Kārtika Māhātmya

Kārtika Māhātmya, “the glory of the month of Kārtika”

Kārtika is the eighth lunar month, in October and November. The Purāṇas hold it to be the most exalted of all months for the bhaktas of Bhagavān Vishṇu. In this month Bhagavān Hari wakes from his four months of yoga-nidrā (yogic sleep), which fall in Cāturmāsya. Any act of devotion, dāna (giving), snāna (bathing) or tapas done in Kārtika gives akshaya phala, fruit that does not run out. The Nārada Mahā Purāṇa speaks of the Kārtika Māhātmya (the greatness of Kārtika) in its Uttarardha, Chapter 22, within the account of Rukmāṅgada. The Skanda Mahā Purāṇa gives it in full in the Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, in 36 chapters. The Vāmana Purāṇa names the rites and gifts proper to Kārtika: its worship in the Kālāshṭamī vrata to Bhagavān Śiva, the gift of lamps to Dāmodara, and kanyādāna at the Pushkara tīrtha of Kurukshetra.

Kārtika and the waking of Bhagavān Vishṇu

Bhagavān Hari goes into yoga-nidrā on Āshāḍha Śukla Ekādaśī, called Devī-śayanī Ekādaśī. He wakes on Kārtika Śukla Dvādaśī, which is called Utthanā Dvādaśī and also Prabodhī Dvādaśī. During these four months, called Cāturmāsya, auspicious rites such as vivāha (marriage) are put aside. When Bhagavān Hari wakes in Kārtika, the calendar of dharma returns to its full course. The Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarardha, Chapter 22, says that the whole month of Kārtika is under the direct presence of Bhagavān Vishṇu. He is alert and awake, and he is very easy to approach.

Why Kārtika is the highest month

The Uttarardha declares:

  • “No month equals Kārtika. No yuga equals Kṛtayuga. No dharma equals karuṇā (compassion). No light equals the eye.”
  • All puṇya (merit) done in Kārtika is akshaya. It never grows less, through all later births.
  • Acts done in other months give a limited fruit. Acts done in Kārtika give endless fruit, which goes on until moksha.

(Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarardha, Chapter 22)

What is done in Kārtika (Nārada Mahā Purāṇa)

Dīpadāna: giving lamps

To offer lamps to Bhagavān Vishṇu in Kārtika is especially full of puṇya. Lamps are lit in temple courtyards, at tulasī plants, on rivers, at tīrthas and in one’s own home on the nights of Kārtika. This is a way of serving the wakefulness of Bhagavān Vishṇu. Even one lamp, offered with bhakti in Kārtika, destroys the darkness of gathered pāpa (sin).

Tulasī pūjā

Kārtika is the month of Tulasī Devī. The tulasī plant is the offering most dear to Bhagavān Vishṇu. To worship her every day in Kārtika gives great phala. This is done by walking around her, pouring water and lighting lamps at her foot. The marriage of Tulasī with Bhagavān Vishṇu, the Tulasī Vivāha, is kept in Kārtika.

Snāna: the bath before dawn

A bath every day before dawn in Kārtika is a great sādhana (spiritual practice). It may be taken in a river, at a tīrtha, or at home with pure water. The weather is cool in this month, and the tapas is real. A bath before sunrise in Kārtika gives the puṇya of ten thousand baths in any other month.

Bhajana and nāma-saṅkīrtana

Constant bhajana, kīrtana and nāma-saṅkīrtana (singing the names of Bhagavān Vishṇu) on the nights of Kārtika is described as one of the highest practices of devotion. This is above all so with the jāgaraṇa, the vigil kept awake through the night.

Upavāsa: fasting

An Ekādaśī fast in Kārtika gives a greater phala. Kārtika Śukla Ekādaśī, called Prabodhī Ekādaśī, the day before Bhagavān Hari wakes, is very holy.

(Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarardha, Chapter 22)

Dharmāṅgada’s kingdom in Kārtika

The Uttarardha tells that in the time of Dharmāṅgada‘s rule, when Kārtika came, all his subjects went to the tīrthas of their own accord to bathe. The earth was full of the scent of harvest grain. The rivers flowed at the right level. The forests were full of flowers. The kingdom was like Kṛtayuga. Ekādaśī and Vishṇu-bhakti were the ruling dharma of that kingdom, and Kārtika was the month in which all this was at its best in the year. (Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarardha, Chapter 22)

The Skanda Purāṇa on the greatness of Kārtika

The Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa gives the fullest account of the Kārtika Māhātmya, in 36 chapters. Brahmā tells it to Nārada in Satyaloka. Śrī Kṛshṇa tells one part of it to Satyabhāmā. The Valākhilya ṛshis give further parts.

