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Karthigai Deepam (Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam)

Lord Shiva as the column of fire (Arunachala Jyoti)

Shaiva Siddhanta

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Karthigai Deepam (also called the Tamil Festival of Lights — Tamil Diwali for Shaivas) — celebrates the day Shiva manifested as the column of fire of Arunachala. Falls on Karthigai Pournami (Krittika nakshatra in Karthigai month, Nov-Dec). At Thiruvannamalai, the Maha Deepam atop Arunachala hill is lit at sunset and burns for ten days. Lakhs perform Girivalam through the night.

Dates 2026–2027

November 24, 2026December 12, 2027

Mantra

अरुणाचलं शिवं स्मरामि

Arunachalam Shivam Smarami

I remember Shiva as Arunachala — the holy hill that is Shiva himself, manifest as the column of fire.

How to recite

Light rows of clay diyas (lamps) at sunset on Karthigai Pournami in every doorway, balcony, and threshold. The household recites the Aksharamanamalai of Sri Ramana Maharshi (108 verses to Arunachala). At Thiruvannamalai, witness the Maha Deepam at the top of Arunachala hill — a giant cauldron of ghee and camphor lit at sunset, visible from kilometres away. Perform Girivalam (14 km circumambulation of Arunachala) through the night.

Benefits

Karthigai Deepam commemorates the day Shiva first manifested as the column of fire of Arunachala — the day Brahma and Vishnu accepted him as the supreme. Witnessing the Maha Deepam grants the same merit as a Shivaratri night-vigil. Sri Ramana Maharshi held that even thinking of Arunachala from any distance grants liberation.

✦ Special Note

Thiruvannamalai's Maha Deepam is the most sacred Shaiva festival in Tamil Nadu after Maha Shivaratri. Sri Ramana Maharshi's Sri Ramanasramam at the foot of Arunachala becomes the spiritual centre. Dates per the Thirukanthika Panchangam (Tamil Shaiva almanac, Chennai reckoning).

Foods Allowed

Pori urundai (puffed rice and jaggery balls) — Karthigai Deepam stapleNei appam (ghee jaggery sweet) — offered to ShivaAdirasam (Tamil jaggery sweet)Sundal and sakkarai pongalCoconut and coconut-riceCurd rice (thayir sadam)Fresh fruits — banana, pomegranateMilk, ghee (for the lamps and abhishekam), panchamritSendha namak only

Foods to Avoid

Onion, garlic, drumstickMeat, fish, eggs, alcoholAnything not first offered to the Karthigai Deepam lamp

Meal Idea

Pori urundai and nei appam as morning naivedya at the household lamp altar; sundal and sakkarai pongal for noon; coconut rice and curd rice as the closing meal under the lamps at sunset.

🪔 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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