Kartika Purnima कार्तिक पूर्णिमा
Kartika • Purnima
Also known as: Tripuri Purnima, Dev Diwali, Guru Nanak Jayanti
Story — Significance of Kartika Purnima
Lord Shiva slew the demon Tripurasura on this day — celebrated as Tripuri Purnima or Dev Diwali (gods celebrate Diwali at Kashi this day). Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Also Karthikai Deepam in Tamil Nadu.
Benefit
Merit equal to 1000 ashwamedha yagnas; Shiva's blessings; Guru Nanak's grace
Special Note
Holy bath (Kartik snan) at Pushkar, Kashi, Haridwar. Pushkar Mela peaks on this Purnima. Lakhs of lamps lit at Kashi ghats — Dev Diwali.
Vrat Vidhi (Procedure)
-
1
Pre-Sunrise Bath
Wake before sunrise. Take a holy bath — ideally in a sacred river, otherwise add Ganga jal to water. Wear clean white or yellow clothes.
-
2
Satyanarayan Vrat (most common)
Setup a kalash, Vishnu/Satyanarayan murti or photo. Offer panchamrit, banana, panchamrit prasad (banana-flour-jaggery-ghee mix). Recite the 5 chapters of Satyanarayan Katha. Distribute prasad.
-
3
Day Observance
Maintain saatvik food. No grains in some traditions; others permit one full meal. Visit a temple, give donations, feed Brahmins. Practice Vishnu Sahasranama or naam-japa.
-
4
Moonlight Offering
After moonrise, offer arghya (water libation) to the Moon. Place kheer or sweet rice in moonlight to absorb lunar nectar (especially on Sharad Purnima). View the moon with reverence — Purnima is the day to gaze at the Moon as a deity.
-
5
Charity
Donate white items: rice, milk, sugar, white cloth, silver. Feed cows. Light lamps in temple — 108 lamps is especially meritorious.
Mantras
Browse all Purnima dates for the year: