Karthika Puranam · Day 6 of 30
Karthika Puranam Day 6
Chapter 6 — How to give lamps (Deepadana vidhi)
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Sunday, November 15, 2026
Shukla Paksha Shashthi · శుద్ధ షష్టి
Chapter 6 — the story
Vasishtha begins with the rite itself: each day of Karthika, a ghee lamp set in a cup of rice or wheat flour, with a hand-made cotton wick, is given to a Brahmin with dakshina. On the last day the gift is a silver lamp with a gold wick, given to the same Brahmin.
He then tells of a miserly widow in the Dravida country who earned by lending money and dealing in stolen goods, gave nothing away and mocked those who kept vows. A Brahmin on his way to Srirangam stops at her village and, with patient advice, turns her to the Karthika vow — and she wins release.
What this chapter teaches
It is never too late to turn from greed to giving — and a lamp is the simplest gift to begin with.
How to read the Karthika Puranam
- Read or listen to one chapter each day of Karthika Masam, usually in the evening after lighting the deepam.
- Many families read together after the pre-dawn Karthika snanam or at the Tulasi kota.
- These are short summaries; for the full text, read a printed Karthika Puranam or listen to a pravachanam.