Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vaasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!

Kartheeka Masam – Significance

India the birth place of Hinduism is rich in spirituality, religious cultures,
faiths, austerities, customs and traditions that we don’t find any where else
in the world. In the words of Mark Twain “India is the cradle of the human
race, the birth place of human speech, the mother of history, the grand
mother of legend, and the grand mother of tradition. The most valuable and
most instructive material in the history of man is treasured up in India only”
We have a unique calendar with each day and each month denoting some or
the other religious event or festival associated with a tradition and culture
which is being followed since time immemorial. Repetition of these events is
only to remind the mankind its significance always with a divine message
behind it.

As we move into the Hindu Lunar calendar, eighth month is denoted as

Kartheeka Masam that generally comes around October-November of every
year. It marks the beginning of winter season. When the Moon is in the
constellation of Krittika on the full Moon day that month is denoted as
Kartheeka masam. It is also known as Koumudhi masam the month full of
moon light.

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Daamodara Masam
Lord Sri Maha Vishnu in the name of Daamodara is the presiding Deity (Masa
niyamaka) for Kartheeka masam. Daamodara is one of the prominent names
that we generally find being referred to Lord Sri Krishna. We find a
reference to the word Daamodara in sloka # 40 of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama
Sthothram. Daamodara is a combination of two Sanskrit words Daama +
Udara. Daama means rope and Udara means belly. Daamodara means the
one who was tied with a rope to his belly. A reference to this we find in Sri
Mad Bhagavatham 10th canto in the story of Lord Sri Krishna during his
playful childhood days with his foster mother Yashoda. In this episode we
find Lord Sri Krishna (Daamodara) liberating Nalakubera and Manigreeva the
two sons of the Divine Cashier and Demi God Kubera from the curse of sage
Narada.

Dhaam also means an abode and Udara means abdomen. Dhaamodara

spiritually means the one whose abdomen is the abode for the entire
universe or the one in whose belly rests the entire universe. He is the one
who can liberate the souls from the cycle (rope) of births and deaths.
Kartheeka masam also known as Damodara masam is very dear to Lord Sri
Krishna (Kartheeka Daamodara) and worshipping Him during this month is
sacred and highly meritorious.

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Sacred day on which King Bali gave charity to Lord Vaamana is celebrated as
Bali Paadyami (Bali Prathipada) which occurs on the very first day of
Kartheeka masam viz. Kartheeka Sukla Prathipada. Worshipping Lord Sri
Vaamana on this day is very sacred and celestial. This day is considered to
be very sacred and auspicious for giving charity and one will get multiple
merits even if little charity is given in memory of King Bali. Worshiping
Goddess Lakshmi, Kubera (Divine Cashier), and Cow (Gomatha) on this day
are also given lot of significance. Govardhana pooja is also performed on
the day of Bali Paadyami by symbolically making an icon of Govardhana
Parvatha with cow dung or with cooked rice and it is worshipped along with
Lord Sri Krishna who had lifted it and provided shelter to Cowherds and
cattle under the mountain.

Uttana Dwadasi
Kartheeka Sukla Ekadasi known as Prabhodini Ekadasi marks the end of
Chaturmasam, the day on which Lord Sri Maha Vishnu wakes up from His
Yoganidra that he entered into on the day of Aashada sukla Ekadasi (Sayani
Ekadasi). Kartheeka Sukla Dwadasi also known as Uttana Dwadasi is
celebrated as a festival of Goddess Thulasi when Thulasi plant is symbolically
married to a Salagrama Shila (Lord Vishnu) called Thulasi Damodara Vivaha
with all grandeur. On this day while worshipping we find people keeping a
branch of Amla tree (Amalakki) besides the Thulasi plant. If that day is
missed out, it is generally celebrated on the Full Moon day-Kartheeka
Pournami. Uttana Dwadasi is also known as Ksheerabdhi Dwadasi the day
on which Ksheera Samudra was churned. It is also referred to as Brunda
(Vana) Dwadasi in the name of Divine Thulasi.

