importance of karthik poornima

After Shivrathri, Lord Shiva is worshipped for the whole month of Karthik and the full moon day called as Karthik Poornima Lord Shiva

is worshipped with lots of dedication by the people. This day is also called as Tripuri poornima or Tripurari Poornima and Ganga Snan

The whole month of 'Kartika' is considered to be the most sacred among all the twelve months of the year.

Karthik Poornima is the festival that is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. The day of Karthik poornima is considered as an auspicious day wherein Sikhs do special prayers to honour the founder of their religion, Guru Nanak, Muslims pay homage to the departed souls

souls and pray for the well being of their near and dear ones.

But Karthik Poornima has immense religious value according to the Hindu mythology.

Karthik poornima is also reffered to as Dev-Diwali, Dev-Deppawali, the festival of lights of the gods. It is believed that annually on the day of Karthik poornima, the gods descend on earth and reside in the sacred rivers. Devotees take sacred bath in Ganges and other sacred rivers during karthik month to get rid of their negative poisons and receive the blessings from all the Gods.

By bathing in these sacred rivers we cleanse our inner selves, our mind in the spiritual waters. It is not the show of cleaning the outer selves but to rid of our mind and life of its wrong qualities like fear, greed, envy, anger, arrogance and wrong desires and replacing those with forces of love, compassion, generosity, kindness, and light.

                                    

During the month of karthik, Hindus avoid eating fish, meat or egg.

The last five days are considered more sacred and Kartika Poornima is the last day of the Hindu month that follows the last five days of celebrations known as Panchaka. During these five days women after taking purificatory bath in the early morning draw beautiful flower-designs around the 'chaura' a Tulasi temple in theie homes and do fasting these days and visit Shiva temple to worship Lord Shiva.

They take food only once in the afternoon which is known as 'Habisha' during fasting.

Legends associated with Karthik Poornima :

It is believed that Lord Shiva has killed demon Tripusara on the day of

Karthik Poornima and so people celebrates the power of Lord Shiva.

Karthik Poornima is also celebrated by Jains as Jain light festival called as Deva Diwali when Lord Mahavira is worshiped with amps are lit under the moonlight sky and a family feast celebrates this day and visit 'Palitana' one of the most famous Jain pilgrimage places.

On the day of Karthik Poornima even Lord Vishnu is worshipped for his birth of Matsya(fish) avatar.

The Karthik poornima day is also the birthday of Vrinda, the epitome of the Tulsi plant and of lord Kartikeya, who is the chief of all gods and is the last day to perform the 'Tulsi Vivah.

It is also believed that Lord Vishnu in his incarnation of Lord Krishna worshipped Radha on the day of Karthik Poornima.

Karthik Poornima is also dedicated to the dead ancestors.

On this day a ritual bath at a pilgrimage place is advised, which is known as "Kartik Snan". A holy bath at Pushkar or in the river, especially at Varanasi is considered as most auspicious.