Aadi Karthigai - This festival is celebrated to honour these stories and the relationship between mother and child. Worshiping Lord Murugan's powers at Aadi Karthigai is believed to bring prosperity in many aspects of life and this year falls on Aug 7.
So how did the belief and existence of the Aadi Karthigai festival come about?
According to some beliefs, Muruga first appeared on earth on the day of Aadi Karthigai. In some regions it is celebrated as symbolizing the victory of good over evil when Murugan killed the demon Surapadman.
After defeating the demon, Muruga blessed his followers. According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Muruga was born with six different babies. And he was taken care of by the six stars of Krittika. Lord Muruga was then born as a single baby with six heads by Goddess Parvati on the day of Aadi Krithigai.
The night sky was lit by six stars - Krittikas, the Pleiades - as they traced their path across the heavens. Little did they know that the calming gurgles of a happy baby echoing from the Saravana lake in the Himalayas would soon captivate their hearts.
Drawn by the sound of its joy, the six maidens rushed to the marshy lake, each wanting to pick up the charming infant and shower it with love and care. According to legend, their maternal affection was so strong that Lord Muruga himself transformed into six individual forms in order to fulfill their wish. With each Krittika cradling a baby in their arms, the night sky was illuminated by the love of these starry maidens.
The six babies represent synergy of:
- Desire (Kama)
- Consciousness (Shiva)
- Earth (Parvati)
- Fire (Agni)
- Water (Ganga)
- Space (Krittika)
How to worship Lord Murugan for relief from difficulties and divine blessings?
It is believed that worshipping Lord Murugan with sincerity on this auspicious day can help remove obstacles, bring peace, and provide relief from the hardships faced in life.
Begin the day by thoroughly cleaning your home, especially the prayer room, as cleanliness is considered an important part of worship. Decorate Lord Murugan's image or Vigraham with flowers and adorn the other deities with new flower garlands as well.
Draw a six-pointed kolam (hexagonal design) using rice flour in front of Lord Murugan's image. Light two ghee lamps on either side of the deity and offer fresh fruits as prasadam.
Sit peacefully in the prayer room and observe the fast with devotion. Without consuming food or water, chant or recite the Kanda Sashti Kavasam or Shanmuga Kavasam with complete faith and concentration. Throughout the day, continuously chant either "Om Muruga Om" or "Om Saravanabhava Om" in your heart while observing the fast. Don’t miss to recite Kanda Sashti Kavasam.
At 6.00pm, light six traditional clay oil lamps in the prayer room. It is also considered auspicious to draw a star-shaped kolam, write the sacred words "Om Saravanabhava" within it, and place the clay lamps around the design while offering prayers to Lord Murugan. As an offering, devotees may make Sarkarai Pongal using ghee, cashew nuts and cardamom, and offer it to the Lord with devotion.
Benefits of worshipping lord Murugan on the day of Aadi Karthigai:
- By the grace of the Lord bring you abundant wealth and prosperity.
- Students and individuals who worship Lord Murugan on Aadi Karthigai day can gain wisdom and power.
- Chanting the mantras of Lord Murugan on this day is considered very effective in giving people courage and confidence.
- Chanting Lord Murugan's mantra in Aadi Karthigai improves mental strength and gains physical health through endurance.
- Spiritual prayers and pujas dedicated to Lord Murugan bring inner peace, increase devotion and spirituality within you, and connect you with divinity.
- Couples who are about to have a child can immediately receive the blessing of their child by fasting on the day of Aadi Karthigai and worshiping Lord Murugan and asking for blessings.
Source: Hindu Blog, AstroVed, Om Spiritual Shop , Vikatan, Printerest