The text declares Kārtika to be the highest of all months. All the tīrthas, all the yajñas with rich gifts, and living at Pushkara or Kurukshetra are each declared not equal to a sixteenth part of the puṇya of Kārtika. Brahmā tells Nārada: “Whatever rite of puṇya is done in the month of Kārtika with Bhagavān Vishṇu in view, I do not see any end to its puṇya.” (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Kārtika Māsa Māhātmya, Chapter 1)

Why Kārtika is holy: Śaṅkhāsura

The Skanda Purāṇa gives a particular reason for the holiness of Kārtika. An asura named Śaṅkha, the son of the Ocean, conquered the devas. Then he took the Vedas from Brahmā while Bhagavān Vishṇu slept. The Vedas fled in fear and entered the waters, together with the seeds of the yajña-mantras. On the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Kārtika the devas woke Bhagavān Vishṇu with music and songs. He rose and promised to kill Śaṅkha and win back the Vedas.

From that day the Vedas rest in the waters every Kārtika. Those who bathe in the morning in Kārtika take part in the holy winning back of the Vedas. This is equal to the avabhṛtha bath (the closing bath) after a yajña.

This event also made Prayāga the greatest tīrtha. Bhagavān Vishṇu asked the devas to bring back the scattered Vedas, and they all gathered at Prayāga. There they performed an aśvamedha yajña (horse yajña) with Brahmā. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Kārtika Māsa Māhātmya, Chapter 13)

Prabodhinī: Bhagavān Vishṇu wakes in Kārtika

The Skanda Purāṇa also tells of the waking of Bhagavān Vishṇu on the eleventh day of the bright half of Kārtika. This day is called Prabodhinī Ekādaśī and Haribodhinī. The Skanda Purāṇa says that Śaṅkhāsura was killed on the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Śrāvaṇa. From that day Bhagavān Vishṇu slept in the Milk Ocean for the four months of the rains. He woke on the eleventh day of Kārtika.

Bhagavān Śiva describes Prabodhinī to Kārttikeya. One fast on this day equals thousands of aśvamedha yajñas and hundreds of Rājasūyas. All of the Gaṅgā and all the tīrthas are greater only until Prabodhinī comes. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Kārtika Māsa Māhātmya, Chapter 33)

The vidhi in the Skanda Purāṇa

How the vrata begins

The Kārtika Vrata may begin on the tenth day, the eleventh day or the full-moon day of Āśvina. It ends on the full-moon day of Kārtika. The saṅkalpa is addressed to Dāmodara: “O Dāmodara, give permission for this observance of Kārtika. O Purushottama, make its observance free from obstacles.” (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Kārtika Māsa Māhātmya, Chapter 3)

The daily routine (āhnika)

This is the daily programme for Kārtika in the Skanda Purāṇa:

  1. Before dawn. Rise when a quarter of the night is left. Recite the Prātaḥsmaraṇa stotras to Bhagavān Vishṇu.
  2. Early morning. Light beacon lamps on poles at the temple, on the river bank and on the highway. Place a lamp near the tulasī plant. Go to the temple with the materials for worship and perform pūjā. Sing and dance before the mūrti.
  3. 48 minutes before dawn. Go to the bathing place (tīrtha) for the morning bath (snāna). Put on the Ūrdhvapuṇḍra mark. Perform the Sandhyā prayers. Recite the Gāyatrī until sunrise.
  4. Morning. Recite the thousand names of Bhagavān Vishṇu. Go to the temple and worship again. Spend one prahara (three hours) in singing and dancing for Bhagavān Vishṇu. Listen to the Purāṇas for half a yāma.
  5. Midday. Worship the tulasī plant. Perform the midday prayers. Eat food that has no leguminous grains. Perform the Vaiśvadeva rite and feed guests. After the meal, chew tulasī leaves with tīrtha water.
  6. Afternoon. Attend to the day’s work.
  7. Evening. Go again to the temple of Bhagavān Vishṇu. Perform the Sandhyā prayers. Light lamps. Perform Nīrājana (waving of lamps) before Bhagavān Hari. Recite stotras. Stay awake for the first yāma (three hours), and then sleep.

(Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Kārtika Māsa Māhātmya, Chapter 5)

Beacon lamps: Vyomadīpa or Ākāśadīpa

The offering of Vyomadīpa is a separate practice that gives very great puṇya. Beacon lights are raised on poles above temples, rivers and highways through the whole month of Kārtika. They are raised after the morning bath and the gifts. On the full-moon day they are lowered with ceremony. One who offers beacon lights in this way in Kārtika will not return to saṃsāra even in hundreds and crores of kalpas. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Kārtika Māsa Māhātmya, Chapter 7)

For those who cannot keep the whole vrata

The Skanda Purāṇa shows great kindness to those who cannot keep the whole vrata. Such a person may do the following:

  • Give money to another person, who keeps the vrata for him. He then receives the puṇya through a Dānasaṅkalpa.
  • Drink tīrtha water.
  • Remember Bhagavān Hari with joy and repeat his names.

