PASTIMES IN THIS MONTH OF KARTIKA

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Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

 

A PHONED GLORIFICATION OF KARTIKA MONTH

 

Mathura, India: Oct. 28, 2002 (Part 1)

 

[At 6am, upon the first glimpses of sunrise, five hundred devotees from India and around the world were sitting in the beautiful Sri Rupa Sanatana Gaudiya Matha in Vrndavana, India. Surrounded by Rajasthani pillars, colorful bas-relief and other paintings of Krsna's pastimes on the walls, walls painted in shades of yellow, saffron, and beige, sastric verses appropriate for entering vraja-bhakti painted in large letters above the archways, and lush creepers hanging from the balconies, the devotees had just finished singing their morning bhajanas. They were now waiting to be connected by a loudspeaker phone system to the voice of Paramaradya Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja. He was in Delhi, some four hours away by material calculation, resting in the home of his disciples as he recuperated from a recent heart operation. As baby Krsna liberated His devotees Nalakuvera and Manigriva, although His own belly was bound by ropes, so Srila Maharaja now performed a heart operation on his followers, although in his naravata-lila he was recuperating from his own.

 

Srila Maharaja began his phoned discourse in English, but then he said he would continue in Hindi. The doctors had allowed him only ten minutes to speak, and in Hindi, his mother tongue, he would be able to reveal much more than in English. After his lecture was completed, Sripad Madhava Maharaja, who was present with him, translated his Hindi into Bengali, and after the receiver clicked, Sripad Aranya Maharaja translated it into English. The following is a transcription of part 1 of that English translation:]

 

 

Very rapidly and very energetically, practically without pausing for any breath at all, and having so much taste and relish in the glorification of Kartika vrata*[see Endnote], Srila Maharaja explained many things, and I will try to repeat them one by one.

 

First he wanted to impress upon us how fortunate we are. He said, "I am not fortunate because I am in Delhi, so close to Vrndavana yet so far away. But you are lucky because you are in Vrndavana dhama during this time of Kartika and you are observing Kartika vrata there.

 

What is the significance of this Kartika month and Damodara vrata? Srila Maharaja said that this month is called the month of Damodara; Damodara is He whose belly was bound by the rope of Mother Yasoda. He was not actually bound by a rope, however; He was bound by prema, by pure vatsalya-bhava (parental love). Krsna is anadi; He has no beginning. And He is ananta; He has no end. Still, although He is Parambrahma, that unlimited, beginningless and endless Supreme Lord can be bound and trapped by prema. Therefore this month is called Damodara vrata, and those who observe it will attain the prema by which they can bind Parambrahma, the Supreme Lord. Those who can observe this vrata are very fortunate.

 

 

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This month is also called Urja vrata. Urja means sakti, and it specifically refers to Krsna's internal potency, antaranga sakti – Srimati Radhika. Urja vrata actually means Radha vrata, a vow taken for the happiness of Srimati Radhika. If one hears Her glorification in this month, the fruit will come in the form of gopi-prema.

 

This month is also called Kartika. The adhistatri-devata, predominating deity, of Kartika month is Kirtika-kumari, the young daughter of Kirtika, Srimati Radhika. Those who honor this month, of which Radhika is the predominating deity, by going to the pastime places of Krsna, will certainly, without any doubt at all, have all their desires completely fulfilled. They will attain jugal-seva, service of Radha and Krsna in the anugatya (guidance) of the Vraja gopis.

 

 

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Srila Maharaja then explained that Satyavata Rsi has glorified Damodara month by the verses in his song Sri Damodarastakam, beginning namamisvaram sat-cit-ananda-rupam lasat-kundalam gokule vrajamanam.

 

Rudantam muhur netram-jugman mirjantam. Rudantam means that Krsna is crying and looking towards His mother who has held up a stick. Krsna is pleading, "Don’t beat me! Don't beat me!" because Mother Yasoda held the stick as though she was going to throw it at him. He was afraid, and she caught him. Mother Yasoda is so fortunate that she could catch Krsna and then bind Him with her love.

