KARTIKA MASAM

KARTIKA MASAM

Kartika (Hindi: कार्तिक Marathi:कार्तिक, Kārtik {{ne:कार्तिक}} or Sanskrit: कार्तिक^[1] Kārtika, Telugu: కర్తీక, Kannada"ಕಾರ್ತಿಕ" Kārtik, Tamil: கார்த்திகை, Bengali: কার্ত্তিক Kartik), is a month of Hindu and Bengali calendars, named after the Hindu god, Kartikeya.

In the lunar Hindu calendar, Kartika begins with the new moon in November and is the eighth month of the year except in Gujarat, where it marks the new year that falls on Diwali. In the solar religious calendar used in Tamil Nadu, Kartikai begins with the Sun's entry into Scorpio and is the eight month of the year. Karthika masam / Kartheeka masam is the eighth lunar month of Indian Astrology. It comes around November of Gregorian calender. Karthika masam is considered very sacred and there are many reasons for it:

Importance of Karthika masam

• Lord Vishnu goes to sleep on Ashadha suddha ekadashi and wakes-up on Karthika suddha ekadashi.
• Lord Shiva kílled Tripurasuras on Karthika pournami and protected the world.
• In this month Ganga (Godess of river Ganges) enters in to all rivers, canals, ponds and wells and makes them as pious as Ganga.
• Ayyappa deeksha is also taken in Karthika masam and is continued up to Makara Sankranthi (Jan 15th)

• Waking up early in Brahmi muhartham (4.00A.M)
• Taking bath in rivers or ponds remembering Ganga
• Shiva puja / Damodara (Vishnu) puja
• Lighting Akasha deepam on sun-set
• Understanding Karthika puranam