KARTHIKA MAASAM (DAMODARA MAASAM) - SIGNIFICANCE
India,
the birth place of Hinduism is rich in spirituality, religious cultures,
faiths, austerities, customs and traditions that we don’t find any where else
in the world. In the words of Mark Twain “India is the cradle of the human
race, the birth place of human speech, the mother of history, the grand mother
of legend, and the grand mother of tradition. The most valuable and most
instructive material in the history of man is treasured up in India only” We
have a unique calendar with each day and each month denoting some or the other religious
event or festival associated with a tradition and culture which is being
followed since time immemorial.
Repetition of these events is only to remind the mankind its
significance always with a divine message behind it.
As
we move into the Hindu Lunar calendar eighth month is denoted as Kartheeka
Masam that generally comes around October-November of every year. It marks the beginning of winter season. When the Moon is at or nearer to the
constellation of Kruttika on full Moon day that month is denoted as Kartheeka
masam. It is also known as Koumudhi
masam the month full of moon light.
Daamodara Masam
Lord Sri Maha Vishnu in the name of Daamodara is the presiding Deity
(Masa niyamaka) for Kartheeka masam. Daamodara is one of the prominent names
that we generally find being referred to Lord Sri Krishna. We find a reference
to the word Daamodara in sloka # 40 of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthothram. Daamodara
is a combination of two Sanskrit words Daama + Udara. Daama means rope and
Udara means belly. Daamodara means the
one who was tied with a rope to his belly. Reference to this we find in Sri Mad Bhagavatham 10th canto
in the story of Lord Sri Krishna during his playful childhood days with his
foster mother Yashoda. In this episode we find Lord Sri Krishna (Daamodara)
liberating Nalakubera and Manigreeva the two sons of the Divine Cashier and
Demi God Kubera from the curse of sage Narada.
Dhaam also means an abode and Udara means abdomen. Dhaamodara spiritually
means the one whose abdomen is the abode for the entire universe or the one in
whose belly rests the entire universe.
He is the one who can liberate the souls from the cycle (rope) of births
and deaths. Kartheeka masam also known
as Damodara masam is very dear to Lord Sri Krishna (Kartheeka Daamodara) and
worshipping Him during this month is sacred and highly meritorious.
Bali Paadyami
Sacred
day King Bali gave Daana to Lord Vaamana is celebrated as Bali Paadyami (Bali
Prathipada) which occurs on the very first day of Kartheeka masam viz. Kartheeka
Sukla Prathipada. Worshiping Lord Sri
Vaamana on this day is very sacred and celestial. This day is considered to be very sacred and
auspicious for giving charity and one will get multiple merits even if little
charity is given in memory of King Bali.
Worshiping Goddess Lakshmi, Kubera
(Divine Cashier), and Cow (Gomatha) on this day are also given lot of
significance. Govardhana pooja is also
performed on the day of Bali Paadyami by symbolically making an icon of
Govardhana Parvatha with cow dung or with cooked rice and it is worshiped
along with Lord Sri Krishna who had lifted it and provided shelter to Cowherds
and cattle under the mountain.
Uttana Dwadasi
Kartheeka
Sukla Ekadasi known as Prabhodini Ekadasi marks the end of Chaturmasam the day Lord
Sri Maha Vishnu wakes up from His Yoganidra that he entered on the day of
Aashada sukla Ekadasi (Sayani Ekadasi). Kartheeka Sukla Dwadasi also known as
Uttana Dwadasi is celebrated as a festival of Goddess Thulasi when Thulasi
plant is symbolically married to a Salagrama Shila (Lord Vishnu) called Thulasi
Damodara Vivaha with all grandeur.
On
this day while worshipping we find people keeping a branch of Amla tree
(Amalakki) besides the Thulasi plant. If that day is missed out, it is
generally celebrated on the Full Moon day-Kartheeka Pournami. Uttana Dwadasi is also known as Ksheerabdhi
Dwadasi the day on which Ksheera Samudra was churned. It is also referred to as Brunda (Vana)
Dwadasi in the name of Divine Thulasi.
Traditions of Kartheeka Masam
Kartheeka
masam is considered as highly auspicious and sacred month for worshipping both
Lord Vishnu as well as Lord Shiva. We also find people worshipping Lord
Subramanya who is also known as Karthikeya during this month. Kartheeka masam
is the holiest among the four months of Chaturmasam. We find an exclusive
script known as Kartheeka Purana dedicated in the name of Kartheeka masam.
It
is believed and said that during Kartheeka masam, Goddess Ganga (River Ganges)
enters all the rivers, lakes and ponds and flows as Antarvahini. People observe
strict austerities during this month. Lot of significance and prominence is
given during Kartheeka masam for taking bath in sacred rivers before sunrise,
lighting of lamps (Deepaaraadhana), fasting, visiting of Shiva and Vishnu
temples, giving charity especially Deepa Dana, Salagrama Pooja, and Vana
Bhojana.
