What is the significance of karthigai

In order to stop the dispute, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a fire challenged them to find either the top or bottom of the fire to be deemed as the greatest. Immediately, Lord Brahma took the form of a bird and started to fly up to find the top while Lord Vishnu assumed the appearance of a boar and dug deep to find the bottom. Both their efforts proved to be futile, as Lord Shiva fire continued to grow in size.

In the end, they gave up and admitted Lord Shiva's supremacy. The day this incident took place was on the full moon of Karthigai month and later it's believed that Lord Shiva appeared as a hill at Thiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu. Till today, the Shivan temple in Thiruvannamalai holds grand Karthigai Deepam celebration.

For more details about Karthigai Deepam, stay tuned on Astro Ulagam! Festival Hindu. Archeologists have found ancient human skeletal remains and Hindu-Buddhist influenced drawings dating back to the fifth and 10th centuries in Bukit Keteri and Gua Semadong in Perlis. This festival is considered as the extension of the Deepavali festival. In the olden days, the people used to double the number of lamps every day from the day of Deepavali and this way, they end up with a number of lamps on the day of Karthigai Deepam.

Karthigai Deepam is the oldest festival celebrated by Tamils. Evidence from Tamil literature lets us know that this festival is one of the oldest. The oldest available Tamil Literature is Tolkappiyam dating back to BC and this Tholkappiyam gives a concise account of Karthigai festival. First, they place the lamps in the puja room and light them.

Lord Muruga adopted the form of six babies in Saravana poigai, a lake and was looked after by six krittika stars. On this day, Goddess Parvathy united all the six forms of Skantda.

Thus, Lord Karthikeya has six faces and popularly known as Aarumugan in Tamil culture. Karthigai Deepam is very old and people from long back have been associated to this auspicious occasion.

The actual history may not be clearly stated in the scriptures but some citations have been found in the ancient writings. One can find a reference to this festival of lights in the the age old literature of Tamils known as Ahananuru, a collection of poems. It is one of the great books of Sangam literature that talks about the happenings between BC and AD.

Avaiyyar, renowned woman of Sangam age also mentions about karthigai Deepam in her poems. Hindu people respect and have complete faith on Lord Shiva. They consider him as the protector of the world and pray to him at all times.

They have a strong faith that HE will see to all their sorrows and will take great care of them. He will try to fulfill all the desires of the humans coming to him with prayers. People believe that the huge light lit during 5 pm will make people close with Lord Shiva on Kathigai Deepam.