Kartika Snan
Kartik Snan is an important ritual for Hindus that is observed on the Purnima Tithi (full moon day) in the Lunar month of ‘Kartik’ in the Hindu calendar (popularly known as Kartik Purnima). For those following the English calendar, this date falls during the months of October to November.
The month of Kartik is the 8th lunar month of the Hindu calendar and is believed to be very auspicious. Several references citing the holiness of this month are mentioned in several Hindu scriptures.
According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that during the month of Kartik, Lord Vishnu incarnated in the ‘Matysa’ (fish) form in order to restore the Vedas. The actual ceremony of Kartik Snan starts from Kartik Sudda Padyami and continues all through the month. Varanasi, Kurukshetra, and Pushkar are important Hindu pilgrimage places that remain crowded for the propitious Kartik Snan.
Rituals during Kartik Snan
The most important ritual during Kartik Snan is taking a bath in the sacred rivers or water bodies. On this day, devotees wake up at the time of sunrise to take the religious bath. Both men and women perform this sacred bath.
Taking a holy dip in the Ganga River at Prayag and in the ‘Badarikashrama’ in the Himalayas on Kartik Purnima is believed to be means of acquiring salvation. Even if bathing in Ganga is not possible, one must visit any water body nearby.
Some devotees also keep a fast on this day to please Lord Vishnu. The observer of this vrat must also feed a Brahmin.
On the occasion of Kartik Snan, devotees worship Lord Satyanarayan, the Supreme Preserver while some devotees even worship Ganga Mata, the Goddess of the holy rivers.
As a part of the puja, a havan is also performed. Six different ‘Kritikas’ are worshipped in the night that including Shiva, Sambhuti, Santati, Preeti, Kshama, and Anusuya. After the completion of puja, a buffalo is also donated to a Brahmin. It is believed that one who performs the complete puja rituals, reaches ‘Shivalok’ after death.
Donating lamps on Kartik Snan is considered to be highly rewarding. Lighting deep in the temples of Lord Shiva, Surya Dev, and Chandra Dev is believed to be very rewarding. This act is equivalent to performing an Ashwamegha Yagya. Individuals can also make other forms of donations, according to their wishes.
Significance of Kartik Snan
The significance of Kartik Snan is mentioned in several Hindu religious scriptures and Puranas like Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and Naarad Purana to name a few. Lord Krishna himself narrated the glories and rituals of Kartik Snan to His wife, Satyabhama. On this auspicious day, Hindus in large numbers perform the ritualistic bath. The benefits of taking snan in the Kartik month are equivalent to taking 1000 Ganga Snan and over 100 Magha Snan. It is a popular belief that by taking a holy dip in the month of Kartik and by offering donations, one gets freedom from all his/her committed sins.
According to the Hindu legends, on this day, Lord Shiva defeated a demon, Tripurasur, and rendered Earth a safe place. Also as per the Ayurvedic studies, the last 8 days in the month of Kartik and the beginning 8 days of the ‘Margashirsha’ month (the month following Kartik in the Hindu calendar) are referred to as ‘Yamdanshtra’, meaning ‘the strength of death’. During this period it is advised to take bath in the ponds or other water bodies, eat light meals and perform religious activities and prayers. Doing this imparts good health and spiritual grace. Recent studies have also proved the scientific significance of Kartik Snan. Bathing during this time early in the morning generates energy and also frees the body from all forms of ailments.
