Karthika Somavara
Lord Shiva — worshipped on every Monday of the holy month of Karthika
Lingayat / VeerashaivaGet a reminder before the next Karthika Somavara
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Karthika Somavara — every Monday of the holy month of Karthika — the most sacred Shiva-fasting day of the year alongside Maha Shivaratri. Observed at every Lingayat home and matha across Karnataka with deepa-lighting, Ishtalinga worship, and the Panchakshara mantra. The month-long Karthika Deepotsava illuminates the entire region.
Dates 2026–2027
Mantra
ಓಂ ನಮಃ ಶಿವಾಯ
Om Namah Shivaya
Om Namah Shivaya — Salutations to Lord Shiva
How to recite
Light a deepa (oil-lamp) at home and at the local Shiva mandir each Karthika Monday morning and evening (the Karthika Deepotsava tradition). Fast through the day until evening Shiva-puja. Hold and worship the Ishtalinga, perform abhishek with bilva leaves. Chant the Panchakshara 108 times on a rudraksha mala. Visit the matha or Shiva mandir for collective satsang.
Benefits
The month of Karthika (mid-October to mid-November per the Kannada Panchang) is the most sacred month for Shiva-worship. Karthika Mondays (Karthika Somavara) are particularly powerful — fasting and Shiva-worship on these Mondays grants extraordinary spiritual merit. The month-long Karthika Deepotsava (lamp-lighting at every home, every mandir, every river-bank) marks Karnataka's most beautiful religious festival.
✦ Special Note
Per the Kannada Drik Panchang. 2026 Karthika Mondays: Nov 2, 9, 16, 23. 2027: Oct 25, Nov 1, 8, 15. Light at least one ghee-deepa each Karthika Monday morning and evening — the simple act has supreme merit per Shaiva-Lingayat siddhanta. The famous Karthika Deepotsava at Sringeri, Hampi, Murudeshwara, Gokarna, and the Pancharcharya mathas draws lakhs of devotees. Dates per the Kannada Drik Panchang (drikpanchang.com, Karnataka reckoning), cross-checked against astronomical tithi computation.
Foods Allowed
Foods to Avoid
Meal Idea
Light Karnataka satvik thali after evening puja — anna, saaru, palya, mosaranna, payasa with bilva-leaf garnish
🪔 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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