Karthigai Deepam is mainly celebrated in Tamil Nadu and also in the states of South India. The day falls in the month of Karthigai on a full moon day as per the Hindu calendar, which occurs around mid-November to mid-December. The festival generally arrives after the celebration of Diwali, and hence it is also called extended Diwali, where the people of the South continue lighting lamps and temples.

Karthigai Deepam has been in play since the Sangam era as many saint poets have mentioned this day and legends related to it. Today we will get to know about the history of this day and the legend associated.

History of Karthigai Deepam

Karthigai Deepam or Tiruvannamalai Deepam is the oldest Tamil celebration which still happens with great fervor and enthusiasm. People light up diyas in their homes, and temples are decorated grandly. The origin of the festival goes to somewhere around 2000 – 2500 B.C. Many Tamil epic books mention Karthigai Deepam, such as the Agananooru, which is a book of Tamil poems.

The most famous Tamil poet Avvaiyaar has also mentioned Karthigai in his poems. Several other works of literature describe Karthigai, and so this is the oldest festival that is still celebrated and will be. This is because of the significant legend associated with it and the great devotion of people toward Lord Shiva.

The Story of the Karthigai

Karthigai is a constellation made of six stars. The constellation is related to the birth of Lord Muruga. When once Lord Shiva created six fiery sparks, they turned into six babies. The six faces were Tatpurusam, Aghoram, Sadyojatam, Vamadevam, Eesanam, and Adhomukam. The six stars of the Karthigai constellation raised and took care of these babies.

One day when Goddess Parvati witnessed the six babies and got to know that these are the six babies created from the sparks of Shiva, she merged these babies into one. This way, Lord Muruga was created, who was very beautiful and courageous. The purpose of Lord Muruga is to be victorious upon the demons making chaos in heaven and in all worlds. Thus the day of Karthigai is also celebrated for the birth of Lord Muruga.

The Story of Deepam

The Deepam, which is illuminated every year on the Tiruvannamalai hill, represents the fire form of Lord Shiva. Legends say that once Lord Brahma and Vishnu were arguing about who is the supreme between them. Both were claiming themselves to be supreme; however, no one was agreeing, and the argument was not ending.

Then at the request of Devas, Lor Shiva entered their discussion and presented himself into a giant flame. He asked both the Lords that whoever will find the end or beginning of this flame will be the supreme. Both Lords, to prove them as supreme, agreed to it and began their journey.

Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and went down to find the end of the flame. Lord Brahma became a swan and flew high to find the beginning of the flame. After months of search, no one could find any point and returned to Shiva. At that point, both realized that Shiva is the one who has neither a beginning nor an end, and both understood that Shiva is the one who is supreme.

This incident of turning into a giant flame took place in the Tiruvannamalai hill, and since then, every year, the grand Deepam is illuminated that represents the flame avatar of Shiva. Years later, a temple was also created near where this incident happened, and today this temple receives thousands of devotees who come to witness this flame and remember the event.

The legend also says that Lord Vishnu accepted his defeat and returned to Shiva; however, Lord Brahma kept locking and found a Thazhumbu flower. Brahma assumed that this flower had certainly fallen from the head of Shiva, and hence taking the flower; he falsely declared that he had found the beginning of Shiva.

However, Shiva found out the truth and cursed Brahma that there would never be a temple of Brahma on earth, and he would not be worshipped. This is the reason why we do not see any temple of Lord Brahma.

So this was the legend related to the day Karthigai Deepam, which would be celebrated on Friday, 19 November 2021.