The duties of the month of Kärttika are clearly described in the Skanda Puräëa, Padma Puräëa, and other scriptures. The essence of what they say is collected here in one place.

Especially in the month of Kärttika a Vaiñëava should regularly bathe in the morning, worship Lord Dämodara, give charity, follow vows, and perform other spiritual activities.

Here I will write when the month of Kåñëa begins and how one should worship the Lord during this month.

One Should Always Follow the Vow of Kärttika-vrata
In the Skanda Puräëa, in a conversation of Brahma' and Närada, it is said:
"O best of the followers of religion, a person who does not follow the vow of Kärttika-vrata is a sinner. He is like a person who murders his father and mother.

"A person who does not follow the vow in this month that is dear to Lord Dämodara finds himself outside all religious principles. He takes birth in an animal's womb.

"O best of sages, a person who does not follow this vow in the month of Kärttika is a brähmaëa-killer, a cow-killer, a thief of gold, and a perpetual liar.

"O tiger of sages, a widow especially who does not follow the vow of Kärttika certainly goes to hell.

"If a householder does not follow the vow of Kärttika, his pious and charitable deeds do him no good. They become like the screams of a person in hell.

"if a brähmaëa spurns the Kärttika vow, then Indra and all the demigods spurn him.

"O king of brähmaëas, a person who performs a hundred çräddhas and a host of yajïas, but does not follow the Kärttika vow, cannot enter Svargaloka.

"Especially a sannyäsé, vänaprastha, or widow who do not follow the Vaiñëava Kärttika-vow go to hell.

"O king of brähmaëas, what good will study of the Vedas and Puräëas do for a person who does not follow the Vaiñëava Kärttika-vow?

"A person who does not follow the Kärttika vow finds his life's pious deeds burned to ashes.

"A person who does not follow the Kärttika vow finds that all his charity, great austerities, and mantra-chanting is useless.

"O Näarada, if one does not follow the Vaiñëava Kärttika-vow, seven births of his pious deeds become useless.

"O great sage, they who do not follow the auspicious Vaiñëava Kärttika-vow are known as sinners in this world."

It is further said:
"O Närada, a person who does not follow the Vaiñëava Kärttika-vow loses the pious deeds of an entire life."

It is also said:
"O sage, a person who does not follow the Kärttika and Cäturmäsya vows is sinful like a brähmaëa-killer. He is the most degraded person in his family.

What is the fate of the fools who do not offer piëòa' to the ancestors on pitr„-pakña, who do not observe the vow of Kärttika, who do not offer tarpaëa to the sages in the month of Çrävaëa (July-August), who do not observe Lord Viñëu's swing-festival in the month of Caitra (March-April), who do not bathe in clear water in the month of Mägha (January-February), who do not follow the ämardaké vow during the time of the star Puñya, and who do not observe the Rohiëäñöämé day when in the month of Çrävaëa the star çravaëa is present on the dvädaçé day? O Närada, I do not know.

In the Padma Puräëa, in a conversation of Çré Närada and the sages headed by Çré Çaunaka it is said:
"A human being in this world of karma who does not follow the vow of Kärttika takes the cintämaëi jewel placed in his hand and throws it into muddy water.

"O brähmaëas, the month of Kärttika is very dear to Lord Kåñëa. That is why Lord Kåñëa turns His face from anyone who does not follow the Kärttika vow.

One Should Always Follow the Kärttika Bow by Bathing, Giving Charity, and Performing Other Pious Deeds
In the Skanda Puräëa it is said:
"O son, brähmaëas who in the month of Kärttika do not give charity, perform yajïas, chant japa, bathe, or follow the vow to please Lord Kåñëa are the lowest of men."

It is further said:
"They who in the month of Kärttika do not give charity, perform yajïas, chant japa, or follow vows are thieves who roâ themselves of their own valuables. They do not attain what they wish."

It is further said:
"O Närada, they who do not worship Lord Kåñëa during the month of Kärttika reside, along with their ancestors, in hell."

It is further said:
"They who in the month of Kärttika do not worship Lord Kåñëa with love and devotion are chained and dragged to hell by the messengers of Yamaräja.

"He loses the rare human life he attained after many thousands and millions of births who does not worship Lord Viñëu in the month of Kärttika.

"A person who in the month of Kärttika does not worship Lord Viñëu, chant Lord Viñëu's glories, or associate with the Vaiñëavas, kills ten years of pious deeds."

The Glories of Kärttika
First I will write of the glories of Kärttika in a general way and then I will write of the different situations beginning with the differences of work and place.

A General Description of Kärttika's Glories
In the Skanda Puräëa it is said:
"The pious result obtained by bathing in all holy places and giving all charities is not equal to one ten-millionth part of the result obtained by following the vow of Kärttika.

"All holy places, yajïas, dakñiëäs, residence in Puñkara, Kurukñetra, and the Himalayas, and all giving in charity a pile of gold like Mount Meru, reside in Kärttika, Lord Kåñëa's favorite month.

"The service one does to Lord Viñëu in the month of Kåñëa is all eternal. O Närada, I tell you the truth.

"Kärttika is the best of months, the most pious of pious deeds, the most purifying of all that purify."

It is further said:
"O Närada, O king of brähmaëas, O great sage, rivers, mountains, and oceans will all be destroyed, but the month of Kärttika will never be destroyed.

"O sage, in the month of Kärttika neither pious deeds nor sins are ever destroyed."

