Kartheeka Masam - Significance
Kartheeka Masam - Significance
Kartheeka Masam - Significance
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Daamodara Masam
Lord Sri Maha Vishnu in the name of Daamodara is the presiding Deity (Masa
niyamaka) for Kartheeka masam. Daamodara is one of the prominent names
that we generally find being referred to Lord Sri Krishna. We find a
reference to the word Daamodara in sloka # 40 of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama
Sthothram. Daamodara is a combination of two Sanskrit words Daama +
Udara. Daama means rope and Udara means belly. Daamodara means the
one who was tied with a rope to his belly. A reference to this we find in Sri
Mad Bhagavatham 10th canto in the story of Lord Sri Krishna during his
playful childhood days with his foster mother Yashoda. In this episode we
find Lord Sri Krishna (Daamodara) liberating Nalakubera and Manigreeva the
two sons of the Divine Cashier and Demi God Kubera from the curse of sage
Narada.
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Sacred day on which King Bali gave charity to Lord Vaamana is celebrated as
Bali Paadyami (Bali Prathipada) which occurs on the very first day of
Kartheeka masam viz. Kartheeka Sukla Prathipada. Worshipping Lord Sri
Vaamana on this day is very sacred and celestial. This day is considered to
be very sacred and auspicious for giving charity and one will get multiple
merits even if little charity is given in memory of King Bali. Worshiping
Goddess Lakshmi, Kubera (Divine Cashier), and Cow (Gomatha) on this day
are also given lot of significance. Govardhana pooja is also performed on
the day of Bali Paadyami by symbolically making an icon of Govardhana
Parvatha with cow dung or with cooked rice and it is worshipped along with
Lord Sri Krishna who had lifted it and provided shelter to Cowherds and
cattle under the mountain.
Uttana Dwadasi
Kartheeka Sukla Ekadasi known as Prabhodini Ekadasi marks the end of
Chaturmasam, the day on which Lord Sri Maha Vishnu wakes up from His
Yoganidra that he entered into on the day of Aashada sukla Ekadasi (Sayani
Ekadasi). Kartheeka Sukla Dwadasi also known as Uttana Dwadasi is
celebrated as a festival of Goddess Thulasi when Thulasi plant is symbolically
married to a Salagrama Shila (Lord Vishnu) called Thulasi Damodara Vivaha
with all grandeur. On this day while worshipping we find people keeping a
branch of Amla tree (Amalakki) besides the Thulasi plant. If that day is
missed out, it is generally celebrated on the Full Moon day-Kartheeka
Pournami. Uttana Dwadasi is also known as Ksheerabdhi Dwadasi the day
on which Ksheera Samudra was churned. It is also referred to as Brunda
(Vana) Dwadasi in the name of Divine Thulasi.
Thereafter people are served with food in open space within the vicinity of
Amla tree. It is generally a mass event. By doing Vana Bhojana like this it
is said that one would get rid of the dosha from Paraanna Bhojana, partaking
food in others houses. Nowadays this Vana Bhojana has become a corporate
culture where, we find Corporates taking their employees for a picnic during
Kartheeka masam known as Kartheeka Samaraadhana. In performing this
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ritual there is a message of health significance and worshipping of the
nature.
Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
bhargavasarma
Other related links
http://bhargavasarma.blogspot.com/search/label/GLORY%20OF%20THU
LASI%20-%20THE%20DIVINE%20PLANT
http://www.scribd.com/doc/20938837/Deepavali-The-Festival-of-Lights
http://www.scribd.com/doc/20736491/Sri-Vaamana-Avathara-Story-of-
King-Bali