TOMORROW IS KARTIK POORNIMA
Kartik Poornima is a Hindu holy day celebrated on the full moon day of
Kartik . It is also known as Tripuri poornima. The Kartik Purnima
festival also coincides with the Sikh festival of Guru Nanak Jayanti.
Tripuri
poornima derives its name from Tripurari - the foe of the demon
Tripurasura. Tripurari is an epithet of god Shiva. Shiva in his form as
Tripurantaka killed the demon on this day. Tripurasura had conquered the
whole world and defeated the gods. He also had created three cities in
space together called "Tripura". The killing o f the demon and
destruction of his cities with a single arrow by Shiva overjoyed the
gods and they pronounced the day as a festival of illuminations.
Therefore,
this day is also called "Dev-Diwali”... Tripuri Poornima is only next to
Mahashivratri, amongst festivals dedicated to Shiva worship.
Kartik Poornima is also the birthday of Matsya, god Vishnu's
fish-incarnation. It is also the birthday of Vrinda, the personification
of the
Tulsi plant and of Kartikeya, the god of war and son of Shiva. This day
also is considered dear to Radha, the lover of Krishna - Vishnu's
incarnation. It is believed that Krishna and Radha danced rasa and
Krishna worshipped Radha on this day. This day is also dedicated to the
“pitrs”- dead ancestors.
Kartik Poornima is closely associated with Prabodhini Ekadashi which
marks the end of Chaturmas, a four-month period when Vishnu is believed
to sleep. Prabodhini Ekadashi signifies the awakening of the god.
Chaturmas penance ends on this day. Many fairs that begin on Prabodhini
Ekadashi end on Kartik Poornima, Fairs that conclude on this day include
Prabodhini Ekadashi celebrations at Pandharpur and Pushkar Fair. Kartik
Poornima is also the last day to perform Tulsi
Vivah ceremony that can be performed from Prabodhini Ekadashi.
A
ritual bath at a sacred water body like a lake or river at a pilgrimage
centre is prescribed on Kartik Poornima. This holy bath is known as
"Kartik Snana". An holy bath at Pushkar or in the Ganges river
especially at Varanasi is deemed as most auspicious.
-
R B KISHORE
No comments:
Post a Comment