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By Meera Sashital Source: Free Press Journal Kartik is the eighth lunar month of the Hindu year when the sun is Krittika or Pleiades. Kartik is perhaps the holiest of all the months in the Hindu calender characterised by many religious festivals. The holiness of the Mahatmya of kartik has been elaborately dealt with in the Uttar Khanda of Padma Puran. In the dialogue between King Dilip and the age Vasihta on the most efficacious means of obtaining salvation, the wise sage had referred to Kartik Mahatmya by illustrating various significant legendds pertaining to the month. Satyabhama enquiries of Krishna as to how the Kartik month came to be regarded as holy. In reply, Krishna relates the story of Sankhasura the demon who carried away the Vedas into the sea how Vishnu was obliged to take the incarnation of mastya (Fish) and kill Sankha Asura (conch shell demon) and restore the Vedas to the Gods - a quest for truth and enlightenment. This incarnation is said to have taken place on the 11th day of Kartik and is commemorated by all devout Hindus through bathing and prayers at Praying and Badarkashrama. It is said Lord Krishna himself stressed the importance of religious observances during Kartik to his own wife Satyabhama. He disclosed that in her previous life she herself had been a Brahmin's daughter and was his consort in consequence of the Vratas she had performed during this month. The efficacy of Vratas is emphasised through another interesting tale in the Kartik Mahatmya. The story goes that once Dhaneswara, a man of low caste, went to Mahismato to sell skins. His business led him to the banks of the Narumada where he was thrown in the company of pilgrims. He watched their religious performances and was prompted to join them more out of curiosity then devotion. But even this anticipation sufficed to secure him heavenly bliss. Though Diwali is the foremost festival heralding the Kartik month, there are another important festivals too during the month of Kartik, like the following ones:- Kalashtami: The eighth day of the second half of the month of Kartik is observed by fasting in Banaras and the night is spent in prayers. Legend has it that on this day Kala Bhairav, a creation of Lord Shiva, in his wrath chopped off one of the five heads of Lord Brahma and repaired to Banaras. Since then Kala Bhairav has been the presiding deity of the sacred city. The local Hindus observe this day annually in his honour. Kushmand Ninth: This is the ninth day of the dright fortnight of kartik, named after the fruit of cucurbita or pumpkin. Legend has it that there was a Brahmin who had two sons named Dhananjaya and Krishna. Both led dissipated lived and on their death while Dhananjaya attains heaven, Krishna is sent to hell. The reason was that Dhananjaya as advised by their religious teacher had taken baths in the Ganges during this month and given a gift of pumpkin filled with gold to a Brahmin, while his brother had not. In the name spirit people today have dips in the holy rivers and give, if not the pumpkin with gold, at least some gifts within their means to Brahmins and the poor. Akshay Navami: Another nomenclature by which this ninth day is recognised is Akshay Navami or the inexhaustible Ninth. On this day Sun God worshipped Durga and was in return awarded with unlimited gifts possibly in the form of solar properties which are now so beneficial to mankind. The main characteristics which lends the epithet `Aksh' or Indestructible to this day is that gifts bestowed on this particular day continue to bear blessings for ever. The day is spent by devout Hindus in medidation and prayer to acquire the inexhaustible knowledge of God and thereby attain eternal bliss and peace. Akshay Navami is also associated with the happy reunion of Bharata with Rama when the latter was returning home after his 14 years of banishment. Haribodhini or Prabodhini:This is the 11th day of kartik bright fortnight or the Kartik Ekadashi and is regarded as the day of Lord Hari or Vishnu. Haribodhini means that which bestows the knowledge of Sri Har, and Prabodhani meaning awakening from sleep (of Vishnu after four months) or more aptly, ignorance. Devotees of Lord Hari are said to observe fasts and rigorous penances to seek knowledge. All meritorious actions done on this day are said to boomerang with thousandfold credits. Perhaps this has the link with Sun's movement to the southern hemisphere and the Winter Solsticce. Moreover, the famous Kartik meals or fairs are held annually at Gurumukteswar on the banks of the