This is known as Damodar Masa/Karthik masa and is equivalent to October-November month in the English calendar.
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.
This month is also known as Damodara masa; Lord Damodara is the presiding Lord or the Masa Niyamaka for Karthik masa. Lord Sri Krishna is most popularly referred to by the name of Damodara. The sloka # 40 of Sri Vishnusahasranama Stothra has reference to the name Damodara.
Viksharo Rohito Maargo Hetur Damodarah Sahah |
Maheedharo Mahaabhaago Vegavaan Amitaashanah ||40||
Damodara can be split into Dama + Udara where the word Dama means a rope and Udara means abdomen. Damodara can be understood as one whose abdomen is the abode for the entire universe or the one in whose abdomen rests the entire universe and it is only He and He alone who can liberate all the souls from the cycle (equivalent to the rope) of birth and death.
The Srimad Bhagvatham mentions the Damodar Leela in the 10th canto. This leela/pastime takes place with Mother Yashoda during the playful childhood of Lord Krishna. The Lord as Damodara liberates Nalakuvera and Manigreeva, the two sons of the Divine Treasurer Demi-god Kubera from a curse given by Narada Muni.
balena niskarsayatanvag ulukhalam tad damodarena tarasotkalitanghri-bandhau
nispetatuh parama-vikramitativepa-skandha-pravala-vitapau krta-canda-sabdau SB 10.10.27
As stated in the Hari-vamsa:
sa ca tenaiva namna tu krsno vai dama-bandhanat
gosthe damodara iti gopibhih parigiyate
This month of Kartik is very special as it represents Srimati Radharani who is most dear to Krishna, and she is our eternal mother. The Lord says in the Bhagavad Gita (10.35), “Of months I am Margasirsa [November-December]”. The Kartik month [October – November] is representative of Srimati Radharani and this month precedes Krishna’s month. Srimati Radharani is also addressed as Kartika Devi. If one is able to please her with sincere devotion during this auspicious month, then Krishna will also be pleased.
The Kartik month is glorified in the Skanda Purana, “ 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”.
Damodar Leela
Mother Yashoda at one time was churning the butter personally as the other members were busy. She was doing this chore by recalling the wonderful childhood pastimes of her little son Krishna. Krishna came there at the same time and He was hungry and wanted mother Yashoda to stop churning the butter and feed Him first.
Mother Yashoda immediately took Him on her lap and started feeding Him. Mother Yashoda enjoyed the beauty of her child Krishna while he was thus sucking milk from her. At the same time, the milk which was boiling on the fireplace started to boil over. To stop the milk from spilling over, mother Yashoda put down Krishna at once and rushed to remove the milk pot from the fire. Little Krishna became angry and His lips and eyes became red in anger. He pressed His lips and teeth and took a piece of stone and broke the butter pot. Next He took the butter and with false tears in His eyes began to eat the butter.da
Mother Yashoda returned to her churning pot after she had attended to the overflowing milk. She saw the broken butter pot and also saw the missing little Krishna. She understood He was responsible for this broken pot. She understood the cleverness of her son, He has left the place after breaking the pot as He feared her punishment. She searched from Him all over. She found Him sitting on a big wooden mortar kept upside down. Krishna was busy stealing butter from a butter pot hanging from the ceiling. He was busy feeding monkeys.
Mother Yashoda could see that her son, little Krishna was looking on either side in fear of being punished for His naughty behavior. Mother Yashoda slowly approached Him from behind. Little Krishna saw mother yashoda coming towards Him with a stick in hand He immediately got down from the mortar and began to flee in fear. Mother Yashoda started chasing Him in all corners trying to capture Him. She was trying to capture the Supreme Personality of Godhead whom the great Yogis found it very difficult to approach. The Lord who can never be caught by the great yogis and speculators was playing hide and seek with His great devotee, mother Yashoda. Mother Yashoda found it so difficult to catch the fast running child all because of her heavy body and thin waist. She tried her best to follow the Lord. Her hair loosened up and the flowers in her hair fell down to the ground. Though she was tired, still somehow she reached the naughty child and captured Him. This was only possible because the Lord out of mercy to His devotee allowed Himself to be captured. As soon as He was caught, Krishna was on the verge of crying. The Lord rubbed His eyes anointed with black Kajal and this smudged all over His eyes and hands too. He saw His mother with fear in His eyes. Mother Yashoda could see and understand that her little son was fearing her and immediately threw the stick in her hand. She then decided to bind Him with some rope. She did not know that it was impossible to bind the Lord and more so with any material thing. Mother Yashoda only saw Him as her little child, she was unaware of the unlimited powers of the child as he was the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So, Mother Yashoda tried binding her son to the wooden mortar and she was falling short of two inches. She brough extra rope and again the same thing happened. All the rope in the house was used and mother yashoda was exhausted but still there was a shortage of two inches!! This clearly showed that no one can bind the all pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead! An exhausted and perspiring mother Yashoda was unable to understand what was happening. The Lord appreciated the hard labour by His mother and out of compassion decided to be bound by her. No one can control the Lord, it is only by His compassion towards His devotees, does the Lord excute such leelas or pastimes. When a pure devotee surrenders to the Lord, the Lord showers His immense love and compassion as can be clearly seen by Krishna’s surrender unto His mother, Yashoda. The Lord bestowed such a benediction on mother Yashoda which was never experienced even by Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva nor the goddess of fortune- Lakshmidevi.
The Lord could thus be bound by Mother Yashoda as He became submissive to her owing to her immense Love. In truth, no rope can ever bind the Lord, nor is there any such rope available. The only rope which can bind the Lord is rope of true love and devotion towards Him. The moment our hearts are filled with Love and devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then He automatically is bound to us.