 

nemam virinco na bhavo

na srir apy anga-samsraya

prasadam lebhire gopi

yat tat prapa vimuktidat

 

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.9.20)

 

["Neither Lord Brahma, nor Lord Siva, 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 Yasoda."]

 

Even Brahmaji, the direct son of Bhagavan, is not so fortunate as to have a love like that of Mother Yasoda. Even Sankara, who is called Hari-hara-ekatma and who thus feels oneness with Bhagavan, cannot have a love like this. Even Laksmi-devi, Bhagavan's full aisvarya-sakti, never has the chance to bind her consort. This is impossible for all of them. But Mother Yasoda has attained this, and she is therefore glorified by Srila Sukadeva Gosvami:

 

nayam sukhapo bhagavan

dehinam gopika-sutah

jnaninam catma-bhatanam

yatha bhaktimatam iha

 

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.9.21)

 

Unless one has love that of like Mother Yasoda, Krsna cannot be bound. He cannot be bound by those who have a bodily conception (dehinam). This mercy is very far away from them. Those who may be liberated (jnaninam), and those who may even be associates but with aisvarya-jnana, knowledge of Krsna's opulence, also cannot bind Krsna. And even for those who have yogic siddhis (atma-bhutanam), this mercy is inconceivable and inaccessible. This type of mercy was attained by Yasoda Maiya, because Krsna can only be bound by prema – not by any other quality.

 

 

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From Pandit Sri Ananta Dasji's tika on Raga-vartma-candrika (1.14):

 

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<font color="darkblue">Since observance of the Kartika vow or Niyama Seva is simultaneously a direct and an indirect cause of the attainment of the desired feelings, it is related to the desired feeling. The indirect cause is the aspect of austerity in maintaining strict restrictions on eating, and the direct cause is the part of observing a certain quota of hearing and chanting. In the month of Kartika, there is more attention given to the regulative principles of hearing and chanting and the worship of Sri Radha-Damodara than in other months of the year, because if one performs even only a little bhajana in this time, Sri Radha-Damodara will accept it as a great thing. On the other hand, it is said that if one does not follow the vow of Kartika, there will be a terrible reaction. In the Skanda Purana, it is written:

 

avratena kSiped yas tu mAsaM dAmodara priyam

tiryag yonim avApnoti sarva dharma bahiSkRtaH

sa brahmahA sa goghnaz ca svarNasteyI sadAnRtI

na karoti muni-zreSTha yo naraH kArtike vratam

 

“Lord Brahma told Narada: “O greatest of sages, Sri Narada! A person who lives through the month of Kartika, which is dear to Lord Damodara, without observing some vow, is cast out of all religions and attains an animal birth in the next life. Anyone who does not observe the Kartika vow is the killer of a brahmana, the killer of a cow, a gold-thief and a constant liar.”

 

Therefore this vow is eternal, just as the Ekadasi-vow is. It is known that when one takes shelter of Sri Krsna’s playground, Sri Vraja-dhama, and observes the vow of Niyama Seva, he will obtain the rarely attained treasure of hari-bhakti. In his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu grantha, Srimat Rupa Gosvami has quoted verses from the Sri Padma Purana about the Urja-limb of bhakti, and has thus shown the special glories of observing the vow of Kartika while taking shelter of Vraja-dhama:

 

bhuktiM muktiM harir dadyAd arcito ‘nyatra sevinAm

bhaktiM ca dadAtyeva yato vazyakarI hareH

sA tvaJjasA harer bhaktir labhyate kArtike naraiH

mathurAyAM sakRd api zrI dAmodarapUjanAt

 

“When Sri Krsna is served outside of Vraja-dhama by complacent persons, He may bestow sense enjoyment or liberation, but not bhakti, for it is not proper for Him to accept subjugation to complacent devotees, who have no loving attachment to Him. But even a person who performs no sadhana will attain the precious gift of Sri Hari-bhakti when observing the Sri Damodara-puja in Mathura even once.”

