Kartika Purnima (8th November 2022)
Kartika Purnima is a Hindu, Sikh and Jain cultural festival, celebrated on the Purnima day (or the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik month). It is also known as Tripurari Purnima or Deva-Deepawali, the festival of lights of the gods…here Sparsh Tomar, a scholar and yoga teacher from the city of Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India, tells us a little more…
Many cultures, many festivals!
With so many different types of culture present in India (which makes India so diverse) there are bound to be many different kinds of festivities and rituals. One such festival is Kartika Purnima. Kartika Purnima is a unique festival. Just like its name suggests, Kartika Purnima is celebrated in the month of Kartik, when there is a full moon or Purnima.
It is celebrated with much fervour and enthusiasm by three prominent communities in India, the Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.
Mythology
The origin of this festival lies in a mythical tale. According to this tale, Tripurasura, the powerful demon was causing havoc to the gods. The demon succeeded in brutally defeating all gods who came in his way and of conquering the whole world.
He also had three cities of demons, which were collectively called the Tripurasura. This had become a major issue. There was death and destruction all around. It was during that time that Shiva took the form of Tripurantaka. He had done so to save the world for the demon Tripurasura. Tripurantaka literally translates to mean ‘the killer of Tripurasura’ and Shiva, in this form did just that. Tripurantaka used his mighty bow and arrow and with a single strike of the arrow, he killed the demon Tripurantaka and his cities and property.
This marked the winning of good over evil. All the other gods were thankful and happy that this tumultuous time had finally come to an end.
How we should celebrate Kartika Purnima
The festival also celebrates the awakening of the Gods. It is a festival of lights and though it is a festival created for the gods, it is also celebrated with equal enthusiasm by humans. Much like on the nights of Diwali, people light lamps (diyas) to illuminate their homes. People wear their best clothes and greet and celebrate each other and eat delicious food. On this day, people forget their anger and past issues and problems and just immerse themselves into light, good and purification.
Some rituals performed on Kartik Purnima:
Devotees take a holy bath on the auspicious day of Kartika Purnima.
Shiva is worshipped during moonrise.
Devotees perform a fast and organise hawan (yajna) on this day, feeding the needy and poor.
Eating non vegetarian food and consumption of alcohol are strictly prohibited on this day.
Energy and Full the Full Moon
‘On full moon nights, there is a heightened level of energy both within and without. There are ways to harness this energy towards health, blissfulness, and success…’ (Sadhguru)
For people on the spiritual path, full moon nights are conducive for meditation as nature gives you plenty of energy, opening a doorway to all seekers across the world to absorb the spiritual possibilities of a full moon night.
Any full moon night (Pournami) is significant because of the aesthetic quality about it. The planet moves into a certain position with the moon. The vibration and the feel of the moon is very different when it is full than when it is in its other states. And the magnetic pull is also different; the pull of the moon is working upon the surface of the planet, which is exposed to the moon. So, when there is a natural pull like this because your spine is vertical, there is a tendency for the energy to go into a natural surge of upward movement. Within you, the blood, and the prana (the fundamental life energy)flow in a different way because the vibrations have changed. So, just as the tides rise more on full moon nights because of the gravitational pull of the moon working on the water, your blood is also being pulled, and the circulation of blood increases in your brain.
When this upward movement happens, your natural stare of being becomes enhanced. You may have heard that people who are unbalanced will become more so on these days because the upsurge in energy enhances whatever qualities you are predisposed to have. So, if you are a little imbalanced, you will be more imbalanced. It is also doing the same to the other qualities within us all, however, many people may not be sensitive enough to notice such subtle changes. If you are meditative, it makes you more meditative. If you are loving, it makes you more loving. If you are fearful, it makes you more fear more. Whatever is your quality, it enhances that.
So, people on the Yoga path, if they are on the meditative path especially, it is more conducive to meditate on the night of Kartika Purnima because without an upsurge of energy, or this heightened sense of energy, there is no question of awareness. What you call awareness will come naturally to you when you have a heightened sense of energy in your system. So, we want to make good use of this night with our practice, of this natural phenomenon which is occurring. On this day it is like you have an untapped abundance of energy and awareness.
Written by Sparsh Tomar
Sparsh is from the city of Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. He is currently undertaking his MA degree in the traditions of Yoga and Meditation at SOAS University in London. He is a motivated and energetic yoga student seeking to gain knowledge of inner consciousness, mindfulness, and meditation. He desires to give to his community the benefits born from calming the mind through a mixture of hatha yoga and traditional meditation. He aims to live a yogic lifestyle and lead in a way that reflects that choice.
You can expect to see a lot more of Sparsh around the studio in the coming months as our collaboration grows…