Last five days of Kartika

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There is answer for me, concerning the Bhisma-Pancaka, send by H.G.

Chaturatma prabhu:

 

 

 

Dear Prabhu,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. by the time this reaches you the vrata

will be over but here is the info for the future.

 

This vrata is very old given in the time of Yudhistira. One who follows

this will become strong and invincible like Bhisma. It begins on the

purnima of the second ekadasi in the month of kartik. One should observe

the vrata with a mood of humility and devotion. One should not proudly

reveal his vrata vows to others. rising early, taking bath, worshipping

Damodara, fasting, and offerring lamps are highlighted during this vrata as

well as the whole month of kartik. One is reccommended to eat once a day

after 6:00 pm. while there is some practice of panchagavya vrata(one item

from the cow each day) this is mostly impractical for westerners preaching

or working in the west and for most persons ingeneral. Here in Alachua

many devotees have observed this vrata in a variety of ways. I have done

it for many years and seen different applications. Here are some of the

vows taken here.

Only milk or milk and bananas in the evening

Raw food 1st day, raw fruit 2nd day, juices only 3rd day, milk 4th

day, water on 5th day

Only ekadasi prasadam for the 5 days in the evening

Regular prasadam but 64 rounds all 5 days

 

One additional item--the interesting thing is that the morning of the fifth

day, after ones sadhana, the vows are then broken. One eats those things

one has given up during the vrata. It appears that one fast 4 days for 5

days benefit. the explanation is that the days are lunar days not solar

days. that is the reason for breaking on the morning of the 5th day.

 

Hope this is useful information. It has all been gleamed from Hari Bhakti

Vilas and conversations with Bhakti vidya Purna Swami. hare Krsna.

 

Your servant,

Chaturatma dasa

 

 

 

SELECTION OF VOWS FOR KARTIKA VRATA

 

idam vrata maya deva ghrita purata tava

nirvighnam siddham ayatu prasadat tava kesava

grhitosmin vrate deva pancatvam yadiva bhavet

tada bhavatu sampurnam prasadat te janardhana

 

I am taking this vow before you, O Lord. By your grace, O Kesava,

it

will

be undestroyed even though I am less than a sudra. By your grace I may

follow it completely, O Janardhana, O Lord.

 

mood: Peacefulness, one pointed devotion, determination, cleaniness.

 

1) sleep on the ground

2) no salt

3) no oil

4) eat only boiled food

5) no oil on the body

6) no honey or sweets

7) no hair cutting

8) fast for one day

9) clean Visnu’s temple

10) sing and play instruments in the temple

11) eating once a day

12) eat after 6:00pm