"No month is like Kärttika. No yuga is like Satya-yuga. No scripture is like the Vedas. No holy place is like the Gaìgä.

"Kärttika is the best of months. Kärttika is always dear to the Vaiñëavas. O great sage, a Vaiñëava who with devotion serves Kärttika delivers his ancestors from hell.

In the Padma Puräëa it is said:
"Of the twelve months, Kärttika is the most dear to Lord Kåñëa. To anyone who even slightly worships Lord Viñëu during its time, the month of Kärttika gives residence in Lord Viñëu's transcendental abode.

"As everyone knows, Lord Dämodara loves His devotees. Lord Dämodara's month, the month of Kärttika, also loves the devotees. The month of Kärttika thinks even the slightest devotional service is very big and important.

"Even though its lasts for only a brief moment, the human form of life is very rare and valuable. In the same way the brief month of Kärttika is also very rare and valuable.

"Lord Kåñëa is pleased by the offering of a single lamp during the month of Kärttika. Lord Kåñëa glorifies anyone who lights a lamp for someone else to offer."

In the Skanda Puräëa it is said:
"Other vows bring the results of a lifetime of pious deeds. The vow of Kärttika brings the result of a hundred lifetimes of pious deeds.

"O king of brähmaëas, a person who simply hears the glories of the Kärttika vow attains the result of fasting and bathing at sacred Akrüra-tértha.

"By following the Kärttika vow one attains the result of going on pilgrimage to Väräëasé, Kurukñetra, Naimiñäraëya, Puñkara, and Arbuda-tértha.

"A person who never performs yajïas or offers çräddha to the ancestors, but who does follow the vow of Kärttika, will go to the abode of Lord Viñëu.

"One who sometimes fasts during Kärttika attains liberation. He attains a glorious spiritual form like Lord Kåñëa's.

It is further said:
"O best of sages, a brähmaëa, kñatriya, vaiçya, or çüdra who follows the Kärttika vow will not take birth in a sinful family.

It is further said:
"O tiger of sages, liberation stands in the hand of anyone who follows the Kärttika vow as I have described it to you.

"He attains a great result who even very slightly follows the very sacred Kärttika vow, which is served by the demigods, sages, and pitäs.

The Glories of Specifé Pious Activities Performed During Kärttika
In the Skanda Puräëa it is said:
"Charity, yajïa, japa, and austerity performed in the month of Kärttika bring a result, O best of brähmaëas, that will never be destroyed."

It is further said:
"One who during the month of Kärttika gives a small gift to Lord Viñëu attains a result that will never be destroyed. This is especially true when the gift is food.

"One who follows the auspicious Kärttika vow attains the result of an entire year of performing agnihotra-yajïas. Of this there is no doubt.

"A woman who spends the month of Kärttika in the circle where Lord Keçava stays becomes splendid like a dove in Svargaloka.

"One who regularly offers food to Lord Kåñëa during the month of Kärttika does not suffer troubles. For as long as the fourteen Indras rule, he is free of troubles.

"One who during the month of Kärttika eats prasädam from a paläça-leaf plate destroys all sins committed since the time of his birth.

"One who during the month of Kärttika eats prasädam from a paläça-leaf plate attains all his desires. He attains the result of all pilgrimages. He never sees hell.

"The paläça tree, which is called by the name Brahma, fulfills all desires. O best of sages, a çüdra should avoid the middle leaf of the paläça tree. A çüdra who eats from such a middle-leaf plate goes to hell for as long as the fourteen Indras live.

"During the month of Kärttika giving sesame seeds in charity, bathing in a sacred river, talking about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, serving the devotees, and eating prasädam from a paläça-leaf plate, all grant liberation.

"O king of brähmaëas, a person who during the month of Kärttika keeps an all-night vigil, in the presence of Lord Dämodara staying awake until sunrise, attains the pious result of giving a thousand cows in charity.

"O king of brähmaëas, a person who during the month of Kärttika keeps an all-night vigil, in the presence of Lord Viñëu staying awake until the last portion of the night, finds Lord Viñëu's spiritual abode in the palm of his hand.

"During the month of Kärttika serving the devotees, feeding the cows, talking about and worshiping Lord Viñëu, and keeping a vigil until the last part of the night bring, in the Kali-yuga, a very rare result."

It is further said:
"One who bathes during the month of Kärttika attains the pious result of giving water and a thousand jaladhenus in charity when the sun is in Taurus.

"By once bathing during the month of Kärttika one attains the pious result of bathing in Lake Sannihatya' at Kurukñetra during a solar eclipse on a Sunday.

"O best of sages, they become free from death who offer food and water to the pitäs during the month of Kärttika, which is dear to Lord Kåñëa."

It is further said:
"O Närada, I have personally seen that a person who happily reads Bhagavad-géta' during the month of Kärttika does not return to the world of birth and death."

It is further said:
"By circumambulating a temple of Lord Viñëu during the month of Kärttika one attains at every step the pious result of performing an açvamedha-yajïa.

"During the month of Kärttika a person who with devotion sings, plays a musical instrument, and dances before the Deity of Lord Hari attains a pious result that will never be lost.

"A person who during the month of Kärttika reads the thousand holy names of Lord Hari and the story of Gajendra's liberation does not take birth again.

"O Närada, a person who during the month of Kärttika at the end of the night recites prayers and sings songs glorifying Lord Hari lives in Çvetadvépa with all his ancestors.