Mother Yashoda bound her son and got back to her household chores. Little Krishna, bound to the wooden mortar could see twin trees known as Arjuna trees. The Lord decided to continue His mischief though bound to the wooden mortar. So, He started dragging the mortar towards the Arjuna Trees. The two Arjuna trees were in their previous birth were the human sons of the Demi-god Kubera and were known as Nalakuvera and Manigreeva. They were cursed by Narada Muni in the previous birth, which Sage Narada did so to ensure they both received the highest benediction of seeing the Lord. They received this curse which was also a benediction owing to forgetfulness due to intoxication. The Lord pulled the mortar inbetween the trees, which caused the, to be uprooted and thus the Divine souls were liberated immediately. One cannot imagine a small boy to draw the big mortar and uproot two trees in this way, it is all possible only by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
tasmad vrata tra yam hy etan mama tiva priyankaram
magha kartikayos tad vat tat hai vaikadasi vratam
van aspatinam tulasi masanam kartikah priyah
ekadasi tithi nam ca ksetranam dvaraka mama
ete sam sevanam yastu karoti ca jitendriyah
same vallabhatam yati na tat ha yajanadi bhih
Of all plants, the sacred Tulasi is most dear to Me, of all months, Kartika is most dear, of all places of pilgrimage, My beloved Dvaraka is most dear, and of all days, Ekadasi is most dear.One who offers a steady ghee lamp to Lord Hari during the month of Kartika enjoys pastimes in Lord Hari’s splendid spiritual world.
A ghee lamp offered during the month of Karthik washes away all sins of many thousands and millions of births. There are certain vows and austerities prescribed in the scriptures and if these are observed, then one can attain great success in the spiritual life and thus receive immense mercy from Krishna and Srimati Radharani.
It is stated in Sri Hari Bhakti Vilasa 2.16.198, “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.”
Pure devotees as well as the vedic scriptures mention that Karthik month is the holiest month and it is the month one has to medidate on the beautiful form of Damodara as the Damodra pastime took place in this month. One should try to bind Lord Krishna to one’s heart with Love and devotion.
The offering of ghee lamp is the simplest and most easiest of the austerities prescribed for this month which anyone can perform and follow. All that one reques is a lamp with wick dipped in ghee. The ghee lamp arati is offered to the picture of Damodara while reciting the Damodarashtakam.
The Sun god, traverses this Eigth month with his associates by entering the Eigth zodiac sign – Vrischika or Scorpio and is known as;
Ritu as the Yaksa, Varca as the Raksasa, Bharadvaja as the sage, Parjanya as the sun-god, Senajit as the Apsara, Visva as the Gandharva and Airavata as the Naga rule the month known as Tapasya.
Festivals in this month
Rama Ekadashi – Rama Ekadashi is one of the twenty four Ekadashi vrats which are observed to seek blessing of Lord Vishnu.
Dhanteras – Dhanteras, which is also known as Dhantrayodashi, is the first day of five days Diwali festivity. On this day Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped with God Kuber.Narak Chaturdashi – Narak Chaturdashi is celebrated as victory of Lord Krishna over Demon Narakasura. This day is also known as Kali Chaudas and Roop Chaudas.Lakshmi Puja – Lakshmi puja is performed during five days Diwali festivity. Lakshmi puja is the most important day of five days festivity.
Govardhan Puja – The day, when Lord Krishna defeated Indra, is celebrated as Govardhan Puja or Annakut Puja. This day is also celebrated as Bali Pratipada and New Year day.
Chhath Puja – The Sun God, Surya, the god of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath Puja to promote well-being, prosperity and progress.
Gopashtami – Gopashtami day falls on Ashtami Tithi during Kartik Shukla Paksha. It is famous festival in Mathura, Vrindavan and other Braj areas.
Kansa Vadh – On Kansa Vadha day Kansa was killed by Lord Krishna and Ugrasena reinstated as King of Mathura.
Devutthana Ekadashi – Devutthana Ekadashi is one of the twenty four Ekadashi vrats which are observed to seek blessing of Lord Vishnu.
Tulasi Vivah – Tulsi Vivah is the ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant (holy basil) to the Hindu god Vishnu or his Avatar Krishna.
Festivals in Holy Dhams
At Puri Jagannath
Kartika Brata: It is observed in the Temple of Jagannath Mahaprabhu from Aswina Sukla Ekadasi Tithi i.e. the 11th day of bright Aswina (September-October) till Kartika Purnami i.e. the full moon day of Kartika (October-November), extending over the whole month
Deba / Hari Utthapana Ekadasi: This festival takes place on Kartika Sukla Ekadasi Tithi i.e. the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika (October-November).
At Dwarka
Kartik: The first day of the month is a New Year day according to Hindu calendar. The deity is decorated excellently.
Annakut utsav is performed today. In this festival hundreds of verities of sweet as well as other food items are put before the Lord with a sense of dedication. It is rare DARSHAN for anybody in his life.
The Second day of the month is BHAI-BIJ Darshan.
The fifth day of the month is LABH PANCHAMI.
TULSI VIVAH is celebrated as a Marriage festival of Lord VISHNU with TULSI. It starts from 11th day of this month and last for – 4 – days. On 15th day of the month it is a day of and on that day the ceremony of Tulsi-Vivah ends.
Dhan Teras, Roop Choudas [Kali Chaudas] and Deepotsavi:
These festivals have tremendous importance in Dwarkadhish Temple Dwarka. Deepotsavi is celebrated as festival of lights and is also considered as the last day of the Hindu calendar year.
