Sanatana dharma is made up of a million traditions. It might take thousands of years to understand and observe every single unit of it. Every day and moment are significant, and this has been celebrated through a series of festivals, customs, and observances. Some occasions are observed through fasting and abstinence, while many others are celebrated through prayers and offering food to the almighty. The Hindus understand that the universe is guided by a divine force, and they celebrate this energy on an everyday basis.

Various aspects of this energy are understood, and they are given due regard. This exemplifies the true nature of Hinduism. Hindutva is nothing but being a Hindu and we have been celebrating Hindutva for millions of years. The Kaarthikamaasa Somavaara vrata is one such occasion. Every Monday is sacred for Lord Shiva, and the Kaarthika Monday is essentially important as per the ‘Skanda Purana.’ Lord Shiva is known as Someshwara for he wears the Soma (Moon) on his matted hair. Mondays are special for the moon and hence the day is known as Somavaara. This tradition is followed nationally, for the Monday is known as Thingatkizhamai wherein Thingal means Soma/moon.

The devout observe the Kaarthika Somavaara vrata by fasting throughout the day. They perform or witness the rudraabhishekam which is accompanied by the chanting of the ‘Rudra Namakam’ and ‘Rudra Chamakam.’ The offerings made to Lord Shiva is then taken by the ones who observe the vrata. Let us now look at the itinerary of a devotee.

The devotee wakes up early and takes a bath in a river or pond. Otherwise, an oil bath is taken at home. Thereafter, he/she will meditate on Lord Shiva. All this happens quite early in the morning and the stars should be present in the sky. Deepam-s (Lamps) are lit at home and the entire family would visit the village Shiva temple. A rudraabhishekam is normally performed in the temple and the sacred bilwa leaves are offered to the deity.

The devotees would then consider an elderly couple as Parvati Parameshwara and take their blessings. The whole day would be spent by meditating on Lord Shiva and the fast would be broken after sunset. Much of the evening would be spent by lighting a ghee lamp with thousand wicks at a Shiva temple. A lamp would be given as dhana to a learned Brahmin that day.

Legend says that the ones who observe this vrata would be blessed with a permanent place in Kailasa. Soma, the moon, observed this vrata and got his moon-ness. Thereafter, he saluted Gowri and Shankara to declare this observance as Somavaara vrata. The power of the vrata is very high and this can be seen in the story of the Princess Seemanthini.

The princess used to observe this vrata regularly and two young boys came in front of her cunningly as married couple. The princess worshipped them, and they really became a man and a woman. The great sage, Vasishta, was blessed with Arundhathi after observing this vrata. The grace of Uma Maheshwara is sought by the observers. There is one more story connected with the Kaarthika maahatmya and this is according to the ‘Padma Purana.’

Eons ago, a mouse used to eat the ghee found in the lamps which were put off in a Vishnu temple. One day, the mouse was very hungry, and she tried to eat the ghee from a lamp which was yet to be doused. The wick got stuck in her teeth and the mouse was engulfed with fire. She jumped in front of the deity and died. But Lord Vishnu accepted this as an aarati and offered the mouse liberation. Therefore, if somebody burns a lamp in the temple of Hari even for a short while in the Kaarthikamaasa, the sins acquired in the millions of kalpa would be destroyed. Further, the ‘Pushkar Purana’ states that the one who lights a sesame oil lamp during the sandhya times in the name of Lord Hari during the month of Kaarthika gets unlimited prosperity, beauty, grace, and wealth.

The Kaarthika Somawara is the time to recite the Mrtyunjaya mantra. Lord Shiva is fully pleased during this month and hence he is known as Asutosh. Shivaabhishekam removes all our faults and therefore our lives become better. Bathing in the waters of the river is very good during the month of Kaarthika, for the waters would have been strengthened by the herbs and minerals that are present on the hills and ridges.

Karthikai pori or borugulu is prepared and offered to the lord and distributed on Karthika Somawara. The Karthika Somawara vrata has thus been celebrated throughout Bharatavarsha from time immemorial. The ones who observe this vrata will be blessed with the grace of Lord Gowri Shankar.  

Mr. Rajesh Govindarajulu is one of the founding members of the Verandah Club Pvt. Ltd. He is a leading columnist, historian, jeweler, entrepreneur, and a heritage enthusiast who is earnestly working to revive the past in the light of the present. Experiential learning about the history of Coimbatore is his main course of interest and he is also a panel member of many colleges in the city.