Traditions of Kartheeka Masam

Kartheeka masam is considered as highly auspicious and sacred month for
worshipping both Lord Vishnu as well as Lord Shiva. We also find people
worshipping Lord Subramanya who is also known as Karthikeya during this
month. Kartheeka masam is the holiest among the four months of
Chaturmasam. We find an exclusive script known as Kartheeka Purana
dedicated in the name of Kartheeka masam. It is believed and said that
during Kartheeka masam, Goddess Ganga (River Ganges) enters all the
rivers, lakes and ponds and flows as Antarvahini. People observe strict
austerities during this month. Lot of significance and prominence is given
during Kartheeka masam for taking bath in sacred rivers before sunrise,
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lighting of lamps (Deepaaraadhana), fasting, visiting of Shiva and Vishnu
temples, giving charity especially Deepa Dana, Salagrama Pooja, and Vana
Bhojana. Actually Kartheeka Snana Vratha begins from Aaswayuja Sukla
Pournami and is held for a period of one month up to Kartheeka Pournami.
On the full moon day, Kartheeka Pournami we find people especially women
floating lighted lamps in rivers and lakes after sunset. In some parts of
South India, we find people performing the festival of Naga Chaturthi on the
4th day of bright fortnight in Kartheeka Masam.

Worship of Lord Shiva during Kartheeka masam

Kartheeka masam is very dear to Lord Shiva who is extensively worshipped
throughout Kartheeka masam, especially on Mondays known as Kartheeka
Soma Vara. People take up a special austerity known as Kartheeka Soma
Vara Vratham during this month which is considered as highly meritorious.
On this day Lord Shiva is exclusively worshipped along with His consort
Goddess Parvathi Devi, by taking bath early in the morning, by visiting a
Shiva temple, lighting lamps, performing abhisheka, giving charity,
observing mouna vratha, and also observing fast. Rare coincidence of
Kartheeka masam + Somavaara (Monday) + Sapthami thithi + Sravana
Nakshathra is considered as highly sacred and meritorious for worshipping
Lord Shiva and is referred to as Koti Somavaara Vratham.

Dhaathri Vana Bhojana

Another significant feature that we find in Kartheeka masam is Vana
Bhojana, taking food under the shade of an Amla (Amlaki) tree. Dhaathri is a
Sanskrit word meaning Amla. This is generally performed on any day during
the month, other than Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays and Sapthami thithi days.
Generally it is performed on any of the lunar days starting from Trayodasi in
sukla paksha to Panchami in Krishna Paksha. On this day a ritual known as
Dhaathri Pooja and Dhaathri Havana is performed worshipping Lord
Damodara (Sri Krishna) under an Amla Tree.

Thereafter people are served with food in open space within the vicinity of
Amla tree. It is generally a mass event. By doing Vana Bhojana like this it
is said that one would get rid of the dosha from Paraanna Bhojana, partaking
food in others houses. Nowadays this Vana Bhojana has become a corporate
culture where, we find Corporates taking their employees for a picnic during
Kartheeka masam known as Kartheeka Samaraadhana. In performing this

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ritual there is a message of health significance and worshipping of the
nature.

At Tiruchanoor Sri Padmavathi Devi temple, annual Brahmotsavam known as

Kartheeka Brahmotsavam of Goddess Padmavathi Devi will be held every
year during Kartheeka Masam. As per Padma Purana it is said that Goddess
Sri Maha Lakshmi emerged out of Louts (Padma) flower on the day of
Kartheeka Sukla Panchami from the midst of Padma Sarovara.

Kartheeka Sukla Dwadasi is considered as Swayambhuva Manvaadi the day

on which Swayambhuva Manvanthara had commenced; Kartheeka Sukla
Pournami is referred to as Indra Saavarni Manvaadi, the day on which Indra
Saavarni Manvanthara had commenced, and Kartheeka Sukla Navami is
considered as Krutha Yugaadi the day on which Krutha Yuga had
commenced. Kartheeka masam also marks the beginning of the New Year
as per Vikrama Sakha calendar.

Any austerity, ritual, worship, charity performed during Kartheeka masam is

more meritorious than the one performed on ordinary days. Kartheeka
masam in Hindu sampradaya is a highly rewarding month that has been
prescribed by Sages for acquiring spiritual as well as materialistic benefits
inculcating a spiritual as well as physical discipline.

Na Kaartheeka samo maasa, Na Deva Kesavaatparam

Nacha Vedasamam Shaasthram, Na theertham Gangayaasamam

There is no month equal to Kartheeka masam, there is no God equivalent to

Lord Kesava (Sri Hari), there is no script equal to Veda, and there is no
theertha (pilgrimage) equal to sacred river Ganges.

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
bhargavasarma
Other related links

http://bhargavasarma.blogspot.com/search/label/GLORY%20OF%20THU
LASI%20-%20THE%20DIVINE%20PLANT

http://www.scribd.com/doc/20938837/Deepavali-The-Festival-of-Lights

http://www.scribd.com/doc/20736491/Sri-Vaamana-Avathara-Story-of-
King-Bali