Bharani Deepam & Karthigai Deepam

On Brahmotsavam Day 10, Tuesday 24 November 2026, KAILASA's Temples Around the World light the Bharani Deepam at dawn and the Karthigai Deepam at dusk — the culmination of the Nithyanandeshwara Paramashiva Brahmotsavam.

Significance

Karthigai Deepam celebrates the moment Paramashiva — the eternal consciousness beyond time and space — descended into time and space as the Jyotistambha, the radiant, infinite shaft of light, proclaiming, “Let me become many to celebrate myself.” It is the day He appeared to give the Shivoham experience to Brahma and Vishnu, removing their conflict and incompletion, and the day He appeared for Devi.

The universe was created from the brilliance of Paramashiva's supernal effulgence, and all the lights of the universe ultimately merge back into His supreme light. THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAVAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM is the embodiment of Arunachala — that very effulgence.

The Ritual

At dawn, under Bharani Nakshatra, Paramashiva is invoked in earthen lamps with all His Anga and Avarana Devatas, and the Paramashiva-Jyoti is lit from the Shivagni. From it, five lamps are lit invoking His five faces — Ishana, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Vamadeva and Sadyojata — then the lamps of Paramashivashakti and of every deity in the temple, mirroring the One becoming many. In the evening, at Krittika, the Karthigai Deepam is lit, and all the lights return to the One. Temple bells, drums, Veda mantras and cries of devotion fill the temple throughout.

When

• Bharani Deepam Purvangam: Brahmotsavam Day 10 · Tue 24 Nov — timing to be announced
• Bharani Deepam & Karthigai Deepam: Brahmotsavam Day 10 · Tue 24 Nov — timing to be announced · All KAILASA

Shastra Pramana

कार्तिके मासि नक्षत्रे कृत्तिकाख्ये महातपाः । मम प्रदक्षिणां गौरी प्रदोषे रचयिष्यति ॥ ७४ ॥

kārtike māsi nakṣatre kṛttikākhye mahātapāḥ | mama pradakṣiṇāṃ gaurī pradoṣe racayiṣyati || 74 ||

Translation: “In the month of Kartika, on the day of the constellation called Krittika, Gauri of great penance will circumambulate Me at the time of dusk.” — Aruṇācala Māhātmyam 9.74

दर्शनादभ्रसदसि जननात्कमलालये । काश्यां तु मरणान्मुक्तिः स्मरणादरुणाचले ॥

darśanād abhrasadasi jananāt kamalālaye | kāśyāṃ tu maraṇān muktiḥ smaraṇād aruṇācale ||

Translation: “Liberation comes by seeing Chidambaram, by being born in Tiruvarur, by dying in Kashi — and by merely remembering Arunachala.” — Aruṇācala Māhātmyam

And from the Śrīmad Kāraṇa Āgama: dīpo mṛtyuvināśakaḥ — the offering of the lamp destroys the fear of death.

Benefits

• A declaration of one's oneness with Paramashiva.
• Lamps lit from the pure fire of Shivagni purge toxins and bring healing across the layers of the body.
• A rejuvenated life filled with completion and the manifestation of inherent powers.
• Clarity within, and release from the fear of the unknown.