The Significance of Kartik Month (Damodar Mass) in Devotion to Lord Krishna

Introduction to Damodar Mass

The month of Kartik, also known as Damodar Mass, holds immense spiritual significance in the lives of devotees of Lord Krishna. This sacred month, which typically falls between mid-October and mid-November, is considered the purest of purifiers and is particularly dear to Lord Sri Krishna. It is a time for increased devotion, reflection, and various rituals that strengthen the bond between the devotee and the divine. In this article, we will delve into the importance of Kartik Month and the practices that devotees follow during this auspicious time.

The Damodarastakam: A Divine Offering Damodar Mass

During Kartik Month or Damodar Mass, devotees recite the Damodarastakam, a series of eight beautiful verses composed by the great sage Satyavrata Muni. These verses depict the sweet pastime of Lord Krishna being bound by Mother Yasoda with ropes. This act of devotion, where a candle is offered daily to Mother Yasoda and Lord Krishna, symbolizes the profound love and affection that devotees have for the Lord. The act of offering a candle represents the spiritual illumination that one seeks in their life through devotion to Krishna.

Kartik: A Month of Bhakta Vatsalya

Kartik Month or Damodar Mass, is often referred to as the month of “bhakta vatsalya,” signifying the deep affection and love that Lord Krishna has for His devotees. It is believed that any vrata (vow) or devotional practice performed during this month, no matter how small, yields immense spiritual benefits. The impact of Kartik Vrata is said to last for one hundred lifetimes.

The Divine Pastimes of Krishna

Kartik Month or Damodar Mass,is a time when several festivals related to Lord Krishna and His devotees’ pastimes take place. These include the enchanting Rasa-lila, Damodar lila, Diwali, Govardhan puja, the appearance of Radha-kund. The Damodara-lila is particularly sweet, illustrating how Lord Krishna allowed Himself to be bound by the love and affection of His devotees, especially Mother Yasoda.

The Pastime of Damodar-Krishna

One of the most iconic moments of Kartik Month Or Damodar Mass is the Damodar-Krishna pastime. On Diwali Day, while Mother Yasoda was feeding Krishna, she was forced to put Him down temporarily to attend to a pot boiling over on the stove. Krishna, in His playfulness, broke her butter pots and distributed the contents to the monkeys. In response to His naughty behavior, Mother Yasoda decided to bind Him with a rope to a large grinding mortar in the courtyard.

She tried repeatedly, but the rope always remained two fingers too short. In the end, Krishna, out of compassion for His mother, allowed Himself to be tied. He later revealed His divine form by pulling the mortar between two yamala-arjuna trees, liberating Nalakuvera and Manigriva, who were imprisoned in those trees due to a curse.

Damodar Mass: ISKCON Nepal’s Sacred Celebration Guided by Swami Prabhupada’s Wisdom

Practices to Follow During Kartik Month

Devotees follow several practices during Kartik Month to enhance their devotion and spiritual progress. These practices include:

1. Daily offering of a ghee lamp to Lord Krishna along with the recitation of the Damodarastakam.
2. Increased Harinam chanting and kirtana.
3. Listening to Srimad Bhagavatam daily in the association of exalted Vaisnavas.
4. Strictly consuming prasadam (food offered to the Lord).
5. Engaging in yagya (chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra), dan (charitable acts), and tap (austerities).
6. Daily offering of a lamp to Tulsi devi and praying for eternal residence in Vrndavana and service to the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna, along with circumambulation of Tulsi.
7. Preparing elaborate offerings for Lord Krishna, such as the festival of Annakuta and Giriraj Govardhan Puja.
8. Associating more with fellow devotees.
9. Practicing brahmacharya (celibacy) and austerity.
10. Engaging in acts of devotion and service that strengthen one’s bond with Lord Krishna.

The Divine Melody of Damodar Mass: Embracing Damodarastakam(दामोदर अष्टकम) and the Devotion to Lord Krishna Audio and Lyrics

नमामीश्वरं सच्चिदानंदरूपं
लसत्कुण्डलं गोकुले भ्राजमानं
यशोदाभियोलूखलाद्धावमानं
परामृष्टमत्यं ततो द्रुत्य गोप्या ॥ १॥

रुदन्तं मुहुर्नेत्रयुग्मं मृजन्तम्
कराम्भोज-युग्मेन सातङ्क-नेत्रम्
मुहुः श्वास-कम्प-त्रिरेखाङ्क-कण्ठ
स्थित-ग्रैवं दामोदरं भक्ति-बद्धम् ॥ २॥

