Aadi Krithikai or Aadi Krithigai
is celebrated on the Krithika star day of Aadi month and it is a day that is
auspicious for Lord Muruga. Lord Muruga is the second son of Lord Shiva and
Goddess Parvathi. Muruga in Tamil means beauty. In Sanskrit `Su’ means
good-natured or beautiful. `Brahmanya’ means one who has realized Brahman. So,
Lord Muruga is also known as Lord Subrahmanya.
As per Skanda Purana, Goddess
Parvathi did penance and married Lord Shiva. The union of Shiva and Parvathi
signifies the `Knowledge’ and `Grace’ coming together to deliver `Bliss’ in the
form Lord Subrahmanya. When Devas pleaded Lord Shiva to put an end to the deeds
of the demon Soorapadman, He took a form with six faces. Lord Muruga took birth
from each of the 3rd eye of Lord Shiva as six sparks and formed a fireball.
Agni and Vayu deva carried the fireball to the Vindhyas in the South (present
Western Ghats). Even the fire God was unable to bear the heat of the fire and
he dropped it in the water pond. When the hot fire touched the cold surface of
the water, it speckled to 6 sparks, each taking the form of a beautiful baby
boy in 6 six red Lotus flower. This waterbody is later known as Saravana Poigai. Then, Goddess Parvati
embraced the six boys together they merged to one form named Lord Muruga with
six faces and twelve hands. Hence Lord Muruga is also called Lord Shanmuga. In
praise of the services rendered by the Karthigai
Pengal, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi granted them a boon that all
special poojas for Lord Muruga will be held on Karthika (Krithikai) nakshatra
day.
Aadi Krithikai is considered more important because Aadi is the first month in the Dakshinayana Punyakala.