"O best of sages, one who offers food to Lord Hari during the month of Kärttika lives in Svargaloka for as many yugas as their were grains or crumbs in his offering.

"O best of sages, a person who burns incense of aguru and camphor before the Deity of Lord Keçava does not take birth again at the yuga's end.

"During the month of Kåñëa, they who with love hear the topics of Lord Viñëu, even if they hear only half a verse or a fourth of a verse, attain the pious result of giving a hundred cows in charity.

"O great sage, please give up all other religious practice and simply hear the sacred scriptures in the presence of the Deity of Lord Keçava during the month of Kärttika.

"O tiger of sages, a person who during the month of Kärttika eagerly hears the topics of Lord Kåñëa delivers a hundred generations of his family.

"A person who in the month of Kärttika passes the time in pastimes of studying the holy scriptures burns away all his sins and attains the pious result of performing ten thousand yajïas.

"Lord Kåñëa is not as pleased with many yajïas and with charities of many cows, elephants, or other expensive gifts, as He is with discussion of scripture during the month of Kärttika.

"O tiger of sages, a person who during the month of Kärttika hears the topics of Lord Hari becomes free from the sufferings of hundreds and millions of births.

"O sage, a person who in the month of Kärttika regularly recites the verses of Çrémad-Bhägavatam attains the pious result of reciting all eighteen Puräëas.

"O great sage, please give up charities and all other pious deeds. Instead engage in devotional service during the month of Kärttika and stay in the company of the Vaiñëavas.

In the Padma Puräëa it is said:
"During the month of Kärttika one should sleep on the floor, remain celibate, eat haviñya from a paläça-leaf plate, and worship Lord Dämodara. In this way one becomes free of all sins, goes to the spiritual world, attains a spiritual body like the Lord's, and enjoys the bliss of directly serving Lord Hari."

It is further said:
"A person who, for the entire month of Kärttika rises early, bathes, controls his senses, remains peaceful, chants japa, and eats only haviñya, becomes free from all sins.

"A person who, for the entire month of Kärttika, eats only once a day becomes very famous, powerful, and heroic."

It is further said:
"A person who during the month of Kärttika eats from a paläça-leaf plate becomes free from all sins. A person who eats the remnants of food offered to Lord Hari attains liberation. A person who is not a qualified brähmaëa should not eat from the middle leaf of the paläça tree."

It is further said:
"Lord Hari, the all-powerful Supreme Personality of Godhead forgives thousands of offenses and a host of terrible sins committed by one who worships Him during the month of Kärttika.

"A person who to Lord Viñëu offers delicious päyasa made with sugar and ghee, and then eats the remnants left by the Lord, attains the result of performing every day a great yajïa.

Lord Kåñëa explains to Satyabhämä:
"They who during the month of Kärttika bathe, keep an all-night vigil, offer lamps, and protect a tulasé forest, attain spiritual forms like Lord Viñëu's.

"They who for three days do these pious deeds are offered all respects by the demigods. What, then, can be said of they who have performed these pious deeds for their entire lives?

The Various Parts of the Kärttika Vow
The parts of the Kärttika vow are: 1. Keeping an all-night vigil for the sake of Lord Hari, 2. bathing early in the morning, 3. serving Tulasé, 4. properly concluding the vow, and 5. offering a lamp.

A person who follows these five vows during the month of Kärttika attains the full result of happiness and liberation, which has already been described in this book.

"In a Viñëu temple, a Çiva temple, at the root of a banyan tree, or in a Tulasé forest, one should keep an all-night vigil for Lord Hari's sake.

"If, because of disease or misfortune, one is not able to bathe with water, he should bathe by chanting the holy names of Lord Viñëu.

"If one is not able to bring the vow to its conclusion with an elaborate ritual, he should conclude the vow by feeding the brähmaëas.

"If one is unable to offer a lamp, he should light the lamps that others offer, he should carefully protect others' lamps from winds or other disturbances.

"If there is no Tulasé plant, one should worship a brähmaëa-Vaiñëava. If no brähmaëa-Vaiñëava is present, one should serve the brähmaëas, cows, bodhi tree, and vaöa tree to conclude the vow.

The Glories of Offering a Lamp During Kärttika
In the Skanda Puräëa it is said:
"When one offers a lamp during the month of Kärttika, his sins in many thousands and millions of births perish in half an eyeblink."

It is further said:
"Please hear the glories of offering a lamp during the month of Kärttika, an offering that is very pleasing to Lord Keçava. O king of brähmaëas, a person who offers a lamp in this way will not take birth again in this world.

"By offering a lamp during the month of Kärttika one attains a pious result ten million times greater than the result obtained by bathing at Kurukñetra during a solar a eclipse or by bathing in the river Narmada' during a lunar eclipse.

"O tiger of sages, for a person who thus offers a lamp burning with ghee or sesame oil, what is the use of performing an açvasmedha-yajïa?

"Even if there are no mantras, no pious deeds, and no purity, everything becomes perfect when a person offers a lamp during the month of Kärttika.

"A person who during the month of Kärttika offers a lamp to Lord Keçava has already performed all yajïas and bathing in all holy rivers.

"When in the month of Kärttika there is no lamp burning before Lord Keçava, then the pious deeds in Svargaloka, Martyaloka, and Rasätalaloka scream with dissatisfaction.

"O brähmaëa, when the pitäs hear devotional verses and songs in the month of Kärttika, in that family will be born a son devoted to his father.