इतीदृक् स्वलीलाभिरानंद कुण्डे
स्व-घोषं निमज्जन्तम् आख्यापयन्तम्
तदीयेशितज्ञेषु भक्तिर्जितत्वम
पुनः प्रेमतस्तं शतावृत्ति वन्दे ॥ ३॥

वरं देव! मोक्षं न मोक्षावधिं वा
न चान्यं वृणेऽहं वरेशादपीह
इदं ते वपुर्नाथ गोपाल बालं
सदा मे मनस्याविरास्तां किमन्यैः ॥ ४॥

इदं ते मुखाम्भोजम् अत्यन्त-नीलैः
वृतं कुन्तलैः स्निग्ध-रक्तैश्च गोप्या
मुहुश्चुम्बितं बिम्बरक्ताधरं मे
मनस्याविरास्तामलं लक्षलाभैः ॥ ५॥

नमो देव दामोदरानन्त विष्णो
प्रभो दुःख-जालाब्धि-मग्नम्
कृपा-दृष्टि-वृष्ट्याति-दीनं बतानु
गृहाणेष मामज्ञमेध्यक्षिदृश्यः ॥ ६॥

कुबेरात्मजौ बद्ध-मूर्त्यैव यद्वत्
त्वया मोचितौ भक्ति-भाजौ कृतौ च
तथा प्रेम-भक्तिं स्वकां मे प्रयच्छ
न मोक्षे ग्रहो मेऽस्ति दामोदरेह ॥ ७॥

नमस्तेऽस्तु दाम्ने स्फुरद्-दीप्ति-धाम्ने
त्वदीयोदरायाथ विश्वस्य धाम्ने
नमो राधिकायै त्वदीय-प्रियायै
नमोऽनन्त-लीलाय देवाय तुभ्यम् ॥ ८॥

namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda-bhiyolukhalad dhavamanam
paramrishtam atyantato drutya gopya                               

rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrijantam
karambhoja-yugmena satanka-netram
muhuh svasa-kampa-trirekhanka-kanthasthita-
graivam damodaram bhakti-baddham                                 

itidrik sva-lilabhir ananda-kunde
sva-ghosham nimajjantam akhyapayantam
tadiyeshita-jneshu bhaktair jitatvam                                                                                                          punah prematas tam satavritti vande                                               

varam deva moksham na mokshavadhim va
na canyam vrine ’ham vareshad apiha
idam te vapur natha gopala-balam
sada me manasy avirastam kim anyaih                                

idam te mukhambhojam atyanta-nilair
vritam kuntalaih snigdha-raktais ca gopya
muhus cumbitam bimba-raktadharam me
manasy avirastam alam laksha-labhaih                               

namo deva damodarananta vishno
prasida prabho duhkha-jalabdhi-magnam
kripa-drishti-vrishtyati-dinam batanu
grihanesha mam ajnam edhy akshi-drisyah                          

kuveratmajau baddha-murtyaiva yadvat
tvaya mocitau bhakti-bhajau kritau ca
tatha prema-bhaktim svakam me prayaccha
na mokshe graho me ‘sti damodareha                                

namas te ’stu damne sphurad-dipti-dhamne
tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne
namo radhikayai tvadiya-priyayai
namo ’nanta-lilaya devaya tubhyam                                    

(1) To that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging back and forth, who is shining beautifully in the divine realm of Gokula, who is running quickly from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed, because of the offense of breaking the pot of yogurt that His mother was churning into butter and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing.

(2) As He notices the lashing stick in His mother’s grasp, He begins to cry and repeatedly touch His eyes with both of His lotus hands. His breathing is fast from crying, and His eyes are full of terror. The necklace of pearls around His neck, which is engraved with three lines like a conchshell, is trembling. I make my humble obeisances to this Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, whose belly is tied not with ropes but with the pure love of His mother.

(3) By engaging in such innocent childhood activities, He is submerging the people of Gokula into ecstasy-filled pools and disclosing to devotees who are lost in contemplation of His ultimate grandeur and magnificence that He can only be overcome by those whose unadulterated love is infused with intimacy and devoid of any notions of wonder or reverence. I prostrate myself before Lord Damodara hundreds and hundreds of times more, with immense affection.

(4) O Lord, You have the power to provide all types of blessings, but I do not ask You for the blessing of impersonal freedom, the ultimate blessing of eternal existence in Vaikuntha, or any other blessing [that can be attained by carrying out the nine bhakti processes]. What use is a gift to me other than this, O Lord? All I ask is that this form of Yours as Bala Gopala in Vrindavana may ever be apparent in my

(5) Lord, Mother Yasoda kisses your lotus face repeatedly, surrounded by velvety black hair that has a hint of scarlet. Your lips are as red as the bimba fruit. I pray that this lovely image of Your lotus face may always appear in my heart. I am not interested in thousands and thousands of other benedictions.

