Published On : December 28, 2022  |  Author : Astrologer Umesh
Kartik Purnima

What Is Kartik Purnima?

Kartik Purnima is an auspicious day with widespread popularity in India as a cultural festival.

As the name itself suggests, the festival is celebrated on the full moon day or Purnima of Kartik month. Also called Tripuri Purnima and Deva-Diwali, the festival of Kartik Purnima is celebrated to commemorate the triumph of Lord Shiva against the demons, Tarkaksh, Kamlaksh, and Vidyunmali (sons of Tripurasura).

What Is The Importance Or Religious Significance Of Kartik Purnima?

Kartika Purnima is celebrated with great joy as the day commemorates the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon sons of Tripurasura. For this reason, the significance of the festival is higher. Moreover, as the festival is associated with Lord Shiva, that is also another reason for accentuating its religious significance, considering worshipping the lord on this day means attaining his divine blessings and other benefits in life, including peace, happiness and prosperity.

The significance of Kartik Purnima is deemed more when it happens on Nakshatra Kartika known as Maha Kartik.For instance, Bharani Nakshatra being considered highly special is what accentuates the significance of Kartik Purnima. Moreover, if it falls in Rohini Nakshatra, then the festival is considered even better in terms of milking great results for the devotees.

It is believed that if a devotee does any kind of philanthropic deed on Kartika Purnima, he/she attains divine blessings equal to the deed of ten yajnas.

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What Types Of Rituals Should Devotees Follow During Kartik Purnima?

  • Devotees take a holy bath known as Kartik Snan.
  • Varanasi and Prayag are some of the holy places for conducting the rituals on Kartik Purnima.
  • The rituals start early in the morning of the daybreak and on moonrise in the evening
  • The festival involves reverential regard paid by devotees to Lord Vishnu.
  • Lord Vishnu is worshipped with flowers, incense sticks, and other ingredients.
  • Devotees must renounce any thought of negativity or violence on this day.
  • Devotees can also observe a fast called Satyanarayana Vrat on this day to please Lord Vishnu.
  • One can also perform Rudrabhishek on this day at their home.
  • The day also commemorates Tulsi Vivah. Hence, devotees can perform Tulsi Vivah as well on Kartik Purnima.

Kartik Purnima Story

According to a mythological tale, a demon named Tarakasura had three sons, Tarkaksh, Kamlaksh, and Vidyunmali. When these sons came to know that their father was killed by Lord Shiva’s son, Karthikeya, they were enraged. They sought assistance of Lord Brahma. For this, they observed the rigorous mediation of Lord Brahma for years and finally pleased him to ask for a boon. They asked for the boon of immortality but Lord Brahma asked them something else instead of the boon of immortality. Then they asked for three beautiful cities for each so that they could dominate the gods and capture heaven, adding further that anyone who can destroy them together in a single arrow should be the cause of their death. Lord Brahma granted them the boon.

Consequently, Mai-danav built them three beautiful cities; a golden city for Tarkaksh, a silver city for Kamlaksh, and an iron city for Vidyunmali. Their dominance all over heaven led the fearful gods to ask for assistance from Lord Shiva, who then had a divine chariot built to destroy the demons.

Everything With The Chariot Was Made By The Contributions Of Different Gods.

For instance, wheels were made by the moon and sun, and the four horses of the chariot were Indra, Varun, Yam, and Kuber. Lord Shiva drove the chariot himself and fought against the three demons. When they came in parallel with the chariot, Lord Shiva, by using a single arrow, killed the demons, thus being called Tripurari.

Conclusion

Kartik Purnima is an auspicious festival celebrated to commemorate the triumph of Lord Shiva over three demons, Tarkaksh, Kamlaksh, and Vidyunmali. After the victory, Lord Shiva was called Tripurari.

Also Read:
Margashirsha Purnima and Shravan Purnima