"The ancestors say: When someone in our family pleases Lord Keçava by offering to Him a lamp during the month of Kärttika, then, by the mercy of the Lord who holds the Sudarçana-cakra in His hand, we will all attain liberation."

It is further said:
"By offering a lamp during the month of Kärttika one burns away a collection of sins as big as Mount Meru or Mount Mandara. Of this there is no doubt.

"To one who either at home it in a temple offers Him a lamp during the month of Kärttika, Lord Väsudeva gives a great result.

"A person who, after taking birth in the world of human beings, offers a lamp to Lord Kåñëa during the month of Kärttika becomes very glorious and fortunate.

"A person who offers a lamp during the month of Kärttika attains a result that cannot be obtained with even a hundred yajïas or a hundred pilgrimages.

"Even a person addicted to all sins and averse to all pious deeds who somehow offers a lamp during Kärttika becomes purified. Of this there is no doubt.

"O Närada, no sin exists anywhere in the three worlds that will not be purified by offering a lamp to Lord Keçava during Kärttika.

"A person who offers a lamp to Lord Kåñëa during Kärttika attains the eternal spiritual world where there is no suffering.

"Now I will describe to you the pious result attained by a person who offers a lamp during the dvädaçé day of Kärttika month.

"His ancestors and descendants, so many they cannot be counted, will enjoy for a long time in the worlds of the demigods, and then they will all easily attain liberation by the mercy of Lord Kåñëa, who holds the Sudarçana-cakra in His hand."

It is further said:
"O very fortunate one, a person who in order to play dice lights a lamp in Lord Keçava's temple purifies seven generations of his family.

"A person who offers a lamp in a temple of Lord Viñëu during the month of Kärttika attains eternal wealth, good children, fame, and glory.

"As fire is present in all wood and may be extracted by friction, so piety is always present in the offering of a lamp during the month of Kärttika. Of this there is no doubt.

It is further said:
"O king of brähmaëas, when someone offers Him a lamp on the full-moon day of the month of Kärttika, Lord Kåñëa, finding that He does not have sufficient money to repay that gift, gives Himself in exchange for that lamp.

"O sage, a fool who does not offer a lamp in Lord Keçava's temple during Kärttika is not considered a Vaiñëava."

In the Närada Puräëa, in a conversation of Çré Mohiné-devé and Çré Rukmäìgada, it is said:
"Of all gifts the gift of a lamp during the month of Kärttika is the best. No gift is its equal."

In the Padma Puräëa it is said:
"One who offers a steady lamp to Lord Hari during the month of Kärttika enjoys pastimes in Lord Hari's splendid spiritual world.

The Glories of Lighting Another's Lamp During the Month of Kärttika
In the Skanda Puräëa it is said:
"By lighting another's lamp during the month of Kärttika one attains the same result as if he had offered food on pitr„-pakña or water on Jyaiñöha añädha.

"By serving the Vaiñëavas and lighting the lamps they offer during the month of Kärttika one attains the result of performing many räjasüya and açvamedha yajïas.

"O tiger of kings, a person who in Lord Kåñëa's temple lights the lamps that others will offer during the month of Kärttika becomes free from the tortures of Yamaräja.

"O king of brähmaëas, by lighting the lamps that others will offer during the month of Kärttika one attains the result of having performed many great yajïas.

"Somehow or other a mouse once lit a lamp that someone offered on ekädaçé during the month of Kärttika. That mouse attained a rare human birth and then went to the supreme spiritual world.

The Glories of Lighting a Lamp on a Temple' Roof
In the Skanda Puräëa it is said:
"O best of sages, when a lamp placed atop a temple's dome shines in all directions, then a great host of sins quickly flees to escape its light.

"A person who gives the entire earth, which wears the oceans like a belt, in charity to the brähmaëas does not earn even one sixteenth of the pious merit earned by one who places a lamp on the roof of Lord Kåñëa's temple.

"A person who gives ten million cows, all filled with milk and all the mothers of young calves, in charity to the brähmaëas does not earn even one sixteenth of the pious merit earned by one who places a lamp on the roof of Lord Kåñëa's temple.

"O great sage, a person who gives great wealth in charity to the Vaiñëavas does not earn even one sixteenth of the pious merit earned by one who places a lamp on the roof of Lord Kåñëa's temple.

"O great sage, a person who places a great and costly lamp on a temple roof delivers a hundred generations of his family.

"They who with great devotion gaze at a palatial temple lit with a splendid lamp have not a single relative that lives in hell.

"When they see a human being offering a lamp to Lord Viñëu, the demigods in Devaloka think: When, by performing that single pious deed, will this person join us here?

"O best of sages, a person who places a lamp on a temple roof during the month of Kärttika does not find it difficult to attain the post of Indra.

The Glories of Offering Many Lamps During the Month of Kärttika
In the Skanda Puräëa it is said:
"A person who lights many lamps inside and outside Lord Viñëu's temple becomes a liberated soul. Holding a diñk and conch, he attains a spiritual form like Lord Viñëu's.

"When a person lights many lamps in Lord Keçava's temple, not a single of his hundred thousand closest relatives lives in hell.

"O sage, a person who makes Lord Viñëu's temple splendid with many lights inside and outside, travels to the supreme abode on the path shining with light."

In the Bhaviñya Puräëa it is said:
"A person who makes the Lord's temple splendid with many lamps during the month of Kärttika, and especially during the ekädaçé or the dvädaçé of that month, becomes glorious like ten thousand suns. Traveling in a splendid airplane that fills the universe with light, he leaves this world of birth and death.

