Before we welcome the month of Margazhi tomorrow, let’s bid the Karthikai masam a fitting farewell with a crisp snippet on the month’s key festival- the Kartikai Deepam!
· Karthikai Deepam, also known as Tiruvannamalai Deepam, is the bonfire lit in the temple of Lord Arunachaleswara at Tiruvannamalai on the full moon day of the Karthikai month.
· This tradition has references in ancient Sangam literature in several works including the Agananuru.
· This deepam is believed to be a representation of Lord Siva. Mythology has it that the Lord appeared as an endless column of fire to resolve an argument between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu as to who was superior amongst the two.
· The temple at Tiruvannamalai is dedicated to ‘fire’, one of the five basic elements or ‘Panchabhootas’ comprising air, water, fire, the earth and the sky or ethereal space
· Muthuswami Dikshitar has composed songs on all the five Panchabhoota temples; he describes this lingam as one having extraordinary power.
· The tradition of Chokka pannai is performed on this day- a hollow trunk of the palmirah tree, filled with charcoal and saw dust, is swung around, for it is believed to be a source of positive energy.
· Karthikai itself is a constellation with six stars, which are associated with the six- faced Lord Muruga in Hindu mythology.
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