Tag: Krishna

The first Kartik Month 2018 lamp offering

The smile and joy on the face of the devotees, who recently became part of our Krishna conscious family, while offering ghee lamp to Lord Damodara showed how Krishna has stolen their hearts.   All had come for special program on this holy month of Kartik. Last Saturday was also Karva Chauth and many ladies were fasting on this occasion. But some while fasting came to attend the program. They left in the middle as soon as the moon appeared in the night sky and after worshipping the moon they came back to chant the holy names of Krishna. While offering the lamps everyone sang the Damodarastakam  prayers, its lyrics is little difficult but when we sing it regularly we get used to it.

 

We all have love for Krishna but sadly because of heaps of material desires our hearts natural desire to love Krishna does not manifest immediately.

 

Krishna with his open hands always invites us to join him. Our heart too longs for Krishna’s love but we fail to understand this and force our heart to fall in love with the love things of this world. The worldly things cannot satisfy our hungry heart and so here in spite of having material positions and possessions we do not feel complete satisfaction.

 

Whether we love Krishna or not Krishna loves us unconditionally. When we decided to leave him in the spiritual world, he did not leave us. He came with us residing in our heart as Paramatma. In happiness and in distress he is with us. In whatever species of life we choose to be  by our actions he accompanied us.

 

Krishna is more eager to be with us than we are. He wants us to be back with him. In fact he immediately comes under the control of those who starts loving him selflessly.

 

One of the most famous pictures of Krishna is of being bound by mother Yashoda to a grinding motor.  When mother Yasoda was trying to tie Krishna every time the rope fell short by two fingers. Scriptures explain that one finger represents our endeavour and other the mercy of Krishna. When Krishna was pleased by his mother’s endeavour he showered his mercy upon her and happily agreed to be bound by his mother’s love.

 

Devotees offer lamp to this picture of Krishna. As the ghee lamp burns our material desires burns and our heart gets illuminated with Krishna’s love.

 

Krishna wants us but he also wants to see how much eager we are to be with him.

 

So the scriptures tell us to cleanse our hearts of all material allurements by chanting the holy names. The process takes time not because the medicine of the holy name is less powerful but because many times we do not follow the prescription of the spiritual doctors as it is. But if we continue to remain in the process and put in our best efforts to the best of our capability then slowly we would succeed in purging all our material desires.  Our heart will then become as soft as butter and Krishna, the eternal butter thief, will immediately come and steal our heart.

 

Krishna will become ours and we will be of Krishna –  a relationship which will give us so much joy that cannot be experienced here and cannot be explained in words.

 

11 reasons why Kartik month is the holiest month

“As Sat- yuga is the best of yugas (ages), as the Vedas are the best among scriptures, as Ganga is best of rivers, so Kartik is the best of months , the most dear to Lord Krishna”. – Skanda Purana

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Kartika (or Kartik) month or Kartik maas is considered to be the holiest month. This month is very dear to the devotees of Krishna because it is very dear to Lord Krishna. And whatever is dear to Krishna is dear to the devotees.

Kartik month (Kartik maas) 2025 begins on 7th Oct and ends on 5th Nov.

So, the devotees of Iskcon in 2025 will be celebrating the sacred Kartik month from 7th October, Tuesday to 5th November, Wednesday.

Lord Shri Krishna says, “ Of all plants, the sacred Tulasi is most dear to Me ; of all months, Kartik is most dear, of all places of pilgrimage, My beloved Dwarka is most dear, and of all days , Ekadashi is most dear.” (Padma Purana, Uttara Khand 112 .3 )

The scriptures says that any devotional activity performed during this holiest month is very pleasing to Krishna.

Kartik is special because it represents Srimati Radharani, beloved of Krishna, and our eternal mother. In Bhagavad Gita 10.35, Krishna says, “Of months I am Margasirsa [November-December]”. Kartik month [October – November] represents Radharani and it precedes Krishna’s month.

Srimati Radharani is also known as Kartika Devi. If we can please her with our sincere devotion during this auspicious month then Krishna will also be pleased.

