🌕 Kartik Purnima Pooja

(Full Moon Pooja in the Month of Kartik – Festival of Divine Light and Blessings)

🌟 Introduction:

Kartik Purnima, the full moon day in the Hindu month of Kartik (October–November), is regarded as one of the most sacred days in the Hindu calendar. It marks the conclusion of the auspicious Kartik month and is celebrated with great devotion across India.

This day is also called:

  • Tripuri Purnima – Celebrates the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon Tripurasura
  • Dev Diwali – Known as the Diwali of the Gods
  • Guru Nanak Jayanti – Commemorating the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (in Sikh tradition)
  • A major bathing and spiritual observance day at holy rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, and Godavari

🕉️ Spiritual Significance:

  • Kartik is called the “month of lights and devotion”, and the full moon day is its crown jewel.
  • On this day, Lord Vishnu awakes from His cosmic sleep (Yoga Nidra), and the heavens are said to be open to prayers.
  • Taking a holy dip in sacred rivers and offering lamps (deep daan) is believed to burn away sins and lead to liberation (moksha).

🙏 Purpose of Kartik Purnima Pooja:

  • To seek blessings of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, and Devi Tulsi
  • To purify one’s karma through prayer, fasting, and charity
  • To invoke divine light in life, overcoming ignorance and darkness
  • To offer gratitude for the completion of the Kartik spiritual month

🪔 Kartik Purnima Pooja Vidhi (Ritual Procedure)

🌅 1. Early Morning Sacred Bath (Snana):

  • Wake up before sunrise and take a holy bath or mix Ganga Jal in your water.
  • While bathing, chant:

“Gange Cha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Saraswati,
Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jale Asmin Sannidhim Kuru”
(May the sacred rivers bless this water and purify my being.)

🛕 2. Cleaning and Decoration:

  • Clean the altar and light lamps (deepam) throughout the home.
  • Decorate with lotus flowers, rangoli, and place Tulsi leaves at the altar.

🌺 3. Sankalp (Spiritual Intention):

Take water in your right palm and pray:

“On this sacred Kartik Purnima, I worship the Supreme Lords Vishnu and Shiva, along with Goddess Tulsi. May their divine light enter my heart and home, removing all ignorance and sins.”

🪷 4. Deity Worship:

A. Worship of Lord Vishnu:

  • Offer Tulsi leaves, yellow flowers, sandalwood paste, and ghee lamp.
  • Chant:

“Om Namo Narayanaya” or “Om Vishnave Namah”

B. Worship of Lord Shiva:

  • Offer water, bilva leaves, white flowers, and raw milk on the Shiva Lingam (if available).
  • Chant:

“Om Namah Shivaya”

C. Worship of Tulsi Devi:

  • Offer sandalwood, flowers, and sweets at a Tulsi plant.
  • Circumambulate (pradakshina) the plant 11 or 21 times, praying for health, harmony, and purity.

📿 5. Deep Daan (Lamp Offering):

  • At dusk, light earthen lamps (diyas) and float them in rivers or at your doorstep.
  • Each lamp signifies the removal of darkness from within and offering light to the Divine.
  • Chant:

“Deepam Jyoti Parabrahma, Deepam Sarva Tamopaham
Deepena Saadhyate Sarvam, Sandhyaa Deepam Namostute”
(The flame is the symbol of Brahman, removing all darkness – I bow to the Divine Light.)

🍚 6. Naivedyam and Charity:

  • Offer fruits, milk, sweets, and puffed rice to the deities.
  • Give annadanam (food), clothes, or lamps to Brahmins, sadhus, or the needy.

🕯️ 7. Kartik Purnima Aarti:

Sing Vishnu or Shiva Aarti:

“Om Jai Jagdish Hare…”
or
“Om Jai Shiv Omkara…”

Light incense and wave the camphor lamp while offering heartfelt devotion.

✨ Other Observances on Kartik Purnima:

  • Tulsi Vivah may also be celebrated around this time, symbolizing the spiritual marriage of Tulsi to Lord Vishnu.
  • In temples, ten thousand lamps are lit, especially in Varanasi and Pushkar, signifying Dev Deepawali.
  • Pilgrims fast, meditate, and listen to stories from the Bhagavad Gita, Skanda Purana, or Shiva Purana.

🌈 Conclusion:

Kartik Purnima is a day when heavenly and earthly energies align. The universe is wide open to those who seek grace, light, and liberation.

Performing Kartik Purnima Pooja with sincerity brings:

  • Spiritual cleansing
  • Freedom from karmic debts
  • Peaceful mind and divine vision

Let this full moon light up not only the sky, but also the lamp of consciousness within you.