Actually
Kartheeka Snana Vratha begins from Aaswayuja Sukla Pournami (as per Solar Calendar) and is held for a
period of one month up to Kartheeka Pournami. Whereas as per Lunar calendar, it begins from Karthika Sukla Paadyami and is held up to Karthika Bahula Amaavaasya.
On the full moon day, Kartheeka
Pournami we find people especially women floating lighted lamps in rivers and
lakes after sunset. In some parts of South India, we find people performing the
festival of Naga Chaturthi on the 4th day of bright fortnight in
Kartheeka Masam.
Worship of Lord Shiva during Kartheeka masam
Kartheeka
masam is very dear to Lord Shiva who is extensively worshipped throughout Kartheeka
masam, especially on Mondays known as Kartheeka Soma Vara. People take up a special austerity known as
Kartheeka Soma Vara Vratham during this month which is considered as highly
meritorious. On this day Lord Shiva is exclusively worshipped along with His
consort Goddess Parvathi Devi, by taking bath early in the morning, by visiting
a Shiva temple, lighting lamps, performing abhisheka, giving charity, observing
mouna vratha, and also observing fast.
Rare coincidence of Kartheeka masam + Somavaara (Monday) + Sapthami
thithi + Sravana Nakshathra is considered as highly sacred and meritorious
for worshipping Lord Shiva and is referred to as Koti Somavaara Vratham.
Dhaathri Vana Bhojana
Another
significant feature that we find in Kartheeka masam is Vana Bhojana, taking
food under the shade of an Amla (Amlaki) tree. Dhaathri is a Sanskrit word
meaning Amla. This is generally
performed on any day during the month, other than Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays
and Sapthami thithi days. Generally it
is performed on any of the lunar days starting from Trayodasi in sukla paksha
to Panchami in Krishna Paksha. On this day a ritual known as Dhaathri Pooja and
Dhaathri Havana is performed worshipping Lord Damodara (Sri Krishna) under an
Amla Tree.
Thereafter
people are served with food in open space within the vicinity of Amla
tree. It is generally a mass event. By doing Vana Bhojana like this it is said
that one would get rid of the dosha from Paraanna Bhojana, partaking food in
others houses. Nowadays this Vana Bhojana has become a corporate culture where,
we find Corporates taking their employees for a picnic during Kartheeka masam
known as Kartheeka Samaraadhana. In
performing this ritual there is a message of health significance and
worshipping of the nature.
At
Tiruchanoor Sri Padmavathi Devi temple, annual Brahmotsavam known as Kartheeka
Brahmotsavam of Goddess Padmavathi Devi will be held every year during
Kartheeka Masam. As per Padma Purana it
is said that Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi emerged out of Lotus (Padma) flower on
the day of Kartheeka Sukla Panchami from the midst of Padma Sarovara.
Kartheeka
Sukla Dwadasi is considered as Swayambhuva Manvaadi the day on which
Swayambhuva Manvanthara had commenced; Kartheeka Sukla Pournami is referred to
as Indra Saavarni Manvaadi, the day on which Indra Saavarni Manvanthara had
commenced, and Kartheeka Sukla Navami is considered as Krutha Yugaadi the day
on which Krutha Yuga had commenced.
Kartheeka masam also marks the beginning of the New Year as per Vikrama
Sakha calendar.
Any
austerity, ritual, worship, charity performed during Kartheeka masam is more
meritorious than the one performed on ordinary days. Kartheeka masam in Hindu
sampradaya is a highly rewarding month that has been prescribed by Sages for
acquiring spiritual as well as materialistic benefits inculcating a spiritual
as well as physical discipline.
Na Kaartheeka samo maasa, Na Deva
Kesavaatparam
Nacha Vedasamam Shaasthram, Na theertham
Gangayaasamam
There is no month equal to Kartheeka
masam, there is no God equivalent to Lord Kesava (Sri Hari), there is no script
equal to Veda, and there is no theertha (pilgrimage) equal to sacred river
Ganges.
Important events/festivals during Karthika Maasa are…
> Bali Paadyami;
> Yama Dwiteeya;
> VijayaDasara Aaraadhana;
> Uttaana Dwaadasi – Thulasi Damodara Vivaha;
> Vaikunta Chaturdasi – Dhathri Havana - Vana Bhojana;
> Sri Dhanwanthari Jayanthi (Bhaula Dwadasi)
> Sri Padmanabha Theerthara Aaradhana;
> Vruschika Sankramana
kAma krOdha biDisi ninna nAma jihveyoLage nuDiso
shrii mahAnubhAvanAda dAmOdarA ||
ಕಾಮಕ್ರೋಧ ಬಿಡಿಸಿ ನಿನ್ನ | ನಾಮ ಜಿಹ್ವೆಯೊಳಗೆ ನುಡಿಸು ||
ಶ್ರೀಮಹಾನುಭಾವನಾದ ದಾಮೋದರ ||
(KanakaDasaru)
O' great dAmodara, free me from desire and anger. Make me to always recite your name.
Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
Hari Sarvottama-Vaayu Jeevottama
Sri GuruRaajo Vijayate
Link for KARTHIKA DAMODARA STOTHRAM...
Comments
Post a Comment