Skanda Purana glorifies the Kartik month, “ As Sat- yuga is the best of yugas (ages), as the Vedas are the best among scriptures , as Ganga is best of rivers, so Kartik is the best of months , the most dear to Lord Krishna.”

11 reasons why Kartik Month is so sacred

Kartik month (Kartik maas) is the best of the month for spiritual progress. Scriptures say that Kartik month is the holiest month. Sacred Vedic literatures sing the glories of the auspicious month in the following ways:

• A person who offers a lamp to Lord Damodara during Kartika attains the eternal spiritual world. In the spiritual world there is no suffering.

• One who offers a steady ghee lamp to Lord Hari during the month of Kartika enjoys pastimes in Lord Hari’s splendid spiritual world. (Source: Padma Purana)

• Of all gifts the gift of a ghee lamp during the month of Kartika is the best. No gift is its equal. (Source: Narada Purana, in a conversation of Sri Mohini-devi and Sri Rukmangada)

Devotees take special vows called urja – vrata during this month. The purpose is to utilize most of the time and energy in practicing devotion to Krishna.

How to observe Kartik month?

Since Kartik is the holiest month, so the scriptures say that we should worship Krishna in a special way. This is described below:

Offering Ghee Lamp to Lord Damodara

During this month the Damodara pastime took place wherein mother Yashoda binds Krishna to a grinding mortar with a rope. The pastime illustrates that how Krishna who is the Supreme Lord and supremely powerful can be conquered by love.

• So, during Kartika which is also known as damodara month devotees offer lamp to the picture or deity of Krishna. Devotees choose that picture or deity of Krishna where he is bound by rope of love by his mother, Yashoda.

• Sanatana Goswami in Hari Bhakti Vilasa says that during Kartika month we should offer ghee lamp daily to Krishna.

• The lamp can be offered both in the morning and in the evening. If devotees do not have time they can offer lamp as per their convenience either in the morning or evening.

Singing Damodarashtakam

• While offering lamp with love we should sing Damodarashtakam prayers written by the sage Satyavrata.

Chanting the names of Krishna

• Chanting the holy names of the Lord is very important. Those of us who have taken a vow to chant 16 rounds of Hare Krishna mahamantra daily should chant more sincerely.

• Those who are chanting less than 16 rounds of mahamantra can increase their round at least by one or two.

Reading Scriptures

• We should daily read scriptures either Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita or any of Srila Prabhupada’s books.

• Reading is very important as it purifies our intelligence and clears many of our doubts.

Hearing about Krishna

• We should try to hear lectures of Srila Prabhupada or senior devotees this month.

• We should try to associate more with the devotees. Spiritual association will help us to develop spiritual consciousness and by seeing other devotees’ resolve we too get impetus to practice devotional life with sincerity.

Visiting Temple

• If possible we should try to visit the temple and participate with the devotees in offering lamp to the Lord.

• Chanting, singing, dancing and offering lamp to the deities in the temple is always very pleasing and brings joy to our heart.

Worshiping Lord Krishna at home

• But if we are staying at a place where temple is not nearby then we can invite devotees, family members, neighbours, office colleagues and together we can offer ghee lamp to the Lord.

• It is true that we may not be able to invite people every day to our homes but at least once in a week specially on weekends we can do so and rest of the days of the weeks we can offer the lamp with our family members at home.

Eating Only Prasada

• During this month we should try to eat only prasada i.e. food offered to the Lord.

• If some devotees have still not started offering food to the Lord then they can start doing it from this month onwards.

• Or at least to begin with some food items should be offered to the Lord and then eaten.

• Prasada means mercy and so we should not deprive ourselves from getting the mercy of the Lord.

Observing Celibacy

• At lease this month we can try to observe the vows of celibacy.

What not to do during this auspicious Kartik month?

 Don’t break four regulative principles

• Since this is a very auspicious month so we should not indulge in any inauspicious things.

• During this month we should try our best to observe the four regulative principles – no meat eating, no gambling, no intoxication and no illicit sex.

Try to give up meat and intoxicants at least this month

• Suppose that you have just started practicing devotional life and have not been completely able to give up meat eating or intoxication then you can try to not indulge in it at least during the holiest month of Kartik.