Even one who only sees the Kārtika Vrata and meets those who keep it gains one sixth of their puṇya. This holds for seeing, speaking to or touching those who keep the vrata. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Kārtika Māsa Māhātmya, Chapters 1 and 29)

Festival days in Kārtika

The Skanda Purāṇa gives the special rites for each main day of the two fortnights of Kārtika:

  • Vatsadvādaśī (Dvādaśī of the dark fortnight): worship of the cow and calf under a banyan tree; the Nīrājana rite at sunset; telling the future from the flames of lamps.
  • Yamatrayodaśī, also called Dhanteras (Trayodaśī of the dark fortnight): lamps before the festival.
  • Narakacaturdaśī (Caturdaśī of the dark fortnight): the festival of lamps. The Dīpāvalī festival begins.
  • Dīpāvalī and Bali Pratipad (Pratipad, the first day of the bright half): an oil bath; worship of King Bali; worship of Govardhana; Gokrīḍana (the sports of cows); Yāshṭikākarshaṇa (a tug-of-war rite); the game of dice, which is allowed on this day only.
  • Yamadvitīyā, also called Bhāī Dūj (Dvitīyā of the bright half): brothers cross the Yamunā and take a meal from their sisters. On this day a brother who is fed by his sister does not die of illness.
  • Kushmāṇḍa Navamī (Navamī of the bright half): the Tulasī Vivāha, the marriage of Tulasī with a golden image of Bhagavān Vishṇu.
  • Prabodhinī Ekādaśī (Ekādaśī of the bright half): the waking of Bhagavān Vishṇu; the jāgaraṇa vigil; the prayers of waking.
  • Dvādaśī (Dvādaśī of the bright half): worship of Bhagavān Vishṇu under a Dhātrī tree; feeding of brāhmaṇa couples; cooked pulse as naivedya.
  • Vaikuṇṭha Caturdaśī (Caturdaśī of the bright half): Bhagavān Vishṇu worships Bhagavān Śiva at Vārāṇasī with a thousand lotuses; both Bhagavān Vishṇu and Bhagavān Śiva are worshipped.
  • Kārtika Pūrṇimā, also called Tripurī Pūrṇimā: the festival of Bhagavān Śiva’s destruction of Tripura; the festival of lights. The last three days, called Tripushkariṇī, serve as a short form for those who could not keep the whole month.

(Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Kārtika Māsa Māhātmya, Chapters 9–12 and 31–35)

The laws of the passing of karma

Chapter 30 of the Kārtika Māsa Māhātmya in the Skanda Purāṇa gives laws on how the fruit of karma passes from one person to another. Those that bear on the Kārtika Vrata are:

  • Nearness to those who keep the vrata. One sixth of the puṇya of those who keep the Kārtika Vrata passes to those who meet them, speak to them or touch them.
  • Shared meals. Eating in the same row with people of puṇya for ten months passes on one twentieth of their puṇya.
  • A shared seat. Sitting on the same seat as another person passes on one thousandth of his puṇya or pāpa.
  • The scale of the yuga. In Kṛtayuga, good or evil done by one person touches the whole kingdom. In Tretā it touches the whole city. In Dvāpara it touches the whole family. In Kali it touches the doer alone.
  • Doing the vrata for another. The puṇya of a vrata done by another person on one’s behalf can be received by a Dānasaṅkalpa.

The Kārtika Māhātmya also tells of Dhaneśvara, who gained moksha through such a chance meeting, and of Dharmadatta, who gave half of the puṇya of his lifelong vrata to Kalahā.

Per Vāmana Purāṇa

The Vāmana Purāṇa names Kārtika among the months of three rites.

In the Kālāshṭamī vrata to Bhagavān Śiva. In this year-long vrata, taught by Pulastya Maharshi to Nārada, the worship of the month of Kārtika is this: bathe the deity with milk, worship with karavīra flowers, offer dhūpa (incense) of śrīgandha (sandal) and naivedya (food offering) of honey pāyasa. Give that naivedya to a brāhmaṇa with a dakshiṇā (gift) of silver and, with gentle words, bow, saying: “May Bhagavān Sthāṇu bless me!” (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 17)

The gift of the month to Dāmodara. Prahlāda, teaching Bali the dānas that please Bhagavān Vishṇu month by month, says that in Kārtika one should give lamps in pramidas (lamp-cups) of gold and silver, gems and pearls, for the satisfaction of Dāmodara. (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 68)

Kanyādāna at Pushkara. In the Saro Māhātmya, among the tīrthas of Kurukshetra, is the Pushkara tīrtha installed by Paraśurāma, the son of Jamadagni, where the pitṛ-devatās (ancestral devatās) are worshipped. For one who performs kanyādāna (the gift of a daughter in marriage) there in the month of Kārtika, the devas, pleased, fulfil all his desires. (Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 13)

Sources

  • Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarardha, Chapter 22
  • Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Kārtika Māsa Māhātmya, Chapters 1–36 (cited: Chapters 1, 3, 5, 7, 9–12, 13, 29, 30, 31–35, 33)
  • Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 17, 68
  • Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 13