Kartik Purnima Legends

Karttika Poornima is a profoundly significant day in India, just that it comes with different names and legends. Lord Shiva's victory, Lord Vishnu’s first avatar, or Tulasi Vivah culmination - no matter why you light lamps the evening of he full moon day of the Kartik month, it is rich with legends.

Tripurari Purnima and Dev Diwali

Once, a demon called Tripura ruled three floating cities (from which he got his name) made of gold, silver, and copper. The asura wreaked havoc on the human and godly worlds, using his three celestial cities in defense. 

The gods and humans suffered alike. The king of gods, Indra, approached the supreme god and annihilator, Mahadev Shiva in refuge. 

Shiva sent his trident Tripura’s way, striking each city down with a point of the weapon, and thus destroying the demon’s powers. Tripurari Purnima commemorates the Trishul’s powers.

In rejoice, the gods came down to earth to pass on the message and celebrate with lamps lighted in honour of Shiva, marking Dev Deepavali.

Matsya Avatar Jayanti

When the Puranic world was once distanced from its prescribed righteousness, it was fated to be destroyed in a super-flood.

The ultimate protector, Lord Vishnu, could not bear the destruction humanity had summoned upon itself. He found a righteous sage Manu, who mastered all four Vedas and could uphold their virtues. 

Lord Narayana manifested in his Matsya Avatar (the fish incarnation) to save humanity and the sacred Vedas from a great cosmic flood on this day, the Matsya Jayanti.

His actions set ‘evolution ‘ in motion while the knowledge and virtues necessary to restore good in the world were preserved. 

Kartik Pushkar Mela

Though the creator god, Lord Brahma, does not have many legends, there are a few gems like the Pushkar Mela. 

It is said that once, when Brahma was fighting a demon, a lotus fell from his hand at a site in Rajasthan. Pushkar Lake manifested at this place. 

After he defeated the demon, Brahma conducted a Yagna here. Pushkar Mela commemorates this event.

Lord Kartikeya's Birthday 

The son of Shiva and Parvathi, Kartik (Murugan/Skanda) was born as six separate child entities, because his wholeness was too much for one busy mother. 

After six mothers called Krittikas raised them, Devi Parvathi joined these children to form Lord Kartikeya on Kartika Poornima.

Tulsi Vivah 

The holy basil Tulsi plant we venerate today was once a devotee of Vishnu called Vrinda. Although she took up penance to get a husband as righteous as Lord Vishnu, she was married to the demon king Jalandhara. Her devotion was yet unwavering.

In an unfortunate turn of events, she was instrumental in her husband’s (essential) death. This cast a curse upon her, to be turned into a plant. Vrinda became Tulsi.

Lord Vishnu consoled her, saying that he will forever be her husband and that she, Tulsi, will always have high regard in his worship and processes, marking Tulsi Vivah.

She was blessed to be the vessel to carry Vishnu’s energies to his devotees. 

Guru Nanak Jayanti and Kevala Jnana Divas 

This day of inner and outer light is the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and the day Gautama Swami, Lord Mahavira's chief disciple, attained complete enlightenment.

Regardless of the legend, the full moon of Kartik month is at its heart, a celebration of the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and divine knowledge over ignorance.