Holy Month of Kartik: Its Modern Interpretation

My best wishes to all, on First day and the begining of the Holy month of Kartik. Nirmal Gupta

Kartik month is the 8th lunar month of the Hindu calendar. This month is considered the holiest of all the months in the Hindu calendar. Many of the Hindu religious festivals are celebrated in this month. It usually overlaps with the months October and November of the English calendar. In this year (2008) Kartik month begins on October 15th and ends on November 14th.

There are many stories and myths to the occasion in Indian mythology. The most common is giving thanks-giving to Varuna, (the Water God), or Indra (the God of rains) or giving thanks in general for health and wealth.

Any fasting (vrat) during this month, even the smallest, will yield huge results. It is said, that the effect of fasting during Kartik month lasts for 100 lifetimes, whereas ordinary fasting only last for one lifetime!

It is advised that one should take cold milk and rice flakes on the initiation day (Sharad Purnima) of kartik month. For this, there is an medicinal (Ayurvedic) reason. Winter season begins in the month of Kartik, consisting of two months, when summer is ending and winter slowly starts. During this period, days are still hot and nights are becoming cooler. This is a perfect season for many infections and gastric problems related to excessive bile formation. Taking Milk and Rice flakes during night time is a good remedy to pacify the excessive bile. Hence, it is eaten as custom during this special night (Sharad Purnima) when the full moon looks best of all other full moons. This custom is a reminder to people to eat Milk and  Rice flakes during the winter season.

During the month of Kartik, Indian scriptures advise to worship 3 plants in particular, c.f. Tulasi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), Amla berry (Emblica officinalis) and Peepal (Ficus religiosa). I feel the worshiping was infact synbolic of trying to understand the good qualities of these plants and preserve them for good of the humanity.

Tulasi (Botanical name: Ocimum tenuiflorum) extract is considered to be an "adaptogen" (balancing different processes" in the body, and helpful for adapting to stress. Marked by its strong aroma and astringent taste, it is regarded in Ayurveda as a kind of "elixir of life" and believed to promote longevity. Kartik month also marks the beginning of a period when common colds, headaches, stomach disorders, inflammation, heart disease, various forms of poisoning, and malaria are common. Tulsi is taken in many forms: as an herbal tea, dried powder, and as fresh leaf. Essential oil extracted Tulsi is also used in herbal cosmetics for its anti-bacterial activity. For centuries, the dried leaves of Tulsi have been mixed with stored grains to repel insects. Recent studies suggest that Tulsi may be a COX-2 inhibitor, like many modern painkillers, due to its significant amount of Eugenol (1-hydroxy-2-methoxy-4-allylbenzene). Studies have also shown Tulsi to be effective for diabetes, by reducing blood glucose levels and reduction in cholesterol levels. It exhibits antioxidant properties and provides protection from radiation poisoning and cataracts.

Amla berry (Emblica officinalis) has long been recognized a traditional food and medicine in India with many nutritional and medicinal benefits. It's grwos more in the foot hills of the Himalayan regions and but are also cultivated in many other regions of India. Amla berries have the highest amount of naturally occurring vitamin C of any ripe fruit in the world. It contains naturally occurring, heat stable vitamin C. Numerous studies conducted on Amla fruit suggest that it has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Amla can also be concentrated into an extract with a high amount of naturally occurring vitamin C and bioflavonoids such as ellagic acid, rutin, hesperidin, and quercitin. It has been useful in the amelioration of common cold, warts, skin afflictions, influenza, anemia, diabetes, lung conditions, elevated cholesterol and as an immune restorater in cancers. Experiments conducted at the Niwa Institute of Immunology in Japan have shown Amla to be a potent scavenger of free radicals, the stress-related reactive oxygen-based ions which clutter up an unhealthy body.

Peepal (Ficus religiosa) is also of great medicinal value. Its leaves serve as a wonderful laxative as well as tonic for the body. It is especially useful for patients suffering from Jaundice. It helps to control the excessive amount of urine released during jaundice. The leaves of Peepal are highly effective in treating heart disorders. It helps to control the palpitation of heart. For constipation, there can be no better remedy than the consumption of dry Peepal leaves powdder mixed with sugar or jaggery. The Indian basil mixed with peepal can treat dysentery. The leaf of a peepal plant is also considered valuable in the treatment of various kinds of skin disorders. Peepal leaves are of great use in getting rid of mumps. Benefits of peepal plant leaves extract with warmed ghee on low flame placed over the swollen inflamed part of the body provide great relief. Even for boils, cuts bruises, peepal bark extract this is quite effective.