 

In his commentary on this verse, Srimat Jiva Gosvami has written: vazyakarItavam atra sukha-dAnenaiva jJeyaM na tu duHkha-dAnena. ato bhaktyadAne na tad atra prayojakaM kintu tena lakSitaM paramotkRSTatvam eva. tathAvidhA ca sA nAyogye sahasA dAtuM yogyeti yAvad agyogyatA tAvad bhagavatA na dIyata eva. yogyatA ca sarvAnya sva hita nirapekSatvam eva. tasmAd yogyatAyAm eva satyAM dAtavyatve ‘pi yadi mathurA kArtikayoH saGgame pUjanaM ghaTate tadA yogyatAvirahitenApi vastu prabhAvAt sahasaiva prApyata eveti bhAvaH –

 

“No one should think after reading the ‘yato vasyakari hareh’-part of the sloka that since the Lord is subdued by devotion, He does not give bhakti. Sri Hari’s subjugation to devotion makes Him most happy and never unhappy. Therefore, the words ‘through which Sri Hari is subdued’ are not used to disrespect or slight devotion. Rather, they establish bhakti as the greatest thing. It is never proper to give such a supreme thing as devotion to an unworthy recipient, therefore Sri Hari does not bestow bhakti unless and until the qualification is there in the recipient. Qualification for attaining prema comes when one desires only that, without bothering about any other personal benefits. To such a deserving recipient Sri Hari gives prema. But if one worships Sri-Sri Radha-Damodara in Vraja-dhama just once in the month of Kartika, then, simply on the strength of that, even an unqualified person will attain prema.”

 

The blessed author says: “In his books like Stavamala, Srimat Rupa Gosvamipada has repeatedly mentioned Sri-Sri Radharani’s holy names of kartika devi, urja-devi and urjesvari, therefore it is understood that those who observe the vow of Kartika will be blessed by attaining the lotus feet of Sri Vrndavanesvari.”</font color>

 

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Baba's Makaranda-kana-vyakhya on the 20th verse of Utkalika-vallari sheds more light on the significance of the month of Kartika.

 

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<font color="darkblue">bhavatIm abhivAdhya cATubhir

varam Urjezvari varyam arthaye |

bhavadIyatayA kRpAM yathA

mayi kuryAd adhikAM bahAntahaH || 20 ||

 

"O Urjesvari (Radhika, the goddess of the Kartika-month)! I pitifully pray to You for this benediction: May Bakanthaka (Krishna, the killer of Bakasura) be more kind to me, knowing me to be Yours!"

 

When Sri Rupa Gosvami prays, he calls Radharani "Urjesvari". The month of Kartika (October-November) is also called Urja, and therefore Sri Rupa means to call Sri Radha "O presiding goddess of the month of Kartika". This address indicates Sri Radha's superiority. In the Uttara-khanda of the Bhavisya-purana it is said:

 

saGketAvasare cyute praNayataH samrabdhayA rAdhayA

prArabhya bhrukuTIM hiraNya rasanA dAmnA nibaddhodaram |

kArtikyAM jananI kRtotsava vare prastAvanA pUrvakaM

cATuni prathayantam Atma pulakaM dhyAyema dAmodaram ||

 

"Once, in the auspicious month of Kartika, Krishna could not meet His beloved Radharani in the kunja on time, so Srimati frowned Her eyebrows out of loving anger and bound Krishna around the belly with a golden rope. Sri Krishna then explained to Her that He was late from His appointment, because He had been held up in Mother Yashomati's festival, so Srimati released Him again. Since then, Sri KRishna has been called Damodara, or Nivi Damodara (the girdle-Damodara). We meditate on this Damodara, who is studded with goosepimples of loving ecstacy!"