• And if you can observe it during the Kartika month then Krishna and Srimati Radharani will be very pleased and give determination to give up meat eating and intoxication forever.

What about tea and coffee?

• Those who take tea and coffee, if possible, can also stop it at least for this month and instead take herbal tea and herbal coffee if they need it.

Krishna will be pleased with our resolve to observe regulative principles.

• Whether it is tea or coffee or meat or intoxicants these are not necessary for our body but unfortunately many of us because of social pressure or may be due to ignorance started consuming it and now find it difficult to give it up.

• But if at least in the month of Kartik we take a vow to not indulge in any activity which is forbidden by the scriptures then Krishna will strengthen our resolve to give up all those things which is coming between us and him.

Facebook/Whatsapp/Twitter addiction

• Let us not try to indulge in social media too much this month. Most of us are addicted to Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter.

• We spend hours checking messages, forwarding messages, compiling messages, identifying the right emoticons to be sent with the messages.

• Although the message may be spiritual but we need to ask ourselves if it is helping us to come closer to Krishna.

• I have observed that I get hundreds of messages on social media and most of it I rarely read. And this is true for many others.

• Many times while chanting we check our whatsapp messages or facebook or Twitter.

• We need to use the social media judiciously so that it does not impact our devotional journey.

Conclusion

Kartik month is the holiest month because this month belongs to Srimati Radharani. Any spiritual activity we do in this month is going to please Srimati Radaharni.

And if Radha is pleased then Krishna is pleased.

If we observe the auspicious Kartik month as per the guidelines of scriptures then we will attain success in our spiritual life. We will attract the mercy of Krishna and Radharani.

Sri Hari Bhakti Vilasa 2.16.198 says, “In the month of Kartik one should worship Lord Damodara and daily recite the prayer known as Damodarastaka, which has been spoken by Sage Satyavratra and which attracts Lord Damodara.”

Vedic Scriptures and pure devotees have explained the importance of Kartik month. They say that Kartik is the holiest month. So during the Kartik month, we should always try to meditate on the beautiful Damodara pastimes of the Lord. And try to bind Krishna within our heart with love.

Related articles:

5 most important spiritual activities to perform during Kartik month

24 wonderful results one get by offering lamp in Kartik

23 negative results one get for not observing Kartik vrata

Festivals in the month of Kartik 2019

When Yashoda punishes Krishna, the Supreme Lord

Why Balaram could not untie Krishna

Controlling the controller with the ropes of love

Damodarastakam

7 unique features of Bhagavad Gita

 

Bhagavad Gita, one of the most celebrated literary masterpiece, contains pearls of wisdom which has served as a beacon light for humanity since ages.

 

Gita mahatmya 7 says, ekaṁ śāstraṁ devakī-putra-gītam: let there be one scripture only, one common scripture for the whole world – Bhagavad-gita. Eko devo devakī-putra eva: let there be one God for the whole world – Sri Krishna.

 

In Bhagavad Gita there is a conversation primarily between Krishna, the Supreme Lord, and Arjuna who represents the living entities and who is struggling in the midst of a battlefield with his emotions.

 

Arjuna’s Identity Crisis

Krishna in Bhagavad Gita teaches us that even a personality like Arjuna who was the greatest warrior of his time too became helpless when he was just about to  fight the most important battle of his life at Kurushetra.

 

Arjuna had started giving his own reasons to not fight the war, “It’s true that I am a Kshatriya and I should not shy away from fighting but they are not my enemies they are my relatives. If I kill them I will incur sins.”

 

It is true that situations most of the time will not remain in our control but we can chose our responses by controlling our consciousness.  Like Arjuna a situation may arise when we may have the skill to win but may lose the will to fight the battle of life.  

 

Arjuna came to the battlefield as a warrior but upon seeing Bhsima and Drona he started identifying himself as a grandson, as a student and as a brother.

 

• As a warrior he was supposed to fight with Bhisma but as a grandson he was supposed to offer respects to Bhsima.

 

• As a warrior he was supposed to slay Dronacharya, one of the most formidable warriors on the side of the Kauravas, but as a student he started remembering his duty as a disciple.

 

• And as a brother he was supposed to shower love and affection on his siblings and was not supposed to destroy them.

