Karthika Deepam / Karthika Pournami Deepam
Shiva (Arunachaleshwara) · Karthikeya (Smartha Panchayatana)
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Karthika Deepam — Karthika Pournami Krittika lamp festival, when Shiva manifested as the infinite pillar of light at Arunachala. Smartha households across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana light rows of clay lamps at dusk; the Maha Deepam burns atop Tiruvannamalai (and at Bhadrachalam, Srisailam, Kalahasti) all night.
Dates 2026–2027
Mantra
ॐ नमः शिवाय। ॐ अरुणाचलेश्वराय नमः।
Om Namah Shivaya · Om Arunachaleshwaraya namah
Om Namah Shivaya. Salutations to the Lord as the radiant Arunachala (mountain of light).
How to recite
Karthika Deepam is observed on the Krittika nakshatra of Karthika Pournami — the day Shiva manifested as the infinite pillar of light (jyotirlinga) at Arunachala. Smartha households in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana light rows of mannu pramidalu (clay lamps) along the courtyard, threshold, and tulasi katte; the temples illuminate the entire vimana with thousands of lamps; and the principal pan-Telugu observance is the gigantic Maha Deepam atop Arunachala (Tiruvannamalai) and at the Bhadrachalam, Srisailam, and Kalahasti shrines.
Benefits
Lighting the deepam on this night is held to grant moksha — the inner jyoti is awakened in the devotee in mirror to the cosmic jyoti on the mountain.
✦ Special Note
Karthika Pournami / Krittika nakshatra evening per Drik Panchang. 2026: Dec 2 (estimated). 2027: Nov 21 (estimated).
Foods Allowed
Foods to Avoid
Meal Idea
Phalahar through the day; after the household lamps are lit at dusk, share vada-pappu, panakam, pulihora, and payasam as prasadam at the tulasi katte.
🪔 Aarti
Om Jai Shiv Omkara
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा । ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा ॥ एकानन चतुरानन पंचानन राजे । हंसासन गरुड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे ॥ दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दसभुज अति सोहे । त्रिगुण रूप निरखत त्रिभुवन जन मोहे ॥ अक्षमाला वनमाला मुंडमाला धारी । त्रिपुरारी कंसारी कर माला धारी ॥ श्वेतांबर पीतांबर बाघंबर अंगे । सनकादिक गरुड़ादिक भूतादिक संगे ॥ कर के मध्य कमंडलु चक्र त्रिशूलधारी । सुखकारी दुखहारी जगपालनकारी ॥ ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव जानत अविवेका । प्रणवाक्षर के मध्ये ये तीनों एका ॥ काशी में विराजे विश्वनाथ, नंदी ब्रह्मचारी । नित उठ दर्शन पावत, महिमा अति भारी ॥ त्रिगुणस्वामी जी की आरती, जो कोई नर गावे । कहत शिवानंद स्वामी, मनवांछित फल पावे ॥
Karpur Gauram Karunavataram
कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम् । सदावसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि ॥
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