Masik Karthigai in August 2027

What is Masik Karthigai?

Masik Karthigai follows the Moon's monthly return to Krittika, the Pleiades. Rows of oil lamps at the doorstep at dusk are its signature — light offered to Murugan and to Shiva as the column of flame. The observance is nakshatra-based rather than tithi-based, which is why its dates move differently from the tithi vrats.

Karthigai Deepam

The year's principal Karthigai falls in the Tamil month of Karthigai, when Krittika meets the full moon. At Tiruvannamalai the Maha Deepam is lit atop Arunachala hill, commemorating Shiva's appearance as an endless pillar of light — one of the oldest festivals in Tamil literature.

The six Krittika mothers

Tradition holds that Murugan arose from six sparks of Shiva's third eye, and that the six Krittika sisters — the stars of the Pleiades — nursed the six infants, who were then joined into one six-faced child, Arumugam. Because of this the Krittika nakshatra is counted as his birth star, and the monthly return of the Moon to Krittika is kept as his day. This is why Masik Karthigai follows the nakshatra rather than a tithi, and so moves against the lunar fortnight from month to month.

How the day is kept

The observance is a festival of lamps rather than a severe fast. Devotees bathe, keep a light or fruit diet through the day, and at dusk light rows of oil lamps at the doorway, in the courtyard and before the shrine. Worship is offered to Murugan, and in many homes to Shiva as well, with a ghee lamp, flowers and fruit, followed by archana and the chanting of his names. Temples in the Tamil tradition are lit along their walls and towers.

Significance

The lamps carry two meanings held together: they honour Murugan's appearance from the six sparks, and they recall Shiva's manifestation as the infinite column of light, the Lingodbhava, whose top and bottom Brahma and Vishnu could not find. The day is kept for health, strength and protection, and the light itself is read as knowledge dispelling ignorance. The principal Karthigai of the year falls in the Tamil month of Karthigai, when Krittika meets the full Moon and the great beacon is lit on Annamalai at Tiruvannamalai.

Masik Karthigai samagri

Gather these before the evening lamps:

• Oil lamps (agal vilakku) and wicks
• Sesame or castor oil, and ghee for the main lamp
• An image of Murugan, and of Shiva if kept
• Fresh flowers
• Seasonal fruit and coconut
• Vibhuti and chandan
• Incense (dhoop)
• Betel leaves and nuts
• Jaggery or appam as naivedya