Karthika Purāṇam – Chapter 11

Mantharudu and the Glory of Puranic Merit

Vasiṣṭha Maharshi said:
“O King Janaka! I have narrated to you many examples illustrating the greatness of the Karthika month. Yet, no matter how much one speaks of its glory, it can never be fully described.

During this sacred month, if one worships Lord Vishnu with avise (sesame) flowers, it bestows the merit equivalent to performing the Chandrayana Vrata (a most difficult fasting vow).

After worshipping Lord Vishnu, if one reads, listens to, or narrates the Purāṇas, such a person surely attains Vaikuntha, the divine abode of Lord Vishnu. Now, I shall tell you a related legend — listen with devotion.”

The Story of Mantharudu

Long ago, in the land of Kalinga, there lived a Brahmin named Mantharudu.
He earned his living by cooking in others’ houses and eating there itself. He fell into bad company, began drinking liquor, eating meat, and neglected all religious duties like bathing, chanting, and worship. He lived a life of sin and impurity.

Yet, his wife was the opposite — a noble, virtuous, and patient woman. Though her husband was immoral, she considered him her god, served him with utmost devotion, and faithfully followed her pativrata dharma (duties of a chaste wife).

As time passed, Mantharudu tried small trades, but even that failed to sustain him. Out of greed, he took to robbery, harassing travelers and stealing their money and belongings.

One day, as he was robbing a Brahmin in the forest, a hunter (kirātaka) appeared. The hunter killed Mantharudu, seized the stolen wealth, and started walking away. Suddenly, a tiger leapt out from a nearby cave and attacked the hunter. Though the hunter killed the tiger, he too was fatally wounded by its claws and died on the spot.

Thus, four of them — the Brahmin, Mantharudu, the hunter, and the tiger — all died after committing acts of violence, and consequently, all four suffered in Yamaloka (the realm of death), tormented by their sins and forced to drink blood as punishment.

The Devotion of Mantharudu’s Wife

From the day her husband died, Mantharudu’s wife lived a life of devotion and purity, constantly remembering Lord Hari’s name, though filled with sorrow for her husband.

One day, a great sage visited her home. She received him with devotion — offering arghya and pādya (water for the feet) — and said humbly:

“O revered one! I am a poor woman with no husband and no children. I live chanting Lord Hari’s name. Please show me the path to liberation.”

Moved by her sincerity, the sage said:

“Dear one, today is Karthika Pournami — a most auspicious day. Do not let it go in vain. Tonight, a Purāṇa recital will take place at the temple. I will bring oil; you bring the lamp and cotton wicks. Offer the lamp in the temple — that merit shall be yours.”

She joyfully agreed, went to the temple, cleansed it with cow dung, drew muggulu (holy designs), prepared the wicks with her own hands, and poured the oil the sage brought. She lit the lamps and offered worship to the Lord.

Then she invited everyone she met to attend the Purāṇa reading that night, and herself stayed through the night, listening with deep devotion.

From that day onward, she spent her life in constant meditation upon Vishnu. After some years, she died and was taken by Vishnu’s attendants in a celestial chariot to Vaikuntha.

Karthika Puranam Part 8 | కార్తీకపురాణం – 8 వ అధ్యాయము *శ్రీ హరి నామస్మరణా ధన్యోపాయం*

Compassion Beyond Death

However, due to having lived with her sinful husband, a trace of his karma lingered, and during her journey, she passed through Yamaloka. There she saw her husband and the other three still suffering in torment.

With compassion, she pleaded to Vishnu’s messengers:

“O divine ones! My husband and these three souls are suffering terribly. Please have mercy on them and deliver them from this pain.”

The attendants replied:

“O virtuous lady! Your husband was a Brahmin who abandoned his sacred duties and became sinful. The second was also a Brahmin who killed out of greed. The third was the tiger, and the fourth, a Brahmin from Dravida land who committed many sins and even on Ekadashi and Dwadashi days indulged in oil, liquor, and meat. Therefore, all four are being punished.” Karthika Puranam Part 7 కార్తీకపురాణం – 7 వ అధ్యాయము *శివకేశవార్చనా విధులు*

She was deeply moved and prayed again:

“O noble souls! Please free my husband and the others too.”

The attendants said:

“O blessed one, on the night of Karthika Pournami, you lit the lamp — let the merit of the wick be given to the tiger, the merit of the oil to the hunter, and the merit of hearing the Purāṇa to the Brahmin. By your grace, they all shall attain liberation.”

She did exactly as told — transferring her accumulated merits to them. Immediately, the four souls appeared before her, shining with divine radiance, and all ascended together to Vaikuntha in celestial chariots.

Conclusion

Thus, O King! You now see the immense power of performing lamp lighting and listening to the Purāṇas during the sacred Karthika month. Even sinners attain liberation through the merit earned by such acts of devotion.

Thus ends the Eleventh Chapter of the Karthika Māhātmya,
as spoken by Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Skanda Purāṇa.

🕉️ Om Namah Śivāya.