Thirukarthigai – Recipes – Why & How do we celebrate Karthigai Deepam

Posted on Nov 26th, 2020

by Sowmya Venkatachalam

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Thirukarthigai/Karthigai Deepam comes on the tamil month Karthigai on Pournami day (Full moon day). Throughout the month lamps are lit in the front of the house in the evening . On the Thirukarthigai/Karthigai Deepam day the whole house is decorated with the oil lamps. Thiruvannamalai is famous for Thirukarthigai/Karthigai Deepam.

Story behind Karthigai Deepam Festival

Once Brahma and Vishnu due to the ego started arguing with each other “who is the greatest“. Both claimed to be the greatest, instead of doing their duty. At that time the God Shiva appeared in the form of fire and told them whoever finds the top or bottom of the fire is the greatest. Brahma took the form of Annam (a bird) and tried to find the top of the frle pillar. Vishnu took the form of Varaha (giant pig) and tried to see the bottom of the pillar. As the God has no limit in his size or power, both of them could not see either top or bottom of the fire. When their ego went down and they prayed the God, He appeared before them. The day in which the God appeared as a pillar of fire is Thirukarthigai/Karthigai Deepam.

Thiruvannamalai Deepam

Lord Shiva appeared as a hill (Arunachala Hill) at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. Indeed, the very names `Tiruvannamalai’ and `Arunachala’ translate as `holy fire hill.’ The Shivalinga in the temple here is the agni linga. The tiny lamps lit during the Karthigai festival (Karthigai Deepam) are believed to be the miniature replicas of the fire linga. Every year thousands of devotees from Chennai and elsewhere flock to Tiruvannamalai to see the spectacular Karthigai Deepam there.

Significance of Thirukarthigai

This vradha indicates the non measurable infiniteness of the God and shows that the God is the light that will drive away our ignorance. Lamps are lit in the houses to pray his “Jyothi Swarupam”. First day of this festival is called as “Appakarthigai” and the second day is called as “Vadai karthigai“. All devotees will offer Pori, Adhirasam, Vella Seedai, Vetrilai Pakku and Fruits as neivedhyam (offering to god) for God Shiva. In South of Tamilnadu and in Kerala, Hindus will pray god for goodness of their brothers and they will light an elephant lamp (Gajalakshmi Vilaku) which marks as a sign of prosperity and wealth.

Why we light Elephant lamp on Karthigai ?

Once upon a time there lived a King and he had only one daughter. She loved an elephant which grew with her and she considered the elephant as her own brother. After her marriage she missed her brother elephant very much. So for every Thirukarthigai/Karthigai deepam occasion, she will light elephant lamp(Gajalakshmi vilaku) and she will prepare tender coconut, elephant leg size milagu Milagu Adai, Pori,Adhirasam,Vella Seedai and keep them as neivedhyam for this festival.So we on this auspicious occassion all devotees should chant the following lines

கீட: பதங்கா மசகாஸ்ச வ்ருதா

ஜலே ஸ்த்யேயே விசரந்தி ஜீவா

தருஷ்டவா ப்ரதீபம் ந ச ஜன்ம பாகிந:

பவந்தி நித்யம் சவ பசா ஹி விப்ரா

and also

Yaanai Vaazha

Arasan Vaazha

Penn Vaazha

Piranthagam Vaazha

and put one piece of pori in the lamp and perform the pooja along with neivedhyam.

Thirukarthigai Neivedhyam Recipes

Thirukarthigai (Karthigai Deepam) — Karthigai Deepam

Nel Pori Urundai | Thirukarthigai Nel Pori Urundai — Nel Pori Urundai

Aval Pori Urundai | Karthigai Deepam Pori Urundai — Aval Pori Urundai

Thirukarthigai Milagu Adai — Milagu Adai

Adhirasam is a traditional sweet dish which will be done for most of the festivals. A Very delicious sweet made with rice flour, jaggery.

Vella Appam | Vellai Appam for Thirukarthigai — Vellai Appam

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Sowmya Venkatachalam

IT Engineer turned full time Food Blogger. I ♡ FOOD. I also love food blogging. Did you make a recipe? Tag @Subbusktichen on Instagram. I WANNA SEE!

36 Comments Hide Comments

so festive! looks very beautiful. Thank you mami

Thanks Mami for all the recipies and good information you give in detail.

thanx a lot for these receipes . Very helpful.

All these I was thinking Karthigai is Lord Muruga's (Subramanya) birthday. Thanks for all new info.

Same

Thanks for recipies and informations mami.

Hi Mami,
I need one clarifications for mavuvilaku wether we have to prepare sugar syrup or jaggery syrup.
which will be good to prepare for karthikai deepam.

We need to use jaggery instead of sugar.

Thanks

Thanks mami.
Let This Deepam Brings U Brightened And
Enlightened Life Like The Light Of Lamp…

Wish U All Happy Karthigai Deepam.

Thank you Mami!!!

Well i would like to hear the detailed story of Brahma & Visnu's Ego!!! what made them to start this fight? What was the cause?

the izhai kollam in the pic is cute. Can u create an izhai kollam link also so that its very helpful for many youngsters

Very well explained and hey can u draw and post pics shankh and chakra of lord Vishnava/krishna kolam and cow feet. I read that these muggu/drwaings are made in the temple/pooja room of the house.Tq

maami, if you could create links for "Payasam receipes"alone, it would be great. there are so many payasams.

Wow i hv never heard of the actual story behind kartigai….tq for sharing…

HAPPY KARTHIGAI TO ALL.

very nice explanation, useful to tell kids . thank you

Elephant is Aanai villaku and not Gajalakshmi villaku.

small query-at karthigai,my brother sends a token amount,after a tradition,while i wish him well.i learnt that this is a hark back to minakshi-sundareswarar wedding,when she promised her brother
she'd never forget to pray for him and her pirandha veedu!could pls confirm.best wishes,Nirmala

Hello,
Can you pls tell the sloka recited by sisters while lighting lamp for the well being of their brothers.i think it's in Tamil.
Thank you

Thank You happy birthday Karthigai Deepam 🙂

Mami, why do Brahmins celebrate Karthi something like Rakhi with brother visiting the sister's home with poori. This Deepam story does not have anything to that

I like how you update the correct dates for festivals & pujas. Interesting stuff! Best wishes!

thank you so much mami for providing all this wonderful information.

Iyengars also celebrate karthigai deepam. What is the significance?

Hi Mami
The elephant lamp (Yaanai) is different from Gaja lakshmi. Gajalakshmi is Lakshmi villukku and we get a lamp called Yaanai vilakku in Kerela

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Nice blog. Nice selection of recipes. Karthigai Deepam is a festival of lights. It is celebrated in the Tamil month of Karthigai. It is also known Karthigai Pournami because it is observed on the full moon day which coincides with Karthik star. Worshipping Lord Shiva on this auspicious day of Karthigai Deepam to fulfill all desires. More Details Click Here

Karthigai Deepam is a festival of lights which observed in every temple of tamil nadu.People try to protect their homes from evil forces to bring in peace and prosperity in the life.Special Pujas are offered to Lord shiva on this day.Read More

I never knew the story of Karthigai. The food for the festival of lights sounds delicious. More and more businesses acknowledge different holidays from different cultures and religions to honor their employees. This informed environment and conference call etiquette makes a better working community. The elephant lamp sounds like a meaningful addition to the holiday and I really want to eat those rice balls.