The Tamil month ‘Karthigai’ derives its name from the Tamil star ‘Krithiga’. Lord Shiva, with His divine light, created Lord Muruga, with the assistance of the Krithiga goddesses. This fact makes it clear that the ‘Karthigai’ month is very special for Lord Muruga.
The ‘Devas’, the heavenly immortals, put in their best possible efforts to have a darshan of Lord Shiva. Lord Brahma assumed the form of a swan and Lord Vishnu, the form of a boar and conducted an extensive search in the sky and in the nether world respectively. Lord Shiva gave a darshan to them in the form of flaming light whose ends could not be defined. This form is called the ‘Annamalai Deepam’. The Mondays of the ‘Karthigai’ month are celebrated as ‘Karthigai Somavaaram’ in all the Shiva temples.
Let me recall an interesting story. A small mouse, in a Shiva temple, accidentally drew out the wick of the lamp and thereby made the lamp glow and fill the temple with brightness. It is believed that this mouse was born as a king later on, as a reward for drawing out the wick of the lamp unknowingly. As a mark of this event on the full moon day, or on the day of the ‘Bharani’ star of the Tamil month Karthigai, is called the ‘Mahabharani’. On this day bonfires (called as ‘sokkapaanai’ in Tamil) are made in the temples. This signifies that we set fire to our sins and sorrows.
Apart from these, it is in the month of ‘Karthigai’ the devotees of Lord Ayyappa take on a pilgrimage to Sabarimala, the abode of Lord Ayyappa. Similarly ‘Karthigai’ month is very special for Lord Vishnu too.
If the new moon day falls on a Monday during the Karthigai month then going round the peepul tree (‘valam varuthal’) is considered equivalent to going round the Trimurtis- namely Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. That is why the Lord in the Bhagavad Gita states that ‘of all the trees I am the peepul tree’. Similarly ‘annabishekam’ is performed on the full moon day of the Karthigai month for Lord Shiva.
Of the five holy shrines of Lord Shiva, the ‘Pancha bootha kshetram’, Thiruvannamalai is the ‘Jyothi Kshetram’ where the Lord is personified as the divine light combined with brightness and wisdom. (‘Pancha Bootham’ refers to the five elements of nature namely earth, water, fire, sky and air. Lord Shiva is worshipped in these forms in five shrines known as the Pancha Bootha Kshetram.) We are all aware that during the Karthigai month a huge light is lit on the hilltop. It is believed that the Lord is in the form of that light. Apart from this, lamps are lit in all the houses and it is a feast to see the houses glowing with lamps.
The Tamil month Karthigai is always associated with poojas, illumination, offerings and what not. It has always been a special month for Hindus. It can therefore be concluded that Karthigai means illumination and brightness.
Source ‘Gnana Malargal’ - Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal
One of the earliest references to the festival is found in the “Ahananuru”, a book of poems which dates back to the Sangam Age (200 B.C. to 300 A.D.) The “Ahananuru” clearly states that Karthigai is celebrated on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Karthigai. It was one of the most important festivals of the ancient Tamils. Avaiyyar, the renowned poetess of the Sangam Age refers to the festival in her songs.