Ganges, attended by thousand of pilgrim from far and near. The religious significance of this place lies in the fact that it was at this site that, according to the epic Mahabharata, King Santanu met the goddess Ganga in her human form and married her. Scriptures opine that great merit can be obtained by bathing in the Ganges specially on this day. Thus baths in the holy rivers, visits to temples and prayers are the common featyres of this Ekadashi Day. Vailunth Chaturdashi:The fourteenth day of the first half of Kartik is said to be sacred to Vishnu, the Lord of vaikunth. It is revealed on this day in Krita Tuga Vishnu went to Benaras and worship Shiva at the Manikarnika Ghat. While offering 1,000 lotus flowers and invoking Shiva with praises, he found the thousandth lotus missing. But Vishnu, unshaken, completes his worship by replacing the missing lotus with one of his own eyes. Shiva veritably pleased with this gesture presented Vishnu the Sudarshan, the enchanted disc. Since then devotees of Vishnu offer him a thousand lotuses and 1,000 praiseworthy appellations or the Vishnu Sahsranama. Vysa Puja: On Kartik Full Moon day, Vyasa, the famous compiler of the Vedas is to be worshipped, and in his name all regular expounders of the Purans also. A similar day is Ashada Full Moon, known as Guru Puja when every student worships his own Guru. Kartik or Tripura Purnima: This falls on the 15th of the full moon day of Kartik, alluding to Shiva's destruction of the demon Tripura and signifies the subjugation of evil and fostering goodness. Fireworks and illuminations of houses make the God's celebration of their victory. It is therefore also called the Dev-Didiwali or Diwali of the Gods. Tulsi Vivah or Marriage: This is perhaps the most sentimental but not the least important festival which falls on the 11th day of the bright half of Kartik. This story from padma Puram revolves round Tulsi, the plant Ocimum Sanctum which in her former birth was Vrinda, the daughter of a giant named Nemi, and the faithful wife of demon Jalandhar. Being born in water Jalandhar claims sovereignty over the ocean and demands the 14 treasures churned out of the ocean in Vishnu's second incarnation. He declares war and becomes a cause of danger to the gods. More so because of a boon that he would be free drom death till his wife Vrinda was chaste. As a last resort to kill Jalandhar, Vishnu beguiles Vrinda by assuming her husband's form. Vrinda in her wrath cruses and turns Lord Vishnu into a Black stone (Salagram) for his deceit. Vishnu too retaliates but in admiration of her impeachable chastity and piety, he transfers her into the sacred Tulsi plant and promises to marry her annually on this day of Kartik. The origin of the ammonite black stone or Salagram found on the bed of the river Gandaki may be attributed to their legend. As a consequence, all devout Hindu women worship the Tulsi plant with flowers and milk assuming Lord Krishna to be present on it on this auspicious day. Literally a mock marriage is performed between the Tulsi and the Salagram. The belief is that one who performs this ceremony of giving away Tulsi considering them to be one's own daughters, gets the credit as making a Kanyadan which is regarded as an extremely meritorious act in pur religion. This sacred ceremonial day marks the auspicious opening of the annual marriage season of the Hindus. Besides these festivals, there are two other notable days in the month. One is the birthday of Guru Nanak on Kartik Poornima, the other the 13 day of the dark half of kartik when Sant Jnaneshvar Maharaj renounced his mortal body and took Samadhi. Both were great religious leaders and beacon lights of knowledge, diffusing the message of Love. The main celebrations of Guru Nanak's birthday are the Akhand Path (continuous reading of the Granth) and taking of the Holy Granth in procession. Similarly, on this particular Ekadashi day a great Yatra or fair takes place at Alandi and thousands of people visit it to have the darshan of the `Samadhi' and shrine of Sant Jnaneshwar. Devotees worship his Samadhi as well as the holy Jnanesvari, his immortal commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, which they call as Mauli or Ayi, the Mother and hold religious discourses. The month of kartik may be aptly compared to the holy rosary studded with impeccabled beads of festivals radiating with effulgence of sublime legends. Through this, only one string of thought runs, namely, the eternal victory of truth and goodness over evil, and the unity of mankind through Universal Love. Source: Free Press Journal.