(6) O Most High Godhead, I bow down to Thee. Damodara, o! Aanta, oh! Hail Vishnu! Master, oh! O my Lord, please have mercy on me. Please extend Your mercy to me and deliver this uneducated fool who is drowning in sufferings of this world. Also, make yourself visible to me.

(7) O Lord Damodara, in the same way that You took on the shape of a baby strapped with a rope to a wooden grinding mortar and freed the two sons of Kuvera, Manigriva and Nalakuvara, from the curse of Narada, and transformed them into great devotees, grant me Your own prema-bhakti. I have no yearning for any type of liberation; all I want is this.

(8)  O First of all, Lord Damodara, I pay my respects to the dazzlingly bright rope that ties Your belly. Then I prostrate myself before Your belly, the dwelling place of the cosmos. I pay my respects to You, O Supreme Lord, with boundless pleasures, and I bow down in humility to Your most adored Srimati Radharani.

Conclusion

Kartik Month, also known as Damodar Mass, is a time of heightened devotion, reflection, and divine connection for devotees of Lord Krishna. The month’s significance is rooted in the love and affection that Krishna has for His devotees, as exemplified by the Damodara-lila. During this sacred time, devotees engage in various devotional practices to deepen their spiritual connection and seek the ultimate goal of eternal service to the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna. The Kartik Month serves as a reminder of the profound love and devotion that can bind the soul to the divine for all eternity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to Kartik Month, Damodar Mass, and the practices associated with it:

1. What is Kartik Month, and why is it significant in Hinduism?

• Kartik Month, also known as Damodar Mass, is a sacred month in the Hindu calendar, particularly significant for devotees of Lord Krishna. It is believed to be the purest of purifiers and is dear to Lord Krishna due to the divine pastimes associated with it.

2. What is the Damodarastakam, and why is it recited during Damodar Mass?

• Damodarastakam is a set of eight beautiful verses composed by Satyavrata Muni. It describes the pastime of Lord Krishna being bound by Mother Yasoda with ropes. Devotees recite it during Kartik Month to celebrate this divine event and deepen their devotion.

3. What are some of the key festivals and pastimes associated with Kartik Month?

• Kartik Month is marked by several important festivals, including Diwali, Govardhan Puja, and the appearance of Radha-kund. It is also a time to commemorate the enchanting pastime of Lord Krishna being bound by Mother Yasoda.

4. What practices should devotees follow during Damodar Mass to enhance their devotion to Lord Krishna?

• Devotees are encouraged to engage in practices such as daily lamp offerings to Lord Krishna, increased Harinam chanting, listening to Srimad Bhagavatam, eating only prasadam, and associating with fellow devotees. These practices help strengthen one’s bond with the divine.

5. Why is Kartik Month considered a time of increased devotion and spiritual growth?

• Kartik Month is considered a time of heightened devotion because it is believed that any devotional act or vrata performed during this month yields significant spiritual benefits. The love and affection Lord Krishna has for His devotees are especially emphasized during Kartik.

6. How does the Damodar-Krishna pastime symbolize the love between Lord Krishna and His devotees?

• The Damodar-Krishna pastime, where Krishna allows Himself to be bound by the love of Mother Yasoda, serves as a profound example of the Lord’s affection for His devotees. It illustrates how devotion and love can bind the soul to the divine in a loving and eternal relationship.

7. Are there any specific rituals or observances for Kartik Month outside of the mentioned practices?

• Devotees may also perform yagya (chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra), dan (charitable acts), and tap (austerities) during Damodar Mass. Additionally, they may participate in the festival of Annakuta and Giriraj Govardhan Puja.

8. How long does Damodar Mass typically last, and when does it occur each year?

• Damodar Mass spans four weeks, typically from mid-October to mid-November in the Hindu calendar. The exact dates may vary each year based on the lunar calendar.

9. What is the ultimate goal of Damodar Mass for devotees of Lord Krishna?

• The ultimate goal of Damodar Mass for devotees is to strengthen their devotion, deepen their bond with Lord Krishna, and seek the opportunity for eternal service to the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna. It is a time for spiritual growth and deepening one’s relationship with the divine.

10. Can people of all ages and backgrounds participate in Damodar Mass observances?

• Yes,Damodar Mass observances are open to people of all ages and backgrounds. Devotees from various walks of life can participate in these practices and experience the spiritual benefits of increased devotion to Lord Krishna.

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