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  Acharya Lokesh

Kartik month vrata and its hidden significance

Kartik month vrata and its hidden significance

One of the highest Vratas

To perform sadhanas or prayers, Kartik month which falls under the Dakshinayana period is considered as the most pious month. The lunar month of Kartik begins when the planet Sun enters the sign of Tula. The month of Kartik is also known as the Damodar maas. As per belief, it is one of the best months for observing austerities. It is believed that if religious acts are performed during this month of Kartik, then the results are equal to that of a visit to all pilgrimages. The auspicious month of Kartik is considered to be a period for the welfare of mankind. According to belief, there is no other month like Kartik, no other religious scripture like Veda, no other era like Satyayuga, and no other pilgrimage like giving a dip in the holy Ganga.

Significant occasions in the Kartik month

Some of the holy auspicious occasions that fall in the month of Kartik are Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi, Tulsi Vivah, Vaikuntha Chaturdashi and Kartik Poornima. Through the Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi, the inauspicious four-month period known as Chaturmaas comes to an end. It is believed that Lord Vishnu gets into a state of yoga nidra on the day of Devshayani Ekadashi and then wakes up after four months on Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi in the month of Kartik. Many rituals are observed by devotees to rejoice at the occasion of the awakening of Lord Vishnu. This holy day carries a lot of significance for various reasons; it marks the beginning of an auspicious period as well and it helps the devotees to get rid of all their sins. Devotees even get rid of those sins that they have done in their past life.

Sacred ritual of Tulsi Vivah

There is another sacred ritual named Tulsi Vivah which is observed from the day of Ekadashi (11th day of the bright fortnight) to the day of Poornima (full moon) of the Kartik month. This day is celebrated to commemorate the marriage ceremony of the holy basil plant (tulsi) with Lord Vishnu.

This day has a special significance

The sacred day of Vaikuntha Chaturdashi is observed on the day before Kartik Poornima. This day carries a special type of significance as this is a puja in which devotees get an opportunity to offer their prayers to both Lord Vishnu as well as Lord Shiva together. Lord Shiva is worshipped during dawn (arunodaya) while Lord Vishnu is worshipped at midnight (nishitha). As per belief, both the deities Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva had paid homage to each other on this particular day; Lord Shiva had offered Bael leaves to Lord Vishnu while Lord Vishnu had offered tulsi leaves to Lord Shiva.

The day when the gods are happy because goodness beat badness.

The day of Kartik Poornima is also known as Dev Diwali. As per belief, on this particular day, the gods celebrate the victory of virtue over vice. The day of Kartik Poornima is associated with various occasions such as Lord Vishnu’s incarnation as Matsya avatar, the birth of Kartikeya, the birth of Vrinda and the personification of the holy basil plant. Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi falls on 23rd November, Tulsi Vivah falls on 24th November, Vaikuntha Chaturdashi falls on 25th November and Kartik Poornima falls on 27th November this year Kartik Month 2023, Kartik Maas 2023.

Helps to achieve all the four goals of life

In Kaliyuga, Kartik month vrata is regarded as the best way to attain salvation. Women, after taking a bath at the Brahma Muhurta, offer prayers to Radha-Damodar during this month. According to the Puranas, this month of Kartik is said to provide all four goals of life (purusharthas)- Dharma (righteousness), artha(wealth), kama (worldly pleasures) and moksha (liberation). People attain the best of health during this period. Narayana explained the religious significance of this month to Brahma who in turn, further narrated it to Naarada. Narada then explained it to King Prithu. Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are believed to have visited Earth during this sacred month.

Helps to attain health, wealth and peace

Every person wishes to live a happy, comfortable and peaceful life and also prays for such a life for his near and dear ones. This wish is said to be fulfilled by performing Kartik month vrata. The glory of Kartik month vrata has been vividly described in our religious scriptures. It advises people to follow the rules strictly and worship God with full devotion.

A holy dip

In the entire month of Kartik, a person should wake up before sunrise (Brahma Muhurta), take a bath in a nearby pond, river or lake and offer prayers to God. The first ritual that should be followed on Kartik vrata is to remember Ganga, Vishnu, Shiva and Surya when the person starts his bath in a river or pond. Taking a bath in any of the seven holy rivers- Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Narmada, Kshipra, Godavari or Kaveri is considered to be very auspicious and rewarding on this holy day of Kartik Poornima. If it is not possible to do so, then one should remember any of the holy rivers while taking a bath.

Rituals to observe for the Vrata

A married person needs to apply a paste of black sesame seeds and gooseberry powder. A saintly person or widower needs to apply the clay of Tulsi roots (mrittika). Devotees also need to offer tarpan to the deceased ancestors while bathing as it is considered a beneficial ritual. The person should wear clean clothes and worship Lord Vishnu after completing the bath and tarpan ritual.

Charity as a ritual

Women performing the Kartikmaas vrata, sit under a gooseberry tree and listen to the Kartik vrata katha on Akshaynavami. It is a tradition to Offer donations throughout the month of Kartik is a tradition. But other than donating to the Brahmins, a secret donation is also done in which the things that are to be donated are hidden in an ash gourd. The Brahmins and unmarried boys and girls are served food under the tree after performing the rituals.

The festival of lights falls in this holy month

The month of Kartik has a speciality than the other months due to various reasons. The entire nation celebrates Amavasya of Kartik month as the festival of lights. This day is celebrated as Deepavali with a lot of enthusiasm, pomp and grandeur. As per belief, Mata Lakshmi roams around everywhere and blesses her devotees with a prosperous life on this auspicious day. The ritual consists of lighting lamps at the entrance of the house, near the Tulsi plant at sunrise or sunset during the entire month of Kartik. Another ritual known as Akash Deep is also performed in which oil lamps are lit at night or twilight in honour of the dead ancestors.

Offering prayers to Mata Tulsi

Another important ritual that is performed in the month of Kartik is worshipping the Tulsi plant. Devotees should pour water on the tulsi plant and offer prayers to the goddess early in the morning. If one plants a tulsi plant on this auspicious day, it gives good results. Tulsi not only frees a person from diseases but it also liberates a person from the fears of the messengers of death (Yamdoots). A person gets maximum results if he/she performs puja with Tulsi leaves and its flowers (Manjari).

Leading a simple and pure life

There is another important ritual which needs to be followed in this month. It is sleeping on the floor as it increases the Sattvik qualities of a person. Sleeping on the floor is believed to be equal to that of resting at God’s feet and it frees a person of all fears. The spiritual progress of a person is completed if one practices the life of Brahmacharya in this month. Listening to Sankirtan and the verses of the Gita and Ramcharitmanas helps to destroy all sins and provide wisdom. Worshipping Lord Vishnu and donating cows and rice also form an important part of the ritual. 

Which foods not to eat in this sacred month?

A person should avoid eating excessive salt, sesame seeds, eggplant, honey, black gram, red lentil, Bengal gram, pigeon pea, bottle gourd, split peas, green gram, garlic and onion. One should avoid stale food. Do not eat tobacco or betel leaf during this period. One should be honest, kind, helpful and avoid negative emotions. Oil should be applied on Narak Chaturdashi.

Establishes the connection of man with nature

There is a deep relevance of all the rituals such as worshipping the cow, offering prayers to different trees, and bathing in the Ganges in modern life too. It focuses on the importance of nature. A person attains prosperity, knowledge, strength, wealth and good company by observing the Kartik month vrata not only during life in this world but even in the next world. So, it can be concluded that if a person observes the Kartik month vrata with full devotion and faith, then that person is blessed with complete happiness.