 

This identity crisis made Arjuna helpless so much so that his famed weapon, Gandiva, started falling from his hand and he started quivering.

 

During this difficult phase of his life even a slightest mistake would have destroyed his reputation and the fate of the Pandavas during the epic battle.

 

Fighting in proper consciousness

Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura explains that when Arjuna was reluctant to fight the battle then Krishna, in a chastising mood, said to Arjuna, “Now you are not honoring my words, but later, because you are a great hero, your natural eagerness to fight will unavoidably manifest itself. Then, when you set out to kill Bhisma and others on your own accord, I will laugh at you.”

 

Although Arjuna is giving many reasons not to fight but Krishna knows that since he belongs to a warrior clan so he will ultimately fight.

 

So if Arjuna is anyway going to fight then why does Krishna speak the message of Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna?

 

It is because Krishna wanted that Arjuna fights in proper consciousness i.e. Krishna Consciousness. If Arjuna fights whimsically and is driven by modes of nature then he may commit sins and suffer. But if he fights as per the instructions of Krishna he will not just emerge victorious but he will not be subjected to any sinful reactions.

 

Arjuna being learned knew that in crisis it is better to seek guidance from one who is more knowledgeable, trustworthy and best well-wisher.  So without hesitation he turned towards Krishna and petitioned him, “Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.”

 

If we also make friendship with Krishna then when confronted with difficulties we will know where to go and whose shelter to take.

 

Identifying the eternal identity

Krishna first establishes that when we are confronted with many identities then we should rise above all identities and focus on our spiritual identity which is eternal and never changing.  All identities related to this ephemeral world has beginning and an end. Any identity in this world if it is preventing us to do our spiritual duty then we should reject it unconditionally.

 

If we are situated in our spiritual identity as an eternal parts and parcels of Krishna then situations of this world will not bewilder us.  And Krishna like an expert captain of the ship will help us to navigate through the turbulent waves of material miseries.

Action in Krishna consciousness

The nature of this world is that sufferings will come, bewildering situations will arise. But if we purify our intelligence with message of Bhagavad Gita then we will get the strength to tolerate the provoking situations and expertly find a solution to the challenging situation.

 

As long as we are living in this world we have to act, none of us can remain idle and not do anything. But if we do our duties as per our own accord then we put ourselves under the jurisdiction of material laws. But if we do our duties by keeping Krishna in the centre then we will be acting for Krishna and Krishna will always guide us and protect us.

 

Through Arjuna Krishna is teaching two important lessons:

• Human life is meant for hard work and so we should put in our best efforts like Arjuna in any activity we are doing and which is not against religious principles.
• In spite of all our material credentials we should always take guidance of Krishna and not act as per our whims.

 

Unique features of Bhagavad Gita

1. Bhagavad Gita also makes it clear that Krishna is not an ordinary living entity but he is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. B.G. 9.10, 10.12,10.13,10.8, 14.4. So, the teachings of Bhagavad Gita is perfect and timeless because it has been spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

2. In Gita it is established that we the living entities are suffering because we have turned away from Krishna. So like Arjuna we should give the reins of our life to Krishna.

 

3. In Gita, Krishna’s love for his devotees is established. Krishna assures that one who takes his shelter is always under his protection, gets delivered from all sins and he never suffers (B.G. 18.66).

 

4. Like a loving father who takes all responsibility of his child, Krishna also takes all responsibility of his devotee and provides him everything which he requires in his life. B.G. 9.22

 

5. In Gita Krishna glorifies bhakti, devotion, (B.G. 6.47) and also explains how practicing it practically is so easy and simple. B.G. 9.26,9.27.

 

6. Those souls who surrender to Krishna finally reaches his eternal and imperishable abode by his grace. (B.G.15.6, 18.56)

 

7. In Bhagavad Gita Krishna continuously establishes through logics and examples that as soon as the living beings who have forgotten his actual identity comes closer to him and start executing his responsibilities as per his guidelines then his life becomes successful. So the concluding verse of Bhagavad says, “Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality.”

