Karthika Masam 2025: Complete Daily Vratham & Deepam Schedule

October 22 – November 20, 2025 (30 Days)

🪔 Significance of Karthika Masam

Karthika Masam, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Every good deed performed during this sacred period yields multiplied spiritual merit, aiding in attaining Moksha (liberation). This guide provides a detailed daily schedule, vratham guidelines, and lamp-lighting rituals for a spiritually fulfilling Karthika Masam.

🕉️ Daily Routine for Karthika Masam

🌅 Morning Rituals (Brahma Muhurta, 4:00 AM onwards)

Wake Up Early: Ideally during Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM).
Karthika Snanam (Holy Bath):
- Bathe before sunrise, including hair wash.
- Preferred locations: Sacred rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Cauvery) or temple tanks.
- At home: Visualize bathing in the Ganga; add turmeric or sacred ash to water.
Temple Visit: Visit Shiva or Vishnu temples post-bath for darshan and prayers.
Scripture Reading:
- Read one chapter of Karthika Puranam daily (30 chapters total).
- Recite Vishnu Sahasranamam, Shiva Sahasranamam, Bhagavad Gita, or Srimad Bhagavatam.

🌙 Evening Rituals (After Sunset)

Lighting Deepam (Lamp):
- Light lamps at sunrise and sunset; mandatory near Tulasi plant after stars appear.
- Use sesame oil (til/nuvvula) or cow ghee in clay or brass lamps (avoid steel).
- Place lamps at temple entrances, around the home, or near sacred trees.
Tulasi Puja: Offer daily worship to Tulasi Devi with mantras and flowers.
Damodar Puja: Offer lamps and sing Damodarastakam to Lord Krishna.

🍽️ Food Rules During Karthika Masam

Strictly Prohibited Foods

Non-vegetarian food (considered a grave sin).
Brinjal (eggplant), onions, garlic, urad dal (black gram).

Eating Pattern

Ekabhuktam: One meal per day (recommended).
Naktha Vratam: Eating only after sunset.
Auspicious Days (Mondays, Ekadashi, Pournami): Consume only fruits or milk in the evening.
Prasadam: Prepare offerings for special days; fruits for regular days.

📅 Weekly Schedule & Important Days

🌙 Karthika Somavara Vratam (Every Monday)

Significance: Mondays are sacred to Lord Shiva, amplifying spiritual merit.
Rituals:

Wake up early, perform ceremonial bath.
Visit Shiva temples; perform Shivalinga Puja with Parthiva Lingam.
Offer Rudra Abhishekam (7-8 AM in temples).
Chant Panchakshari Mantra (“Om Namah Shivaya”) 108 times.
Offer boiled rice as Naivedyam.
Fast all day; recite Rudra Namakam Chamakam and Karthika Puranam.
Break fast at night with sattvic food.

2025 Monday Dates:

October 27
November 3
November 10
November 17

🌟 Koti Somavara Vratam

When: Monday in Shravana Nakshatra (typically before Pournami).
Rituals:

Perform Rudrabhishekam 11 times.
Light three ghee lamps before Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

🎉 Special Festivals & Vratams in Karthika Masam 2025

Bali Pratipada (Padwa) – October 22, 2025 (Day 1)
- Marks the start of Karthika Masam, post-Deepavali Amavasya.
- Worship Lord Krishna and celebrate prosperity.
Bhau Beej (Bhai Dooj) – October 23, 2025
- Celebrate the brother-sister bond with prayers and gifts.
Nagula Chavithi (Nag Chaturthi) – Date TBD
- Worship serpent deities; observe strict fasting.
Paitha Mahakruchcha Vratam – Krishna Paksha (Five Days)
- Starts: Karthika Krishna Saptami.
- Ends: Karthika Krishna Ekadashi.
- Dedicated to Lord Vishnu; focus on fasting and prayers.
Karthika Ekadashi (Uttana/Devottana Ekadashi) – November 2025 (Krishna Paksha)
- Significance: Lord Vishnu awakens from Yoga Nidra.
- Complete day fasting, temple visits, scripture reading.
Karthika Pournami (Full Moon) – November 5, 2025
- Timing: Begins 10:36 PM (Nov 4), Ends 6:49 PM (Nov 5).
- Significance: Equivalent to Maha Shivaratri in merit.
- Rituals:
  - Complete day fasting.
  - Light 365-wick cotton deepam to Lord Vishnu.
  - Have moon darshan before breaking fast.
  - Light Akasha Deepam on temple flag posts.
  - Decorate home with lamps.
  - Perform Satyanarayana Vratam.
  - Newly married women observe 33 Pournami Vratam.
  - Offer pumpkin and yam to Goddess Parvati in Shiva temples.
Tulasi Vivaham – Karthika Ekadashi to Pournami
- Symbolic marriage of Tulasi Devi to Lord Vishnu/Krishna.
- Marks the start of the Hindu wedding season.
Ksheerabdhi Dwadasi – Dwadashi Tithi
- Special worship of Lord Vishnu; Vanabhojanam festival at Tirumala.
Poli Swargam / Poli Padyami – November 20, 2025 (Amavasya)
- Timing: Begins 9:44 AM (Nov 19), Ends 12:17 PM (Nov 20).
- Rituals:
  - Light 31-wick deepam (representing 31 days).
  - Place lamp on a banana trunk/plantain stem (Aarti Dimma).
  - Immerse in a river or water tub at home.
  - Temple priest reads Karthika Puranam conclusion.
  - Offer Vayanalu and Swayampakam to Brahmins.