"For each lamp that he lit on the earth he is glorified on Viñëuloka for a thousand years.

In the Padma Puräëa it is said:
"A person who places a great lamp high in the sky during the month of Kärttika takes all his relatives with him to Viñëuloka.

"Please hear the result obtained by a person who offers a lamp to Lord Kåñëa in the sky or over the water during the month of Kärttika.

"He becomes wealthy, fortunate, and prosperous. He becomes a controller of others. He has good children. Everything before his eyes and in his home is beautiful. He becomes wise and learned."

It is further said:
"The wise say that a person who offers a lamp in a brähmaëa's home during the month of Kärttika attains the result of offering an agniñöoma-yajïa.

"A person who places lamps on the royal roads, on crossroads, in brähmaëas' homes, at tree roots, in cow barns, in forests, in hidden places, and everywhere, attains a great result.

A Mantra For Offering a Lamp in the Sky
In the scriptures it is said:
"Reciting the mantra 'namo 'nantäya vedhase' (Obeisances to the unlimited, to the Supreme Creator), the devotees offer a lamp to Lord Dämodara and the goddess of fortune in the sky.

The Glories of Observing the Kärttika Vow in Certain Speciféc Places
In the Padma Puräëa it is said:
"Wherever one may be, by bathing, giving charity, or especially by worshiping the Lord during the month of Kärttika one attains the result of performing an agnihotra-yajïa.

"Observing the vow of Kärttika brings a result ten million times greater when performed at Kurukñetra or by the Gaìgä's shore. The result is even greater at Puñkara-tértha. Bathing and worship at Dväraka' during the month of Kärttika carries one to the abode of Lord Kåñëa.

"O sages, other holy cities bring similar results. The district of Mathurä, however, is different, because Lord Kåñëa revealed His Dämodara pastimes in the district of Mathurä.

"Observing the vow of Kärttika in Mathura' brings love for Lord Kåñëa. In this way the best result is obtained in Mathurä.

"As Prayäga should be served in the month of Mägha (January-February), and as the Gaìga' should be served in the month of Vaiçäkha (April-May), so Mathura' should be served in the month of Kärttika. Nothing is better than service to Mathura' in Kärttika.

"They who bathe and then worship Lord Dämodara in Mathura' during the month of Kärttika attain spiritual forms like Lord Kåñëa's. Of this there is no doubt.

"O brähmaëa, it is rare that one is allowed to spend the month of Kärttika in Mathurä. To they who worship Him in Mathura' during Kärttika, Lord Kåñëa reveals His own transcendental form.

"To the devotees who worship Him in other places, Lord Kåñëa gives happiness and liberation, but He does not give devotional service, for devotional service turns Him into His devotee's servant.

"Still, one can very easily attain devotional service by once worshiping Lord Dämodara in Mathura' during Kärttika.

"Even if it is performed without the proper mantras and offerings and without following the rules and regulations, Lord Kåñëa considers worship of Him in Mathura' during Kärttika to be the most perfect kind of worship.

"Worship of Lord Dämodara in Mathura' during the month of Kärttika is the proper atonement for a lifetime of sins.

"By worshiping the Lord in Mathura' during the month of Kärttika, the child Dhruva was quickly able to see Lord Kåñëa directly, an attainment rare even for the great yogés.

"Even though every year there is a Kärttika, and even though it is easy to go to Mathurä, still the bewildered people, miss the opportunity placed before them. That is why they take birth again and again in the ocean of material life.

"What is the use of yajïas, austerities, and pilgrimages to a person who has the opportunity to worship Lord Kåñëa, the beloved of Rädhä, in Mathura' during the month of Kärttika?

"During the month of Kärttika all holy streams, rivers, and lakes reside in the circle of Mathurä.

"They who once enter Lord Kåñëa's birthplace in Mathura' will enter the spiritual world and meet Lord Kåñëa, the eternal Supreme Personality of Godhead.

"A person who as a joke worships Lord Kåñëa in Mathura' during Kärttika attains the Lord's supreme abode. What, then, can be said of they who worship the Lord with faith and devotion?"

Thus, in a general way I have written about the duties of Kärttika. Now I will write specifically how these duties should be performed.

How the Duties of Kärttika Should Be Performed
When Kärttika Begins
In the Kärttika-mähätmya, Lord Kåñëa tells Satyabhämä:
"One should diligently follow the vow of Kärttika, which begins on the çukla-ekädaçé of the month of Açvina.

"In this vow one should rise at the end of night, waken the Deity with prayers, and then offer ärati.

"In the company of the Vaiñëavas in the morning one should happily hear about the religion of devotional service to Lord Viñëu, sing songs glorifying Lord Viñëu, and offer ärati to Lord Viñëu.

"Then one should go to a river or other source of water, perform äcamana, recite the saìkalpa mantra, recite the prärthana' mantra, and then properly offer arghya to the Lord.

The Saìkalpa mantra
"O Lord Dämodara, O Lord who rescues the devotees from sufferings, O master of the demigods, to please You and Goddess Rädhä, I shall bathe every morning during the month of Kärttika."

The Prärthanä mantra
"O master of the demigods, rapt in meditation on You, I am about to take my bath. O Lord Dämodara, by Your grace may all my sins be destroyed."

The Arghya mantra
"O Lord Dämodara, O killer of the kings of the demons, please accept this arghya that I, who have bathed and who follow this vow, properly offer to You.