How to Follow the Fasting (Kartik Vrata):

1. Rise early every day before the sun rise and offer water to Tulsi, Peepal and Amla. (This is perhaps one way of acclimatising the body slowly for the harsh winter season and making sure that these beneficial plants are preserved for good.

2. Chanting (jaap) the holy names of the Lord (For peace of mind)

3. Must maintain celibacy for entire month (To keep one strong willed to be able to observe many rituals)

4. Give up favorite food article for entire month like honey, sesame seeds, oils, hing, eggplant, loki, tasty foods like sweets and fried foods, (like samosas, pakoras), ortal, pickles, red rajma beans, or sesame seeds, or urad dahl (no kachoris), garlic and onion. (All these foods are bile enhancer)

5. Try to eat only once in a day. *if you can do and carry on ordinary works* (To keep digestion good because as the winter approaches disgestion becomes weaker)

6. Daily meditation (For peacefil mind)

7. Donate charity (For the good of society).

How to end the fast (Kartika Vrata):

After sunrise take bath (Kartik Snaan). It is customary for people to go to the holy rivers or oceans. It is the general belief that your sins or bad karmas are washed away or forgiven when you perform this ritual.

Symbolic meaning of Kartik month: The name 'kartik' is symbolic of the auspiciousness of the month and reflects the end of the dark ages, the conquest of good over evil, light over darkness and the return of peace, purity and prosperity. Kartik is synonymous with the word 'kalpa' which means change or transformation, but metaphorically kalpa represents a cycle in the world eternal drama. Its generic meaning is that of change or transformation but it has been completely lost and the use of the word 'kalpa' has been transformed to mean a period, era or cycle.

There is a story of how the Gods and Goddesses lost control of the world when they were overpowered by the demons. The ocean was churned and the nectar obtained was consumed by the helpless Gods, who regained their strength to defeat the demons. This story is only symbolic. To me this means to churn the 'ocean of knowledge' and imbibe the virtues and discard the vices often called 'poison'.

Orderly things become disorderly when not maintained or sustained and this is known as 'entropy'. The degradation of the environment is called 'physical entropy' and the impurification of the soul by the vices is called 'spiritual entropy'. This is the key to the understanding of the eternal world drama.The highest stage of purest civilisation exists when both humanity and the environment enjoyed the highest and perfect stage of purity, peace and prosperity. The lowest stage of purity is, when both humanity and the environment became degraded. The loss of purity of both the soul and the five elements reflected the equivalent accumulation of impurity, called "Maya". This is analogous to the two 'eternal and spiritual' laws of thermodynamics that state the world's energy resources is constant and any misuse becomes wastage that we called pollution or 'entropy'.

Festivals of Nav Ratri, Ram Leela, Dassehra and Diwali are celebrated during this period which reflect how the 'Shakti (the power' of the Goddesses) destroyed the 10 vices in ourselves. This period then ends in the celebration of Diwali. It is the memorial of light over darkness or good over evil.

The entire month of Kartik is similar to the, Christian 'Lent' or the Islamic month of fasting called Ramadan. Like “Lent and Ramadan” the deep spiritual significance of fasting in the month of Kartik is symbolic of the purification of humanity and the environment. Kartik represents the purification of all souls and the five elements. Therfore, taking bath in the river Holy Ganges or the ocean (called 'Kartik Snaan') is in reality to bathe in the 'Ocean of knowledge' or 'Ganges of knowledge' to cleanse the soul of all the impurities or 'entropy' accumulated over time. Diwali is symbolic of conquest of 'light over darkness' with the 'ocean of knowledge' is called the 'dance of knowledge', also called the 'dance of Shiva' or 'Naturaja'. The cooperation of the elements to cleanse themselves through floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and fires is the 'cosmic dance' also called the 'dance of Shiva'.

And finally, 30 days and several holy festivals during the month of Kartik may be aptly be compared to the holy rosary studded with impeccable 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.