{"id":12966,"date":"2012-12-02T12:18:58","date_gmt":"2012-12-02T17:18:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=12966"},"modified":"2012-12-02T13:01:25","modified_gmt":"2012-12-02T18:01:25","slug":"kaarthikai-theepam-festival-where-light-triumphs-over-dark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=12966","title":{"rendered":"Kaarthikai Theepam Festival Where Light Triumphs Over Dark"},"content":{"rendered":"

Text and Pix by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai<\/strong><\/p>\n

“K<\/strong>aarthigai” is a month of purity and devotion.<\/p>\n

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Women devotees light lamps and take part in religious rituals – pics ~ via: http:\/\/twitter.com\/DushiYanthini<\/p><\/div>\n

T<\/strong>here is a story linked between “Kaarthigai” and lamps according to religious references. Brahma- The Creator, and Vishnu- The Preserver had a dispute between them as to who was greater, and who was the supreme. The Lord Shiva wanted to teach them the truth. He appeared before them in a form of huge column of fire.
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\nBoth of them referred their quarrel to Lord Shiva. He told them that he who could discover the crown of the light or its foot first might be considered as the superior. Accordingly Brahma took the form of a swan and flew up in an attempt to find the crown of the Light, while Vishnu took the form of a boar (Varaha) and began to dig down to find the foot of the Light. Neither of them succeeded. The knowledge dawned upon them that the Light was superior to both of them. <\/p>\n

The Kaarthigai Theepam is celebrated to bring out this great truth that the supreme God is far beyond the Creator and the Preserver. Brahma and Vishnu thereupon prayed to the column of Light. <\/p>\n

In the ‘Kalavazhi Narpadu’, which dates back to the third Sangam period (after 1,000 BC) the poet says, “In the battle the blood oozing out from the dead soldiers’ bodies is like the red coloured flame of the lamps lit during Karthigai Theepam festival”. <\/p>\n

Tolkappiyam, the oldest available work dating back to 2,000 or 2,500 B C, has concise verse form rules for Tamil grammar. In one of the formulae, Tolkapiyar uses the phrase “like the lamp’s flame pointing upwards”.<\/p>\n

Earthen lamps are significant to Hindu rituals and festivals. Light is indispensable for Kaarthigai Theepam. On this special day light is spread everywhere.<\/p>\n

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“Kaarthigai Theepam” or “Vilakeedu” is celebrated by the Hindus ~ Nov 28, 2012<\/p>\n

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Earthen lamps are lit to celebrate the festival<\/p>\n

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Thiruvilakku Pooja to celebrate “Kaarthigai Theepam” or “Vilakkeedu”.<\/p>\n

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Green and White fresh flower garlands for the festival<\/p>\n

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Fresh coconut leaves gathered to make bonfire<\/p>\n

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Special pooja is held at Vishnu temple to celebrate the festival.<\/p>\n

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Incense smoke covers the deities at Vishnu temple in Nedimala, Dehiwala.<\/p>\n

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Statue of Karnan riding the chariot<\/p>\n

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Lord Iyappan is decorated with fresh flower garland and oil lamp.<\/p>\n

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Feminine sculptures at Vishnu temple in Nedimala,Dehiwala.<\/p>\n

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Beautifully decorated Hindu deities on an enchanting parade at night.<\/p>\n

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Lord Sakkaraththaazhvaar at Vishnu temple in Nedimala,Dehiwala.<\/p>\n

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Side view of Lord Iyappan at Vishnu temple in Nedimala,Dehiwala.<\/p>\n

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Men carrying the deities at night festival.<\/p>\n

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Temple lamp is lit for the festival.<\/p>\n

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Lord Vishnu with Goddesses Sridevi & Poomadevi decorated for the festival<\/p>\n

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“Sorkka Paavanai” or bonfire grows upto sky level in Dehiwala.<\/p>\n

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Flame for the festival.<\/p>\n

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Decorated deities parade to bless at night<\/p>\n

“Kaarthigai Theepam 2012” Pics via: http:\/\/twitter.com\/DushiYanthini<\/a><\/em>
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Kaarthigai Theepam Festival 2010<\/h4>\n

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by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai<\/strong><\/p>\n

H<\/strong>indu devotees in Sri Lanka celebrated the festival of “Kaarthigai Theepam” in the temples and houses on 21st of November 2010 amidst a heavy downpour. It falls on IL Poya day, which coincides with Karthigai star. \u201cSorkka Paavanai\u201d (Bonfire) which later derived as \u201cSokka Paanai\u201d is also held at Hindu temples. <\/p>\n