"O Lord Kåñëa accompanied by Goddess Rädhä, please accept this arghya I offer to You. May the regular and occasional duties I perform during this month of Kärttika dry up all my sins."

Then one should anoint his body with oil, chant the Lord's holy names, bathe, properly chant the gäyatré mantra, and then return home.

Then, after anointing and making a svastika, one should worship the Deity with Tulasé and with mälaté, lotus, agastya, and other flowers.

In the company of the Vaiñëavas one should regularly serve the words glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Day and night a lamp of ghee or sesame oil should be used to worship the Lord.

One should place offerings of food before the Lord, worship the Lord, and bow down before Him. In this way as far as one is able one should follow this vow of being devoted to the Lord alone.

In the Padma Puräëa it is said:
"Early in the morning one should rise, go to a body of water, properly bathe, and then worship Lord Dämodara.

It is further said:
"One who follows the Kärttika vow should take his meals in silence. He should offer a lamp of ghee or sesame oil.

"To keep the vow he made with the saìkalpa mantra he should pass his days talking of Lord Kåñëa in the company of the devotees.

"Beginning in the month of Açvina, either on the çukla-ekädaçé, or on the full moon day, or on the tula-saìkranti day, he should offer a lamp to Lord Viñëu in the temple, or he should offer the lamp to Tulasé-devé, or to the sky."

It is further said:
"During the month of Kärttika a person should offer silver, gold, lamps, jewels, pearls, and other valuables to please Lord Dämodara."

In the Skanda Puräëa, Çré Rukmäìgada tells Çré Mohiné:
"O goddess, one should not follow the Kärttika vow at home. One should go to a holy place and follow it there very carefully."

What Should Be Avoided During the Month of Kärttika
In the Skanda Puräëa, in a conversation of Brahma' and Närada, it is said:
"O tiger of sages, a person who during the month of Kärttika eats räjamäña beans or kidney beans becomes a resident of hell.

"A person who during the month of Kärttika does not avoid eating kaliìga, paöola, eggplant, and pickles becomes a resident of hell.

"During the month of Kärttika a religious person will carefully avoid eating fish, rabbit, pork, or any kind of flesh."

It is further said:
"During the month of Kärttika an intelligent person should stay away from sumptuous food, comfortable bed, prostitutes, and other's wives.

"A person who properly follows the Kärttika vow should avoid being anointed with oil, eating sumptuous food, sleeping in a comfortable bed, and eating from a bell-metal plate.

"A person who avoids sumptuous food during the month of Kärttika attains every day the benefit of having performed severe austerities."

Çré Rukmäìgada tells Çré Mohiné:
"During Kärttika one should avoid oil. During Kärttika one should avoid wine. During Kärttika one should avoid bell-metal. During Kärttika one should avoid food that is not fresh.

"O girl with the beautiful eyebrows, one should not eat fish, turtle, or any other kind of flesh. By eating meat during the month of Kärttika one becomes an outcaste.

The Way to Worship Çré Çré Rädhä-Dämodara
In the Padma Puräëa it is said:
"Because She is the gopé most dear to Lord Viñëu, Çré Rädha' should be worshiped along with Lord Dämodara during the month of Kärttika.

"Dressing Lord Dämodara as a brähmaëa and Çré Rädha' as His wife, one should worship them with nice garments, ornaments, and foods during the month of Kärttika.

"O brähmaëas, during the month of Kärttika one should worship the Deity of Çré Rädhä. To please Çré Rädhä, Lord Dämodara, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will be pleased with that worshiper."

One should regularly recite the prayer called Dämodaräñöaka, which was spoken by Satyavrata, which attracts Lord Dämodara, and which describes the worship of Lord Dämodara.

Çré Dämodaräñöaka
"I offer my humble obeisances to the Supreme Controller, who possesses an eternal form of blissful knowledge, whose earrings glisten, who manifested Himself in Gokula, who ran from the wooden mortar in fear of Mother Yaçoda' but was ultimately caught, . . .
Commentary by Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé

Offering my respectful obeisances to Çré Çré Rädha'-Dämodara, I will now comment on the Dämodaräñöaka. In the beginning of this prayer the author offers his respectful obeisances as with devotion he describes the great treasure that is the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which was manifested in Gokula, and which is glorious with the most excellent handsomeness, pastimes, virtues, and other qualities.
What is the Supreme Personality of Godhead like? He is "éçvara", which means "all-powerful", "the master of the universes", or "my master". His form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss. He is handsome and attractive.
The gopés describe His handsomeness in these words (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 10.29.40,:

"O Kåñëa, even the cows, birds, trees, and deer become stunned in ecstasy when they gaze at Your form, the most handsome in all the three worlds."
Çrémad-Bhägavatam (3.2.12, again explains:

"The Lord appeared in this mortal world by His internal potency, yogamäyä. He came in His eternal form, which is just suitable for His pastimes. These pastimes were wonderful for everyone, even for those proud of their own opulence, including the Lord Hismelf as the Lord of Vaikuëöha. Thus His (Çré Kåñëa's, transcendental body is the ornament of all ornaments."ª
Lord Kåñëa's alkl-attractuve form was splendidly manifest in Gokyla, where many cows, gopas, and gopés lived. Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.32.14, explains:

"Worshiped by the gopés, Lord Kåñëa's transcendental form, the only home of all glory and handsomeness in the three worlds, was splendidly manifest."
The specifé pastime described in this verse of Dämodaräñöaka, where Lord Kåñëa broke the yogurt pot and fled in fear of Mother Yaçodä, is described these words of Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.9.8-9):

