Fwd: KARTIKAMAS (MEANING)

[Guest guest]

Jai Guru Datta

 

All Datta devotees

 

Very informative meaning of Kartikamas from Sri Nagendra Shankermanchi, Head

Priest of Datta Yoga Center USA's Datta Temple in Baton Rouge, LA.

 

 

Would like to share with everybody.

 

 

<dattatemple

To:

<ashokkusum,<dycusa,<msthanki,<madhava,

KARTIKAMAS (MEANING)

Wed, 16 Nov 2005 21:22:28 -0500

 

PLEASE SEND THIS EMAIL TO ALL YOUR FREINDS AND DATTA DEVOTEES!

 

Jai Guru Datta!

 

As per Lunar calendar current month is known as Karthika. Karthika month is very

significant for variety of reasons. Please read on to know more.

 

Karhtika month starts on second day after Deepavali or Diwali festival. Scholars

say that no other month is as important as Karthika month. This month is very

much liked by both Shiva and Vishnu. Through out this month, it is better to do

the following:

 

shower with cold water, light lamps, donate for charities, perform abhishekam

(pour water, milk, sugar, yogurt, etc. ) to Shiva, meditation, fasting, attend

spiritual picnics (vana bhojanam).

 

Scriptures say that one should worship Sri Maha Vishnu with Tulasi leaves, and

Jasmine (Jaji) flowers and worship Maha Deva (Shiva) with Maredu leaves, Jilledu

(Arka) flowers.

 

In Karthika month, one should wake up early in the morning take bath/shower with

cold water. Taking bath in a river is the best. City residents who are not close

to rivers, may take bath in canals/creeks or lakes or water wells. Our elders

believe that omnipresent Lord Vishnu lives in these open waters during the lunar

month Tula (Sanskrit name for Karthika month). After taking bath, you should

offer "Arhgyam" (offer water) to Sun god and worship your favorite deity.

 

In this Karthika month, it is auspicious to light lamp and also to donate lamps.

It is better to light lamps in Shiva, Vishnu or any other temples. If you can

not light lamps everyday of the month, one should definitely light lamps on

Poornima day of the Karthika month. It is customary to place wick dipped in ghee

or butter or oil on Gooseberries( Usiri / Amla) and then light the lamp. It is

good to light and leave lamp in a river and to donate lamps to scholars or

brahmins.

 

As Monday is most auspicious day for Lord Shiva, it is batter to fast on Mondays

during Karthika month. Scriptures says that one should participate in spiritual

picnic(s) (Vana Bhojanam) during Karthika month. Even now this custom is

followed in villages in India and other places. It is better to pick an area

with several trees for the picnic, worship gooseberry (Usiri / Amala) tree, sit

under the same tree and eat in food on a leaf (instead of paper, plastic, metal

or ceramic plate) of Jack fruit tree or banana leaf.

 

During Karhtika month one should NOT take bath with hot water, sleep during day

time, eat in copper plate, eat meat, eat onion or eat garlic. Experts on

scriptures also say that one should try to take bath with water from river, lake

or water wells outside instead of indoor tap water.

 

It is important to understand the effect of changes in seasons, weather and

temperature on our psychology, mental state and physical desires. Our customs

which are based on ancient scriptures thoroughly understand this relationship.

Karthika month is one of the spiritually significant months. In this month,

rivers, lakes and water wells gain significant energy from Sun God. This is the

reason our customs and scriptures recommend taking cold water bath from outdoor

water. During this month nature is also cooperating with an abundant supply of

flowers for worship.

 

There are two significant festivals in Karthika month. First one is called

Ksheerabdhi Dwadashi (12th lunar day after new moon) and second one is Karthika

Poornima (full moon). On Ksheerabdhi Dwadashi day Gods and daemons have churned

the milk ocean. Lord Vishnu who is always in the milk ocean with Sri Maha

Lakshmi is said to come to Brindavana with Brahma on the day of Ksheerabdhi

Dwadashi. For this reason, it is said that one should worship Lord Vishnu on

Ksheerabdhi Dwadashi day with devotion. On Ksheerabdhi Dwadashi day Tulasi plant

is also worshipped. We will update you with story of Tulasi later.

 

Karthika Poornima (Full moon) is also called "Jwala Toranam" which means string

of fire/lamps. Karthika Poornima is on November 16th (Wednesday) per

Dattapeetham calendar. During evening times, devotees light lamps in Shiva

,Vishnu and other temples. On Karthika Poornima day, devotees pour ghee made

from cow's butter into small vessels made with rice flour or wheat flour, place

a wick and light the lamp. Some devotees light lamp on gooseberry (Usiri or

Amala) also. Several devotees donate lamps on river banks and in temples. By

donating lamps on Karthika Poornima day, one is said to gain infinite good will

from god.

 

The day in between Ksheerabdhi Dwadashi (12th lunar day after new moon) and

Karthika Poornima (full moon) is known as Vaikunta Chaturdashi (14th lunar day

after new moon or day before full moon). Scripture say that Sri Maha Vishnu

worshipped Lord Shiva on Vaikunta Chaturdashi (14th lunar day after new moon or

day before full moon). On this day one should donate silver or copper lamps to

scholars or brahmins or priests.

 

There is no difference bwtween Shiva and Vishnu as explained by this shlokam.

Many scholars chant this shlokam during their Sandhya Vandanam (daily worship).

 

Shivaya Vishnu Roopaya

Shiva roopaya Vishnave

Shivasya Hrudayam Vishnoh

Vishnoscha Hrudayam Shivaha

 

This in brief is the significance of Karthika month. During this Karthika month

or any other auspicious day, performing the above mentioned austerities in front

of Lord Dattatereya or Sadguru Padukas you will be blessed immensely by Sadguru

and Lord Dattatreya.

 

May Sri Swamiji's blessings always be with you.

 

Sri Guru Datta!

Nagendra Sanakaramanchi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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