Karthika Masam deepam
Karthika Masam begins from Aaswayuja sukla pournami up to one month. In this Month Lord Shiva and Maha Vishnu are worshiped and prayed. People during this month observe strict rituals. The daily activities start early in the morning taking a bath with cold water, going to the temple, lighting lamps, fasting and saligrama pooja. The most auspicious days in this season are Mondays which is imperative to Lord Shiva.
During Karthika Masam, Diyas (Deepam) are lit and placed in front of Tulasi plant and near the main entrance of the house before Sunrise and just before Sun-set. It is considered auspicious to Light a Diya during the month of Karthika.
Temples would Light a Diya and would bring the diya to the top of the Dhwaja Sthambam in the temple and tie it there on Karthika Pournami. This Diya is called as Akasa Deepam.
As per the Puranas it is believed that by performing the karthika Masam vratham we can drove away the past karmas and the sins committed can be destroyed. Lighting Lamps with ghee made from the cow’s milk during the sunrise and sunset brings prosperity, wealth, health into our lives. It also burns the material desires in between our birth and death.
