(kara) as the vessel (patra) in which he
received the food he took as alms. This is
considered one of the strictest ascetic
practices, since the amount of food one
can receive in this way is fairly small. The
lack of an eatingvessel indicates complete
renunciation of material possessions.
Swami Karpatri was also known for his
conservative political views. After Indian
independence in 1947, he was one of the
founders of the political party Ram Rajya
Parishad(“Organization for Ram’s Reign”).
The party’s basic assertion was that people
had to follow the division of status and
labor found in the traditional castesystem
in order to have a smoothly working soci-
ety. Aside from this conservative social
platform, the party also backed Hindu
causes such as the demand for a total ban
on cow slaughter. Despite being a Sanyasi
who had renounced the world, Swami
Karpatri still maintained some residual
attitudes from his former life. He had been
born a brahmin; even after renouncing the
world, he would only take food from brah-
min houses. Swami Karpatri exemplifies
how many ascetics still retain connections
with the “everyday” world—both in retain-
ing some concern for their former status
and in taking organized political action to
promote causes reflecting deeply
entrenched Hindu values.
Kartigai
Eighth month in the Tamil year, corre-
sponding to the northern Indian solar
month of Vrschika (the zodiacal sign of
Scorpio), which usually falls within
November and December. The existence
of several different calendars is one clear
sign of the continuing importance of
regional cultural patterns. One way that
the Tamils retain their culture is by pre-
serving their traditional calendar. Tamil is
one of the few regional languages in India
with an ancient, well-established literary
tradition. See also Tamil months, Tamil
Nadu, and Tamil language.
Kartik
According to the lunar calendar, by which
most Hindu religious festivals are deter-
mined, Kartik is the eighth month in the
lunar year, usually falling within October
and November. In northern India, Kartik
coincides with the harvest when the
weather is quite pleasant. Kartik is one of
the most ritually important months of the
year; its major festivals include Karva
Chauth, Rambha Ekadashi, Narak
Chaturdashi, Diwali, Govardhan Puja
(Annakut), Devotthayan Ekadashi, Tulsi
Vivah, and Kartik Purnima.Kartik Purnima
Festival during the full moonin the lunar
monthof Kartik (October–November),
celebrated as a bathing (snana) festival.
During the festival, an early morning bath
in the Gangesor any other sacred river is
believed to provide the bather with excep-
tional religious merit. People often journey
to sacred rivers to take advantage of this
opportunity. Also on this day, Sikhs cele-
brate the birthday of their religious leader,
Guru Nanak, born in 1469.Karttikeya
(“sonof the Krttikas”) Epithet of the god
Skanda, considered the son of Shiva.
Skanda is not born in the usual manner
but develops when Shiva’s semenfalls
into the Ganges River. The name
Karttikeyacomes from the six minor god-
desses known as the Krttikas, who are the
deified form of the constellation Pleiades.
After Skanda is born, these goddesses
become his foster mothers and nurse
him, which in Indian culture is believed to
create a mother-child bond. So that none
of the goddesses will feel slighted, Skanda
sprouts six heads, allowing him to nurse
from all of them at the same time.Karva Chauth
Religious vow (vrat) observed on the
fourth (chauth) day of the dark, waning
half of the lunar month of Kartik
(October–November). Karva Chauth is
taken by married womento ensure their
husbands’ health, prosperity, and long life.
There are many such vows in which
women’s observances and sacrifices areKarva Chauth