Aadi Krithigai – Festival dedicated to Lord Muruga

Aadi Krithigai – Festival dedicated to Lord Muruga

Aadi Krithigai is an important festival celebrated in the Tamil month of Adi or Aadi. In 2010, the date of Aadi Krithigai is August 4. The festival is dedicated to Lord Muruga or Subrahamaniya. Incidentally, the festival is also referred as Aadi Krittika, Kirthigai Kritika and Krithika. The festival is celebrated with fervor in the Murugan Temples in Tamil Nadu.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Muruga was born as six different babies. And he was looked after by the six Krittika stars. Later, Lord Muruga was combined as a single baby with six heads by Goddess Parvati. There are many variations to this legend.

The Krithigai star or Nakshatram is considered highly auspicious to worship Muruga. And Aadi Krithigai is more important because Aadi is the first month in the Dakshinayana punyakalam – when the sun god changes his direction from north to south.

Devotees carry flower Kavadi on the Aadi Krithigai day. It is celebrated in a grand way with various rituals in Murugan temples across the world.

According to Skanda Purana, Lord Muruga took birth from third eye of Lord Shiva as six flames. Agni and Vayu deva carried the six Flames of Lord Muruga to the Saravana Poigai. Kaarthigai Pengal took care of the six babies from Lotus flowers in Saravana poigai.When Lord Muruga attained boyhood, Goddess Parvati took six babies from Kaarthigai Pengal and made them to single boy with six faces. Hence Lord Muruga is also called Lord Shanmuga. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi granted Kaarthigai pengal boon that special poojas for Lord Muruga will be held in every Krithiga nakshatra.