PADMA PURANA ON KARTIKA VRATA

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quoted by Srila Sanatana Gosvami in his Hari-bhakti Vilasa (the standard

lawbook for all Gaudiya Vaisnavas)

 

Intro-if one neglects to perform the Kartika Vrata all his pious merits

amassed in the passed are burned to ashes; his study of the Vedas becomes

futile; and his performance of japa, charity, and austerity becomes

fruitless.

 

Glories of Kartika Vrata-Kartik is the best, the purest of purifiers, and

most glorious of all months. Kartika month is particularly dear to Lord Sri

Krsna. This month is full of bhakta vatsalya. Any vrata, even the smallest,

will yield huge results. The effect of performing a Kartika Vrata lasts for

one hundred lifetimes, whereas ordinary vratas only last for one lifetime!

As Krsna says in Gita that He is the month of Nov-Dev, similarly, Srimati

Radhika is the holy month of Kartik which precedes His month. Rupa Gosvami

and others refer to Radharani as the Kartika-devata or Kartika Devi, in

other words, Radhika is the goddess or presiding Deity of the Kartika Vrata.

 

Daily Offer-tulsi arotik, ghee lamp to Krsna and sing Damodarastakam, bathe

in Yamuna if possible, give charity to pure devotees.

 

Dont Eat: grains given by others, honey, sesame seeds, oils, hing, eggplant,

loki, tasty foods like sweets and fried foods, samosas, pakoras.

 

Dont Do: cut hair, nails, use things of others, criticize Vaisnavas, Vedas

or anyone, no oil on body, do not find faults in others or be envious.

 

Prayer before beginning: "O gopikas! By your mercy may Radha and Krsna be

pleased with my Kartika Vrata."

 

Benefits Observing Kartik Vrata: All sins flee from the heart. Perform other

vratas one hundred times not equal to one performance of Kartik Vrata. All

the holy places will live within your body. Proper performance of Kartik

Vrata gives one a million times the result of chanting mantras, do yatras

and other types of vratas. Those who worship Damodara in Vrndavana even once

easily attain Krsna bhakti. Dhruva Maharaja attained Hari darsana by

worshiping Krsna in Mathura during the Kartika month.

 

Summary of How to Follow the Kartika Vrata:

 

Remember--Kartika Vrata is a special time to worship Radha Damodara, and

especially get the mercy of Radhika, since it is Her month, and She is very

very easily pleased this month if one worships Her along with Her beloved

Damodara.

 

Srila Prabhupada on When to Start Kartika Vrata: "In Vrndavana we should

have Kartika Vrata, Urja Vrata, for one month beginning on Ekadasi

(Pasanukusa) (Srila Prabhupada Tape 10/6/72)

 

Pasanukusa Ekadasi Morning: Offer prayer-"O Janardana, O Damodara, O Devesa

who are accompanied by Radhika. During the month of Kartika, I will bathe

early every morning for Your satisfaction."

 

1. Rise early every day by Brahma Muhurta, bathe, chant japa offer Mangala

Arotik

 

2. Hear Srimad Bhagavatam, especially Radha and Krsna pastimes in Vrndavana,

daily in association of exalted Vaisnavas, if possible. By regularly reading

Srimad Bhagavatam during Kartika month, one gets the benefit of reading all

the eighteen 18 Puranas. All other duties should be given up in favor of

hearing the scriptures from sadhus during this month.

 

3. Chant continually in japa and kirtan, Krsna nama, do extra rounds and

more kirtana with family.

 

Must maintain celibacy for entire month

 

Give up favorite food article for entire month (sweets, salties) Try to eat

only once in a day. *if you can do and carry on ordinary works*

 

Eat your meals only on palasa leaves (if possible, will give tremendous

punya.)

 

No oil on body and NO EATING honey, eggplant, portal, pickles, red rajma

beans, or sesame seeds, or urad dahl (no kichoris)

 

Daily sing the Damodarastakam, meditating on meaning

 

Daily offer a ghee lamp to Krsna Deity or photo (no need of picture of

Mother Yasoda-Damodara or photo)

 

Daily offer arotik and prayers to Tulsi devi praying for eternal residence

in Vrndavana and eternal service of the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna.

 

Daily chant the Radha-krpa katakasam, and Krsna krpa kataksam in Giti Guccha

songbook

 

Also chant other prayers to Radha and Radha Krsna Yugala from the Giti

Guccha songbook

 

ON Ekadasi, Dvadasis, and Purnima chant the one-thousand names of Radha

 

On the three Ekadasis in Kartik try to observe Nirjala Vrata and stay awake

chanting hari nam, especially on the last one, Uttana Ekadasi, when Lord

Visnu and all the demigods awake after four months slumber.

 

Donate charity to pure devotees

 

Offer special nice foods to Krsna for entire month. For example every day

make sweet rice,(khira) which is the favorite food of Krsna.

 

BAHULASTAMI BATH IN Radha KUNDA- "Anyone who bathes in Radha-kunda on

Bahulastami becomes a dear devotee of Lord Krsna, because this act highly

pleases Him." (Hari-bhakti-vilasa)

 

BREAKING THE Kartika Vrata FAST: After sunrise and within the paran breaking

period on the Dvadasi day after Uttana Ekadasi (if you started your Kartik

Vrata on Pasanukusa Ekadasi),-offer arotik to Krsna and dedicate your vrata

to Radha and Krsna for Their pleasure, worship the Vaisnava brahmanas by

offering them presents plus a prasadam feast including the items that you

fasted from during Kartika (sweets, milk products etc.) After honoring the

brahmanas then break your Kartika Vrata fast by honoring the foods you

abstained from (such as urad dahl, sweets, or whatever items.) Chant Hare

Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare

Hare and Radhe Radhe Govinda, Govinda Radhe.....and taste the sweet feeling

of spending the entire month absorbed in pleasing Radha and Krsna. Jai Srila

Prabhupada!