🪔 Deepa Pooja Rules (Lamp Lighting Guidelines)

Oil/Ghee to Use

Recommended: Cow ghee (most auspicious), sesame oil (til/nuvvula).
Avoid: Mustard oil, commercial oils.

Lamp Material

Use: Clay or brass lamps.
Avoid: Steel (believed to increase poverty).

Wick Guidelines

Cotton wicks (vattulu).
Wick Count:
- Daily: 1-5 wicks.
- Karthika Pournami: 365 wicks.
- Poli Swargam: 31 wicks.

Where to Light

Near Tulasi plant (mandatory after stars appear).
Temple entrances, around the home, near sacred trees.
Shiva temples: 120 deepams on special vratham days.

Timing

Sunrise: Morning deepam.
Sunset: Evening deepam (after stars are visible).

🙏 Special Vratams & Pujas

Karthika Deepa Daana Vratham
- Start: Krittika Nakshatra or Pournami.
- Procedure:
  - Year 1: Light 120 deepams in Shiva temple, perform Ganapathi puja, offer Swayampakam to 1 Brahmin.
  - Year 2: Light 240 deepams, donate to 2 Brahmins, then donate 5 deepams to 20 Brahmins.
  - Conclude with Udyapana.
Satyanarayana Vratam
- Perform on Mondays, Ekadashi, or Pournami.
- Duration: 3.5-4 hours.
- Ideal after major life achievements; invite friends and relatives.
Akashadeepa Vratam
- Light lamps at elevated heights (e.g., temple Dhwaja Sthambam).
Lakshavarthi Nomu
- Light 100,000 lamps gradually during the month.

🤝 Dana (Charity) During Karthika Masam

Deepa Daanam: Donate oil/ghee lamps to temples.
Vastra Daanam: Clothes donation.
Swarna Daanam: Gold donation.
Go Daanam: Cow donation.
Swayampakam: Daily eatables (rice, dal, vegetables, tamarind, chilies).
Food to Needy: Feed the poor daily.
Dakshina and Tambulam: Offer to priests and Brahmins.

🕉️ Daily Mantras & Chants

Essential Mantras

Panchakshari Mantra: “Om Namah Shivaya” (108 times).
Vishnu Sahasranamam: 1000 names of Vishnu.
Shiva Sahasranamam: 1000 names of Shiva.
Rudra Namakam Chamakam: For Shiva worship.
Damodarastakam: For Krishna worship.
Siksastakam: Devotional prayer.

Unity Prayer

“Shivaya Vishnu Roopaya, Shiva Roopaya Vishnave
Shivasya Hrudayam Vishnu, Vishnoscha Hrudayam Shivah”
(Lord Shiva is in the form of Vishnu, and Vishnu is in the form of Shiva. Vishnu is the heart of Shiva, and Shiva is the heart of Vishnu.)

📖 Scripture Reading Schedule

Karthika Puranam: 1 chapter daily (30 chapters total).
Bhagavad Gita: Selected verses daily.
Srimad Bhagavatam: Focus on Gajendra Moksha (Canto 8).
Damodarastakam: Recite daily.

🌟 Simplified 10-Day Observance

For those unable to observe the full 30 days:

First 5 Days: October 22-26, 2025.
Last 5 Days: November 1-5, 2025 (before Pournami).
These 10 days offer substantial spiritual benefits.

🌿 Benefits of Karthika Masam Observance

Spiritual Benefits

Attainment of Moksha (liberation).
Destruction of past karmas and sins.
Purification of mind and body.
Unity of Shiva and Vishnu in devotion.

Material Benefits

Prosperity, wealth, and good health.
Family harmony and success in endeavors.

Health Benefits

Fasting aids digestion and detoxification.
Tulasi worship fights germs.
Early morning bathing boosts immunity.
Discipline enhances self-control.

🔔 Special Notes

For Working Professionals

Light deepam morning and evening.
Maintain vegetarian diet.
Visit temples on weekends.
Listen to Karthika Puranam via audio.

For Pregnant Women

Perform pooja; fasting is optional.
Focus on devotion over austerities.

For Families with Hereditary Vratam

Follow rituals strictly; consult elders for customs.

For Newly Married Women

Observe 33 Pournami Vratam; offer to Goddess Parvati.

✅ Daily Checklist

Wake up at Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM).
Complete bath before sunrise.
Visit temple.
Light morning deepam.
Read one chapter of Karthika Puranam.
Chant Vishnu/Shiva Sahasranamam.
Observe Ekabhuktam or Naktha Vratam.
Light evening deepam at Tulasi plant.
Perform Tulasi puja.
Meditate or perform japa.
Listen to devotional songs.

🙏 Closing Prayer

“Namasthey Kaarthika Maasaa Sarvapaaapa Pramocanam
Vishnaveya Param Priyaa Bhaktaanaam Mokshadhaayine”
(Salutations to Karthika Masam, the month that removes all sins, dear to Lord Vishnu, and grants liberation to devotees.)

May Karthika Masam 2025 bring divine blessings, spiritual growth, and prosperity!
Om Namah Shivaya | Om Namo Narayanaya