"Kåñëa, at that time, was sitting on an upside-down wooden mortar for grinding spices and was distributing milk preparations, such as yogurt and butter, to the monkeys as he liked. Because of having stolen He was looking all around with great anxiety, suspecting that He might be chastised by His mother. Mother Yaçodä, upon seeing HIm, very cautiously approached Him from behind.*

"When Lord Kåñëa saw His mother, stick in hand, He very quickly got down from the top of the mortar and began to flee as if very much afraid. Although yogés try to capture Him as Paramätma' by meditation, desiring to enter into the effulgence of the Lord with great austerities and penances, they fail to reach Him. But Mother Yaçodä, thinking that same Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa, to be her son, began following Kåñëa to catch Him."*
Then Mother Yaçoda' chased Lord Kåñëa and caught Him from behind. Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.9.10, explains:

"While following Kåñëa, Mother Yaçodä, her thin waist overburdened by her heavy breasts, naturally had to reduce her speed. Because of following Kåñëa very swiftly, her hair became loose, and the flowers in her hair were falling after her. Yet she did not fail to capture her son Kåñëa."*

. . . who cried and rubbed His frightened eyes again and again with His two lotus hands, whose necklace on His three-lined neck trembled as He breathed again and again, whose waist was surrounded by a rope, and who was finally bound by love.

Commentary by Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé

This pastime is described in the following words (Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.9.11):

"When caught by Mother Yaçodä, Kåñëa became more and more afraid and admitted to being an offender. As she looked upon Him, she saw that He was crying, His tears mixing with the black ointment around His eyes, and as He rubbed His eyes with His hands, He smeared the ointment all over His face. Mother Yaçodä, catching her beautiful son by the hand, mildly began to chastise Him."*
Mother Yaçoda' then bound Him with a rope. Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.9.14, explains:

"Mother Yaçodä, considering Kåñëa her own ordinary child, bound Him to the wooden mortar with a rope."*
Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.9.18-21, continues:

"Because of Mother Yaçodä's hard labor, her whole body became covered with perspiration, and the flowers and comâ were falling from her hair. When child Kåñëa saw His mother thus fatigued, He became merciful to her and agreed to be bound.*

"O Mahäräja Parékñit, this entire universe, with its great exalted demigods like Lord Çiva, Lord Brahmä, and Lord Indra, is under the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yet the Supreme Lord has one transcendental attribute: He comes under the control of His devotees. This was now exhibited by Kåñëa in this pastime.*

"Neither Lord Brahmä, nor Lord Çiva, nor even the goddess of fortune, who is always the better half of the Supreme Lord, can obtain from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the deliverer from this material world, such mercy as received by Mother Yaçodä.*

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa, the son of Mother Yaçodä, is accessible to devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self."*

"A hundred times I bow down before Lord Kåñëa, who with pastimes like these plunges His own cowherd village of Vraja in pools of ecstasy, and who declares to they who know Him only as the supreme master and controller: I am conquered by My loving devotees.

Commentary by Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé

That Lord Kåñëa is controlled by the love of His devotees is described in the following words of Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.11.7-8):

"The gopés would say: 'If You dance, my dear Kåñëa, then I shall give You half a sweetmeat.' By saying these words or by clapping their hands, all the gopés encouraged Kåñëa in different ways. At such times, although He was the supremely powerful Personality of Godhead, he would smile and dance according to their desire, as if He were a wooden doll in their hands. Sometimes he would sing very loudly, at their bidding. In this way Kåñëa came completely under the control of the gopés.*

"Sometimes Mother Yaçoda' and her gopé friends would tell Kåñëa, 'Bring this article' or 'Bring that article.' Sometimes they would order Him to bring a wooden plank, wooden shoes, or a wooden measuring pot, and Kåñëa, when thus ordered by the mothers, would try to bring them. Sometimes, however, as if unable to raise these things, He would touch them and stand there. Just to invite the pleasure of his relatives, He would strike His body with His arms to show that He had sufficient strength."*
Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.11.9, again says:

"To pure devotees throughout the world who could understand His activities, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa, exhibited how much He can be subdued by His devotees, His servants."*

"O Lord, I do not ask for liberation, something better than liberation, or any other thing. O Lord, all I ask from You, the master of all blessings, is that Your form as a cowherd boy always be manifest in my heart. What need have I for any other blessing?

Commentary by Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé

The thing better that liberation here is residence in Vaikuëöhaloka. Better than impersonal liberation is residence in Vaikuëöhaloka, and better than residence in Vaikuëöhaloka is pure devotional service, which begins with hearing the glories of Lord Kåñëa. That pure devotional service is better than residence in Vaikuëöhaloka is described in the following words (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 3.15.49):
"O Lord, we pray that You let us be born in any hellish condition of life, just as long as our hearts and minds are always engaged in the service of Your lotus feet, our words are made beautiful by speaking of Your activities just as tulasé leaves are beautified when offered unto Your lotus feet, and as long as our ears are always filled with the chanting of Your transcendental qualities."*

"May Your lotus face, decorated with glistening locks of hair and with bimba-fruit lips again and again kissed by the gopé Yaçodä, always be manifest in my heart. What need have I for a hundred thousand other blessings?

Commentary by Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé

Lord Kåñëa's face is like a blossoming lotus flower. It is blissful and the sight of it removes all sufferings.

