The last day of Kartik month is Purnima on Friday, 15 November. This date is also called Dev Diwali and Tripurari Purnima. On Kartik Purnima, there is a tradition of river bathing, charity as well as donating lamps. It is believed that the religious activities performed on this festival provide eternal virtue. Akshaya virtue means such virtue, whose effect remains throughout life.
According to Astrologer Pt. Manish Sharma of Ujjain, according to the mythology, Lord Shiva had killed the demon named Tripurasura on Kartik Purnima, hence this date is called Tripurari Purnima. According to another story, Kartikeya had killed Swami Tarakasura in the eighth month of the Hindi calendar. Pleased with this, Lord Shiva named the eighth month Karthik after Kartikeya.
On Kartik Purnima the day should be started with Surya Puja. Wake up early in the morning and after bath, offer water to the Sun from a copper pot. It will be very good if you add flower leaves, rice and kumkum in the water. While offering water, the mantra Om Suryay Namah should be chanted. After worshiping Ganesh on the full moon day, special consecration of Lord Vishnu and Mahalakshmi should be done. If you consecrate Vishnu-Lakshmi with Dakshinavarti conch, it will be very auspicious. Chant Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaya mantra during worship. Offer sweets along with Tulsi. On this day, water, milk and Panchamrit should be offered to Shivling. Panchamrit should be prepared by mixing milk, curd, ghee, sugar candy and honey. After offering Panchamrit, offer water again. Offer Bilva leaves, garlands, flowers and Dhatura. Apply sandalwood paste on Shivling. Chant the mantra Om Namah Shivay. Light a lamp and perform Aarti. Offer sweets during the puja. Along with the puja, on Kartik Purnima, donate grains, clothes, shoes, slippers, food and money to the needy people. It will be a very auspicious time if you donate woolen clothes as it is winter season. Donate green grass for the care of cows in a cow shed. Light a lamp in Hanuman ji's temple. Recite Sunderkand and Hanuman Chalisa. If you wish, you can also chant the name of Ram in front of Hanuman ji. Offer Arghya to Moon God at the time of moon rise after sunset in the evening. It will be very auspicious if you offer milk to the moon from a silver pot. If you don't have a silver pot, you can offer milk from an earthen pot. While offering Arghya, the mantra Om Som Somay Namah should be chanted. Offer water to Tulsi in the morning. Light a lamp near Tulsi in the evening. Red chunari should also be offered to Tulsi.
