2024 Kartika Amavasya

What is Kartik Amavasya?

Kartika Amavasya is the Amavasya or No moon day that falls in the Hindu month of Kartika. According to the Gregorian calendar, Kartika month corresponds to the October/November month. Kartik Amavasy is also celebrated all over the world as a day of Diwali.

Story Associated with Kartik Amavasya

As per legends, once King Bali imprisoned all the Gods along with Goddess Lakshami and they were liberated by Lord Vishnu on the day of Kartik Krishna Amavasya. However, frightened by the event, all Gods with Goddess Lakshmi slept in the Ksheer Sagar (Ocean of Milk). Thus, on Kartik Amavasya special arrangements are made for their sleep so that they do not go to Ksheer Sagar but stay in native’s house, bestowing blessings.

Another legend states that on this day Lord Rama returned to his abode, Ayodhya with his wife, Goddess Sita and brother Laxman, after completing his exile of 14 years. To celebrate his arrival, people of Ayodhya lit earthen lamps and since then Diwali is celebrated on the day of Kartik Amavasya. As Lord Rama, during exile, killed demon king Ravana, the day is also celebrated as an epitome of victory of good over evil. 

What is Kartik Amavasya’s significance?

• On this Amavasya night, Goddess Shyama Kali is worshipped through a special Tantrik Puja. Goddess Shyama Kali is the first avatar of Goddess Durga. The Puja is performed to demolish immorality and negativity around us. This Tantrik Puja on Kartika Amavasya night blesses the people with joy, prosperity and protection against misfortunes and dangers.
• According to the Hindu scriptures, Kartik month is one of the most auspicious months and Kartik Amavasya importance is comparatively higher than other Amavasyas. Thus, on this day, one should perform Hindu rituals and take a dip or Snan in the sacred rivers or lakes or ponds. Also, they should visit nearest temples and light up Diyas in front of the idol of the deity.
• It is said that Goddess Lakshami appeared from the Samudra Manthan in the Kartik Amavasya. Hence, the day is known as Kamala Jayanti. Anyone who worships Goddess Lakshami by doing Laxmi Puja on this day bestows wealth, prosperity and happiness.
• Like other Amavasyas, Kartik Amavasya is considered as an auspicious day to perform ancestral rites. By offering prayers to ancestors on the day, one may attain their blessings and can get rid from all the defects and debts of ancestors present in their Birth Chart.
• As per the popular beliefs, performing any holy ritual or taking a dip in sacred rivers, lakes or ponds on Kartik Amavasya mitigates all your bad deeds and offers you salvation.
• Kartik Krishna Paksha is considered as the best day to pray to Lord Vishnu to get rid of all the sins. Praying to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu and observing Karthik Amavasya Vrat fulfills all the desires of the native.

What are the Rituals of Kartik Amavasya Puja and Vrat?

Here are the rituals that should be performed while observing Karthik Amavasya Vrat or Puja.

• Take an early morning bath in a sacred lake, pond or river and offer Argh to Lord Sun. Also offer sesame seeds in the flowing water. 
• In the morning, recite Navgraha Stotra and seek blessings from God. Doing it will alleviate the effects of all the planetary Doshas present in your Janam Kundali.
• Recite Vishnu Sahasranama to get rid of all the ill effects of planets.
• Light up Diya or an earthen lamp in the temple to get freed from all the sufferings and impact laid by Planet Saturn.
• Worship Lord Shiva and perform Abhishek ritual with honey on the Shivling for seeking Lord Shiva’s blessing.

Navagraha Stotram

navagraha dhyānaślokam

ādityāya ca somāya maṅgaḻāya budhāya ca |

guru śukra śanibhyaśca rāhave ketave namaḥ ‖

raviḥ

japākusuma saṅkāśaṃ kāśyapeyaṃ mahādyutim |

tamoriyaṃ sarva pāpaghnaṃ praṇatosmi divākaram ‖

candraḥ

dathiśaGYa tuśhārābhaṃ kśhīrārṇava samudbhavam |

namāmi śaśinaṃ somaṃ śambhor-makuṭa bhūśhaṇam ‖

kujaḥ

dharaṇī garbha sambhūtaṃ vidyutkānti samaprabham |

kumāraṃ śakti hastaṃ taṃ maṅgaḻaṃ praṇamāmyaham ‖

budhaḥ

priyaṅgu kalikāśyāmaṃ rūpeṇā pratimaṃ budham |

saumyaṃ satva guṇopetaṃ taṃ budhaṃ praṇamāmyaham ‖

guruḥ

devānāṃ ca ṛśhīṇāṃ ca guruṃ kāñcana sannibham |

buddhimantaṃ trilokeśaṃ taṃ namāmi bṛhaspatim ‖

śukraḥ

himakunda mṛṇāḻābhaṃ daityānaṃ paramaṃ gurum |

sarvaśāstra pravaktāraṃ bhārgavaṃ praṇamāmyaham ‖

śaniḥ

nīlāñjana samābhāsaṃ raviputraṃ yamāgrajam |

Chāyā mārtāṇḍa sambhūtaṃ taṃ namāmi śanaiścaram ‖

rāhuḥ

arthakāyaṃ mahāvīraṃ candrāditya vimardhanam |

siṃhikā garbha sambhūtaṃ taṃ rāhuṃ praṇamāmyaham ‖

ketuḥ

phalāsa puśhpa saṅkāśaṃ tārakāgrahamastakam |

raudraṃ raudrātmakaṃ ghoraṃ taṃ ketuṃ praṇamāmyaham ‖

phalaśrutiḥ

iti vyāsa mukhodgītaṃ yaḥ paṭhetsu samāhitaḥ |

divā vā yadi vā rātrau vighna śāntirbhaviśhyati ‖

nara nārī nṛpāṇāṃ ca bhave ddusvapnanāśanam |

aiśvaryamatulaṃ teśhāmārogyaṃ puśhṭi vardhanam ‖

graha nakśhatrajāḥ pīḍā staskarāgni samudbhavāḥ |

tāssarvāḥ praśamaṃ yānti vyāso brūte nasaṃśayaḥ ‖

Amavasya fasting Days

According to the Hindu calendar, starting from Chaitra month (March-April), the No Moon Day falls throughout the year. Here is the list of Amavasya days other than Kartika Amavasya

S.N.	Hindu Month	Amavasya Vrat Name and Same Day Festival
1	Chaitra	Chaitra Amavasya
2	Vaishakha	Vaishakha Amavasya
3	Jyeshtha	Jyeshtha Amavasya, Darsha Bhavuka Amavasya, Shani Jayanti, Vat Savitri Vrat
4	Ashadha	Ashadha Amavasya
5	Shravana	Shravana Amavasya
6	Bhadrapada	Bhadrapada Amavasya, Pithori Amavasya
7	Ashwin	Ashwin Amavasya, Sarva Pitru Amavasya, Sarvapitri Darsha Amavasya
8	Kartika	Kartika Amavasya, Diwali, Lakshmi Puja
9	Margashirsha	Margashirsha Amavasya
10	Paush	Paush Amavasya
11	Magha	Magha Amavasya, Mauni Amavas
12	Phalguna	Phalguna Amavasya

If Amavasya falls on Monday - Somvati Amavasya