 

So, Gita mahatmya 1 says that Bhagavad Gita being a transcendental literature should be read carefully and if one follows its instructions wisely then he can free himself from all fears, miseries and anxieties of this world.

Krishna’s devotees – Too busy To be lazy

Once a person complained to Srila Prabhupada, “Your Krishna consciousness movement makes people dull.” Prabhupada immediately said, “The two most important wars which happened in Indian history was fought by Vaisnavas. One was the war between Lord Rama and Ravana and the other was the battle at Kurushetra.”  Prabhupada further said we want Vaisnavas like Arjuna who have a spirit to fight and not some dull people who are lazy.

Arjuna was the best archer of the world and also a great devotee of Krishna. He is praised as Gudakesa because he conquered sleep.  Once Arjuna was taking food in the night and suddenly the lamp blew off because of wind. Arjuna continued eating. After sometime he thought although it is dark but still my hand easily finds my mouth. It is happening because I have a desire to eat so even the darkness is not able to stop me. So if my hunger to become the best archer of the world is strong then I can even practice archery in the night. And so from that day onwards Arjuna started honing his archery skills in the night also while rest others enjoyed sleep.

But in spite of being the best warrior of the world Arjuna got bewildered when he was about to fight the most important battle of his life at Kurushetra.  He started giving his own reasons to not fight the war, “It’s true that I am a Kshatriya and I should not shy away from fighting but they are not my enemies they are my relatives. If I kill them I will incur sins.”

Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura explains that in response Krishna, in a chastising mood, says to Arjuna, “Now you are not honoring my words, but later, because you are a great hero, your natural eagerness to fight will unavoidably manifest itself. Then, when you set out to kill Bhisma and others on your own accord, I will laugh at you.”

Although Arjuna is giving many reasons not to fight but Krishna knows that since he belongs to a warrior clan so he will ultimately fight.

 

So if Arjuna is anyway going to fight then why does Krishna speak the message of Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna?

It is because Krishna wanted that Arjuna fight in proper consciousness i.e. Krishna Consciousness. If Arjuna fights whimsically and is driven by modes of nature then he may commit sins and suffer. But if he fights as per the instructions of Krishna he will not just emerge victorious but he will not be subjected to any sinful reactions.

As long as we are living in this world we have to act, none of us can remain idle and not do anything. But if we do our duties as per our own accord then we put ourselves under the jurisdiction of material laws. But if we do our duties by keeping Krishna in the centre then we will be acting for Krishna and Krishna will always guide us and protect us.

Through Arjuna Krishna is teaching two important lessons:

• Human life is meant for hard work and so we should put in our best efforts like Arjuna in any activity we are doing.
• In spite of all our material credentials we should always take guidance of Krishna and not act as per our whims.

With tears of sorrow, he said, “I was forced to leave Krishna”

 

India TV has been conducting programs wherein they bring the monks (brahmacharis) who have joined Iskcon temples and the parents who are completely against their sons becoming a monk together.  The parents of the monks are always furious, they display their emotions publicly. They blame the temple authorities for making their sons brahmacharis. In fact the parents curse the devotees saying that they will ultimately be destroyed.

Many times we think that the Vedic literatures are of bygone eras and not relevant today.  But the reaction of the parents is exactly the same as that of Prajapati Daksha whose sons became renunciates after being educated by sage Narada in the science of self-realization.  Prajapati Daksha said the sage Narada, “You have made me lose my sons once, and now you have again done the same inauspicious thing. Therefore you are a rascal who does not know how to behave toward others. You may travel all over the universe, but I curse you to have no residence anywhere.” Srimad Bhagavatam 6.5.43. May be the incidents mentioned in the Vedas happened thousands of years ago but the attitude of the parents and that of Prajapati Daksha is the same.

Although we may be considering the current relationship we are having as permanent. But this is not the case. Whatever relationship we have with our parents, brothers and sisters, with other relatives, with our country is temporary. In our previous lives we had different parents and siblings, we might have been born in a different country.  In our next life who our parents will be we do not know.

