Kartik Month Celebrations at Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Coimbatore

Admin · October 18, 2006

The glories of Kartik month are described profusely in the puranas. In this auspicious month Lord Krishna performed the Damodar Lila by allowing mother Yashoda to bind Him to the mortar. The Supreme Lord who is elusive even to the greatest of yogis is bound by the maternal affection of Mother Yashoda.

It is mentioned that one who offers ghee lamps to Lord Damodara in this auspicious month and sings the Damodara-ashtakam will get rid of his past sins and develop bhakti to Lord Damodara.

In the Skanda Purana it is said:

"When one offers a lamp during the month of Kartika, his sins in many thousands and millions of births perish in half an eyeblink."

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 Kartika.

Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Coimbatore has arranged for a month long celebration at its temple premises. The devotees take part in decorating the temple with lamps every evening, and after the arati, reading of a lila from Krishna book continues. As the third verse of the Damodara Ashtakam says:

itidrik sva-lilabhir ananda-kunde

sva-ghosham nimajjantam akkyapayantam

tadiyeshita-jneshu bhaktair jitatvam

punah prematas tam shatavritti vande

“By such childhood pastimes as this, He is drowning the inhabitants of Gokula in pools of ecstasy, and is revealing to those devotees who are absorbed in knowledge of His Supreme majesty and opulence that He is only conquered by devotees whose pure love is imbued with intimacy and is free from all conceptions of awe and reverence. With great love I again offer my obeisances to Lord Damodara hundreds and hundreds of times.”

Offering a ghee lamp to Lord Damodara and reading Srila Prabhupada’s Krishna book everyday gives transcendental pleasure to those involved in these devotional activities. We invite all to come and offer ghee lamps to Lord Damodara and sing along the melodious Damodara Ashtakam.

Bhaktivedanta Ashram Coimbatore is located at 82/113, West Ponnurangam Road, Opp. Eureka Forbes, in R.S. Puram. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us, 98944 42854.