Kartika Masa – The “transition-enabling” month

Higher wisdom

Calendaring in our tradition is far more advanced than what we can imagine. Three sixty days of the cycle are well captured as twelve lunar (Chandramana) months. Drawing knowledge from Astrology, we can appreciate that Chandra “transits” each of the twelve houses at the rate of about two and half days. This adds to the lunar month being about 28-29 days. Whatever the shortfall that is happening on account of slips and gaps is adjusted in the form of “adhika masa” meaning extra month that comes once in two and half years. The naming of the months is also highly scientific, the star constellation in which Chandra “is present” on the full moon day of the month is the name of that month. For instance, if the Moon on full moon day is in Krittika nakshatra, month becomes “Kartika masa”, which it is now.

Months yielding to years

Starting from Chaitra, counting Vaisakha, Jyeshta, Ashadha, Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashweeja, our Kartika happens as the eighth month. Seasonally, it is the beginning of winter. Solar calendar wise much of the month happens during November. Seasonal transition happens during the period. Days become shorter, activities slow down, so also the digestion becomes tardy. The health and travel affecting rainy season is yielding away, but active season is not yet around. Diet restrictions are expected to continue. Season changing results in cough / cold / fever etc. Hence, people are expected to be more disciplined and adhere to a regulated lifestyle. Tradition embeds all this into the expected life leading methods, and these are embedded in our age-old ‘rituals’.

Ahaara and Vihaara

Kartika masa has the tradition of abstaining from certain foods. A few like ‘Amla’ (gooseberry) is made mandatory too. A few strict adherents to the tradition abstain from food from morning. They accept only one early evening meal. This practice is referred to as “naktam’. Given the tardy digestion during the ‘sandhi’ (transient) period, it is often sufficient and in fact cleanses the system of toxins that have accumulated over previous months. Our tradition is flexible. For those who can’t do ‘full’, semi-naktam in terms of accepting the food after the peak of the Sun is permitted. This can typically happen around two in the afternoon. Another positive aspect around Kartika is morning rituals to be completed before the Sun rises. Thus, “...early to rise…” to happen. As one takes dinner early, “Early to bed...” too happens.

Festive spirit

Life is a full cycle to be observed in a detached manner. Farmer’s summer work in the fields, cleaning and strengthening, followed by sowing the saplings/seeds at the onset of the monsoon happens. This is our effort as mentioned in “Shadbhagam manushya yatnaam”. The completing part and the seventh fraction come from “divine grace” in the form of abundant rains to nourish the crops. These absorb nature’s inputs and become ready for meeting human needs. The outcomes are visible during the Kartika month, and in a short time the crop comes home. By the Kartika month, we know “where we stand”. So, we know our efforts fructified to what extent.

The Chaturmasa followed over rainy season comes to an end during the Kartika masa. The Shukla paksha Ekadashi is the ending day. Next day is Dwadashi on which “Tulasi vivaha” is celebrated. Tulsi became “Vishnu Priya” due to the deceit that happened to her husband Jalandhara. Vishnu is always worshiped with Tulasi. Additionally, this Kartika is also dear to Shiva. Again, there is a nuancing that happens around the geography here. The month of Shravana is considered pious and intense worship to Shiva happens in certain parts of the country. On the other hand, certain parts of the country celebrate Shiva during the month of Kartika.

On a transiting closure note

Cycles happen in human life too. The annual cycle of the Kartika masa brings many auspicious thoughts to us and charges us positively. The discipline which we need to witness in our life can get started from this Kartika month. Early to rise and going to bed, early readiness to work, restricted and limited diet, ritual adherence while getting educated about the tradition, all these happen during Kartika masa. By following our tradition and with full knowledge of “WHY”, we become more openminded and willing to adhere. We give our best efforts and contribute to “taking the tradition forward”. This helps our nextgen in terms of knowledge and ritual practices that are handed over responsibly. Blossoming future shall be such effort’s outcome.