Srimad Bhagavatam narrates the story of King Citraketu who had a great desire to have a son. With the blessings of sage Angira he finally got a son from his wife Kṛtadyuti. But the co-wives of Kṛtadyuti out of envy poisoned the kid and killed him. The king was devastated, he was crying like a mad man, he was totally broken hearted. During that time sage Angira came along with sage Narada. Through his mystic power sage Narada brought back the soul in the dead body and told him to enjoy his life again in the company of his father, mother, friends and relatives. The little boy who was dead sometime back spoke,  “According to the results of my fruitive activities, I, the living being, transmigrate from one body to another, sometimes going to the species of the demigods, sometimes to the species of lower animals, sometimes among the vegetables, and sometimes to the human species. Therefore, in which birth were these my mother and father? No one is actually my mother and father. How can I accept these two people as my parents?”

Yes it is true that in this world all the relationships are temporary. The purpose of this life is to endeavour for a destination where every relationship is permanent and this can be possible only in the kingdom of Krishna.

For most of the people it is not easy to come out of the clutches of material energy and surrender to the lotus feet of Krishna. Those bravehearts who try for this faces severe opposition and criticism many times.  Those with strong determination continue with their devotional life amidst all the opposition but sometimes some devotee succumb to parents emotions and give up devotional life.

I remember one person few years back visited the Rath Yatra festival and there after meeting some devotees he started crying. With tears of sorrow, he said, “I was forced to leave Krishna”

He said that several years back he was a brahmachari in the temple but his parents forced him to leave the temple. He was forced to get married, take a job and was even forced to give up his devotional life.  If he would have not yielded to parents emotional pressure he would have not lost a great opportunity to practice devotional life. And on that day instead of having tears of lamentation he would be having tears of joy in his eyes.

 

Challenges will be there in this world for the devotees and it may appear in multiple forms. But we should never leave the lotus feet of Krishna, we are very fortunate that we got to know the purpose of life. And if we pray to Krishna then Krishna will surely protect us from those people who are creating hurdles in our devotional journey.

Should a devotee give up his duty?

When Arjuna wanted to run away from the battlefield of Kurushetra, Krishna told him not to do so.

When Arjuna wanted to leave everything and go and beg, Krishna told him not to give up his prescribed duties.

When Arjuna overwhelmed with emotion was trembling and was not able to lift his Gandiva weapon Krishna wasn’t pleased. Why? Because Krishna wanted Arjuna to do his duty with all seriousness and sincerity.

Like Arjuna many times those of us who are practicing (or at least trying to practice) Krishna Consciousness try to run away from the field of action and justify it by saying that the action will entangle us in this material world. But how can we be sure that our non-action will not entangle us in this material world?

Scriptures never asks us to give up our prescribed duties which is not against the religious principles. If we study the lives of great devotees we would find that they were extremely hardworking and expert in their professional fields. Whether one is a monk or a householder, men or women one has to work. Materialists also work hard and devotees also work hard. The difference is that materialist work to gratify their senses, their aim is name, fame, money, power and positions. But a devotee works hard to satisfy the senses of Krishna, whatever he achieves he offers it to Krishna. A devotee tries to put in his best efforts and does not bother about success or failure. He knows that his sincere efforts will please Krishna and not its outcome. Whereas for materialists if the endeavor does not bring desired result he becomes miserable and he gets more entangled in this world.

Bhaktivinod Thakura was a high court judge and he was so expert in his work that when he wanted to take retirement then the government pleaded him not to do so. In fact when the authorities found that it is becoming difficult for him to go to office because his house was far from the court they constructed a railway line from his home to office because they did not want to lose such an expert professional.  And while doing his duty he practiced and preached the teachings of Lord Chaitanya. He has set a standard which we all should try to follow.

But many times I have observed that in the garb of devotional life we become less enthusiastic in our occupational duties and family responsibility. This creates a negative impression not just about us but about the entire Krishna Conscious movement. And since this is not what Krishna wants us to do so eventually it starts affecting our devotional life too.

So as a devotee it is imperative that while practicing our devotion, while diligently following the principles of devotional life we should also sincerely execute our responsibilities in this world. This will help us to become stable in our devotional life and will also help in building a happy and productive Krishna Conscious society. 

 

Why I Am Not God

Let not tears torment us

Krishna’s invitation needs an immediate attention

Suicide in the spur of the moment