This is most auspicious in Pushkar, Rajasthan.

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. 

The Pushkar Fair or Pushkar mela commences on Prabodhini Ekadashi and continues till Kartik Purnima, the latter being the most important. This fair is held in honour of god Brahma whose temple stands at Pushkar. A ritual bath on Kartik Purnima in the Pushkar lake is considered to lead one to salvation.

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.

Matsya Avatara:


Matsya Avataar of Lord Vishnu also took place on this day. Any act of charity, havan or japa done on this day is supposed to bring benefits and blessings equal to the performing of ten yajnas as per Padmapurana.

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)

On the sacred day when Lord Viṣṇu manifested as Matsya, the divine fish who saved the Vedas and the world at the end of the deluge, any act of piety—be it dāna (charity), homa (sacrificial offering), or japa (recitation of mantras)—bestows merit equal to performing ten great sacrifices. Thus, the Padma Purāṇa extols the Kārttika Pūrṇimā and related observances as occasions of extraordinary spiritual potency, linking them to Viṣṇu’s first avatāra and urging devotees to engage in acts of light, offering, and remembrance on that night.

Bhagavan Kartikeya Manifested:

Bhagavan Kartikeya manifested on Kartik Purnima.

Brahmapurana mentions the following verse:

ततःश्चन्द्रोदये पूज्यास्तापस्य: कृत्तिकास्तु षट्। कार्तिकेयस्तथा खड्गी वरुणश्च हुताशनः॥

धान्यैः सशूकैर्द्वारोर्ध्वं भूषितव्यं निशामुखे। माल्यैर्धूपैस्तथा…… दीपादिभिः पूजयेत्॥ 〔ब्रह्मपुराण〕

tataś candrodaye pūjyāḥ tāpasaiḥ kṛttikās tu ṣaṭ |
kārtikeyaḥ tathā khaḍgī varuṇaś ca hutāśanaḥ ||
dhānyaiḥ saśūkaiḥ dvāro rd hvaṃ bhūṣitavyaṃ niśāmukhe |
mālyaiḥ dhūpaiḥ tathā …… dīpādibhiḥ pūjayet ||

(Brahma–Purāṇa)

Meaning: At the moment of the moon’s rising on the Kārttika full-moon night (Pūrṇimā), the six Kṛttikā goddesses along with Kārttikeya, Khadgī, Varuṇa and Hutāśana (fire god) should be worshipped by ascetics/devotees. The entrance (dvāra) should be decorated upwards with grains and stalks in the evening, and at the door facing the night (niśāmukhe) one should embellish with garlands and incense and then offer lamps (dīpā – dīpādibhiḥ) and other worship items. The ritual emphasizes light, harvest produce, night worship and the purificatory power of Kārttika-month observances.

Worship of Hari

If one does upavaas on this day and remembers Lord Hari, then one gets the fruits of Agnishtoma Ritual and attains Suryaloka.

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).

The Agniṣṭoma yajña is one of the highest Vedic sacrifices, symbolizing purification and ascent to the solar realm; thus, the verse declares that devotional remembrance of Hari on Kārttik Pūrṇimā yields the same fruit as that great sacrifice — attainable even without ritual fire-offerings, through bhakti (devotion) and discipline (upavāsa).

Birth of Vrinda(Personification of Tulsi):

On a full-moon day in the month of Kartika, Tulasi (Vrinda) was born. Because of that auspicious birth, Lord Vishnu (Hari) designated this day for her special worship. Therefore, many traditions regard Kartik Pūrṇimā as her day of appearance or birth, and accordingly, one who worships Tulasi on this day earns especial merit.

The Tulasi Vivāha ceremony — the symbolic marriage of the Tulasī plant (as Vrindā) to Lord Vishnu (in the form of Śālagrāma or Kṛṣṇa) — is prescribed in Padma Purāṇa, Uttara Khanda and other texts.

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.

Thrikkarthika in Kerala:

In Kerala, a festival called “Thrikkarthika” (also spelled “Thrikarthika”) is observed in the Malayalam month of Vr̥ścikam(roughly November-December) on the day of the Kārttika nakṣatra.  The festival is described as one of lights (“vilakku”) with lamps lit in homes and temples, special decorations and so forth. 

At the Chottanikkara Temple (dedicated to Karthiyayeni Bhagavati), the festival of Thrikkarthika is mentioned among the temple’s festivals. For example, the temple site notes: “During this month Thrikkarthika festival comes. It is the birthday of the Goddess and the festival runs for three days, Kaarthika, Rohini and Makayiram.”

Shubh Kaartikii to everyone.