“Sorkka Paavanai” is held at Sri Maanikka Vinayagar temple in Bambalapitty. Dried coconut leaves are tied together right in front of the temple, and set fire at night to celebrate “Kaarthigai Theepam”<\/p>\n

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Lord Siva is compared to mountain<\/p>\n

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Earthen lamps are for sale in Bambalapitty<\/p>\n

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Busy buying earthen lamps in Bambalapitty<\/p>\n

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Traditionally dressed devotees on their way to temples<\/p>\n

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The oil used to light the lamp, symbolises the innate tendencies in one, which is responsible for the ego to thrive. The wick is the ego. The flame of the lamp symbolises, spiritual knowledge, which empties the oil, as it also burns the wick, the ego (body, mind complex). With the draining of the innate tendencies and the burning of the wick<\/p>\n

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Sinnathangan Sathyaseelan, a busy garland maker in Bambalapitty<\/p>\n

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It is one of the oldest festivals of Hindus<\/p>\n

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Let us be liberated from sorrow and suffering<\/p>\n

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Lord Siva is the Light of Consciousness<\/p>\n

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Women devotees take part in special pooja<\/p>\n

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Sockalingampillai Ramalingam lights earthen lamps<\/p>\n

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Be liberated from egoism, selfishness and delusion<\/p>\n

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New Silver Kalasam is being taken on a parade<\/p>\n

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Rajaratnam lights an earthen lamp at twilight<\/p>\n

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Nicely decorated Goddess Parvathi,Lord Vinayagar and Lord Murugan with his consorts Goddess Valliyammai and Goddess Theivayaanai in the Vasantha Mandapam<\/p>\n

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Nallakuttiyapillai Sappaanipillai lights earthen lamps at the temple<\/p>\n

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Thiruvilakku Pooja by women on fullmoon day<\/p>\n

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The ritual is said to be of immense importance for the whole world<\/p>\n

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The lamps glow allover<\/p>\n

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Ego leads to limitations<\/p>\n

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Beautifully decorated Goddess for the festival<\/p>\n

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Fire symbolises light, consciousness and intelligence<\/p>\n

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A very special astrological significance of today’s Kaarthigai Theepam is that the placement of Jupiter in the 11th house will not be witnessed for another 11 years<\/p>\n

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The ritual represents and affirms a spiritual re-dedication and renewal of faith<\/p>\n

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The Chief Priest Sitsabesa Kurukkal (also known as Mani Iyer) of Sri Maanikka Vinayagar carries out the rituals<\/p>\n

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Gorgeously decorated Lord Murugan. Kaarthigai is Lord Murugan’s birth star.He represents unlimited divine wisdom<\/p>\n

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The sky height flame symbolise the essence of universal oneness<\/p>\n

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View of the Kopuram of Sammaankodu Sri Maanikka Vinayagar temple at night<\/p>\n

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Parade of decorated Goddess Parvathi, Lord Vinayagar and Lord Murugan with his consorts Goddess Valliyammai and Goddess Theivayaanai<\/p>\n

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Kaarthigai synchronises with the fullmoon day<\/p>\n

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Karthigai festival in Tiruvannamalai hills is very famous in India<\/p>\n

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Camphor is lit at the main entrance<\/p>\n

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It is also known as Festival of Lights or Festival of Lamps <\/p>\n

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“Oolai Suvadi”- a banner about the significance of the religious book<\/p>\n

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The festival is dedicated to Lord Siva<\/p>\n

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It is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy<\/p>\n

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Decorated deities wait at the main entrance to witness the event<\/p>\n

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Salt is thrown from every corner to control the fire<\/p>\n

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Notice to the devotees to keep the footwear in a particular place<\/p>\n

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“Sorkka Paavanai” or bonfire grows upto sky level in Bambalapitty<\/p>\n

Courtesy: http:\/\/www.passionparade.blogspot.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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Text and Pix by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai “Kaarthigai” is a month of purity and devotion. There is a story linked between “Kaarthigai” and lamps according to religious references. Brahma- The Creator, and Vishnu- The Preserver had a dispute between them as to who was greater, and who was the supreme. The Lord Shiva wanted to teach …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘Kaarthikai Theepam Festival Where Light Triumphs Over Dark’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12966"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12966"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12966\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13043,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12966\/revisions\/13043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}