"O unlimited, all-pervading Lord whose belly was bound by a rope, I bow down before You. O master, please be kind to me, who am now drowning in an ocean of sufferings. Please shower Your glance of mercy on me, who am very poor, wretched, and foolish. O master, please come before my eyes.

Commentary by Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé

Here the author says that he is so distressed that he is on the verge of death. He is like a living corpse. He says: "Please be kind to me! Please rescue me! Please restore my life!"
Here the word "prabho" (O master, means "O master of great, inconceivable, limitless, wonderful potencies!" This shows that the Lord's potencies cannot be understood by the material senses. The word "éça" (O master, means "O supremely independent one!" This shows that the Lord can do as He likes, and therefore He can bestow His mercy even on a person who is not really worthy to receive it. The word "viñëo" means "O all-pervading one!" or it also means "O Lord who stays in Våndävana!"

"Even though You were tied up, You still freed Kuvera's two sons and made them devoted to You. Please give to me love and devotion as You gave it to them. O Lord Dämodara, I will not accept impersonal liberation.

Commentary by Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé

Here, rejecting impersonal liberation, the author prays for pure devotional service. Even though, as part of His beautiful pastimes, the Lord Himself was tied up by the gopé Yaçodä, He was able to free the sons of Kuvera. Giving them the gift of pure devotional service, He said to them (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 10.10.42):
"O Nalaküvara and Maëigréva, now you may both return home. Since you desire to be always absorbed in My devotional service, your desire to develop love and affection for Me will be fulfilled, and now you will never fall from that platform."*

"Obeisances to Your rope, the abode of great splendor! Obeisances to Your belly, the resting-place of the universe! Obeisances to Your beloved, Çré Rädhä! Obeisances to You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose pastimes have no end!"
Commentary by Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé

Here the word "dhämne" means "the great rope that was tied around Your belly". What was that rope like? It is described here as "the abode of splendor". That means the rope was spiritual in nature.
Next the author says, "Obeisances to Your belly!" What is the Lord's belly like? It is the resting place of the universe, where the moving and unmoving beings live. This is so because from it sprouted the lotus flower that is the home of the fourteen worlds. By tying a rope around this belly, Mother Yaçoda' showed that she had the entire universe under her control. Actually no one has the power to tie up the Lord in that way, but out of love for His mother, Lord Kåñëa allowed her to tie Him up.
Çré Rädha' is the most important of all the gopés. She is most dear to Lord Kåñëa. Lord Kåñëa's transcendental pastimes with Çré Rädha' have no end. Therefore the Lord is described here as having pastimes that have no end.

In the Padma Puräëa it is said:
"O brähmaëas, a person who during the month of  Kärttika, on the Bahuläñöamé, day bathes in Rädha'-kuëòa, which is by beautiful Govardhana Hill and which is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, becomes a great devotee. He is very pleasing to Lord Kåñëa.

"Just as Rädha' is dear to Lord Kåñëa, so Her bathing place, Rädha'-kuëòa, is dear to Him. She alone is His most beloved of all the gopés."*

In the Padma Puräëa, at the end of the story of Çré Rädhä, it is said:
"Pleased with Her, Lord Kåñëa made Rädha' the queen of Våndävana. In other places She is Goddess Lakñmé, but in Våndävana forest She is Çré Rädhä.

"When, on Janmäñöamé or Utthäna ekädaçé, a person bathes in Rädha'-kuëòa and then worships Lord Kåñëa, Lord Kåñëa becomes very pleased with him.

Duties of Kåñëa-trayodaçé
In the Padma Puräëa it is said:
"When on the Kåñëa-trayodaçé of the month of Kärttika a person places a lamp for Yamaräja outside, then the danger of his untimely death is at once destroyed.

The Mantra For That
"With this offering of a lamp on the Kåñëa-trayodaçé day, may Lord Yamaräja, who is the son of the sun-god, who is time personified, who is accompanied by Goddess Durgä, and who carries with him a noose, a rod, and death itself, be pleased with me.

The Duties of Kåñëa-caturdaçé
They are described in the following words:
"They who fear going to hell must bathe and then carefully worship Yamaräja on the Kåñëa-caturdaçé day.

"A person who on the caturthé, navamé and caturdaçé waits until after sunrise to bathe loses a year of pious deeds.

In the Skanda Puräëa it is said:
"They who fear hell should bathe during the moonrise of the Kåñëa-caturdaçé in the month of Kärttika.

In the Padma Puräëa it is said:
"On the Kåñëa-caturdaçé one should offer tarpaëa and chant the names of Yamaräja. If one's father is stil living, one should offer tarpaëa to Yamaräja and Bhéñma.

"Wearing the sacred thread over the right shoulder, one should offer tarpaëa to Yamaräja, who has two forms: one as a demigod and the other as a pitä.

"A person who spends the night of this Yama-caturdaçé near the Deity of Lord Çiva attains great piety. Even with a hundred yajïas one cannot attain piety like it.

"A young girl who at that time worships brähmaëa boys who perform austerities to please Lord Çiva attains the result of performing a räjasüya-yajïa. Of this there is no doubt.

"When it falls on a Tuesday the Kåñëa-ekädaçé of the month of Kärttika is especially wonderful. A person who worships Lord Çiva on that day goes to the abode of Lord Çiva.

It is further said:
"A person who offers a lamp on the evening of the amävasya' and the caturdaçé becomes free from the darkness of the path to Yamaräja."