 

The month of Kartika is also called the month of Damodara. It is not just the month in which Mother Yashoda bound up Krishna, but also the month in which Sri Radha bound Him up. At first, the ropes with which Mother Yashoda tried to bind up Krishna were two fingers too short because of her lack of eagerness, and it took her a lot of trouble to get Krishna bound up; however, Sri Radha's loving eagerness was so great that She easily bound up Krishna, and released Him again, too. By calling Sri Radha the goddess of the month of Kartika, Srila Rupa Gosvami has indicated Her absolute supremacy over all the other devotees.</font color>

 

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[Guest guest]

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja then explained that in this month, when Krsna's babyhood came to an end, He began his boyhood pastimes and went out to graze calves for the first time. Because He was very small, at first He only grazed calves, and the day on which He began is called Gopastami. Then, when He was older, more mature, and entering His kaisora age, He had another Gopastami. This was the first day He went out to graze the cows. Why does Krsna graze calves and cows? He is the son of a king, without any duty. The answer is that on the pretext of grazing cows He escapes the confines of His home and the vigilant glances of His parents and seniors, so that He can go to the forest and meet with Srimati Radhika and the gopis. Gopasthami marks the day of the fulfillment of Krsna's desires to directly have their first intimate meeting, and this pastime also took place in the month of Kartika.

 

This month is also auspicious because Krsna's leaving the village and going out for cow grazing has been described by the gopis (in Venu-gita: Srimad-Bhagavatam Tenth Canto Chapter 21) in this month. Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said:

 

sri-suka uvaca

ittham sarat-svaccha-jalam

padmakara-sugandhina

nyavisad vayuna vatam

sa-go-gopalako ‘cyutam

 

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.1)

 

["Sukadeva Gosvami said: 'Thus the Vrndavana forest was filled with transparent autumnal waters and cooled by breezes perfumed with the fragrance of lotus flowers growing in the clear lakes. The infallible Lord, accompanied by His cows and cowherd boyfriends, entered that Vrndavana forest.'"]

 

Acyuta, Krsna, along with His friends, entered into the forest in this sarad (autumn) season. The first night of Kartika was Saradiya Purnima, the full moon night of the autumn season. Srila Maharaja explained how beautiful Vrndavana is at that time. All the lakes and rivers become muddy during the summer, but when that season ends and the sarad season begins, all the lakes, like Manasi Ganga and Kusuma Sarovara, become clear and beautiful. Upon these lakes sit many blossoming lotus flowers that emit a beautiful fragrance, and the breeze carries that fragrance everywhere. In this beautiful atmosphere, Krsna, Acyuta, has gone out to graze cows.

 

kusumita-vanaraji-susmi-bhrnga

dvija-kula-ghusta-sarah-sarin-mahidhram

madhupatir avagahya carayan gah

saha-pasu-pala-balas cukuja venum

 

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.2)

 

["The lakes, rivers, and hills of Vrndavana resounded with the sounds of maddened bees and flocks of birds moving about the flowering trees. In the company of the cowherd boys and Balarama, Madhupati Sri Krsna entered that forest, and while herding the cows He began to play His flute."]

 

In Vrndavana there are many rows of flowering trees, which are attracting the bumblebees, who are now intoxicated by their honey. Many types of birds are singing various tunes, and these birds play on different mountains like Giri Govardhana. At that time, Madhupati Krsna, who is full of madhu, sweet and attractive qualities, entered the forest surrounded by His friends.

 

In this month the gopis stay in their homes and feel great separation from Krsna, and at the same time, by their bhava-netra, the eyes of their ecstatic love for Krsna, they can see Him entering the forest.

 

 

barhapidam nata-vara-vapuh karnayoh karnikaram

bibhrad vasah kanaka-kapisam vaijayantim ca malam

randhran venor adhara-sudhayapurayan gopa-vrndair

vrndaranyam sva-.-ramanam pravisad gita-kirtih

 

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.5)

 

["Wearing a peacock-feather ornament upon His head, blue karnikara flowers on His ears, a yellow garment as brilliant as gold, and the Vaijayanti garland, Lord Krsna exhibited His transcendental form as the greatest of dancers as He entered the forest of Vrndavana, beautifying it with the marks of His footprints. He filled the holes of His flute with the nectar of His lips, and the cowherd boys sang His glories."]

 

All these verses are the glory of this month. It was in this month that the gopis remained in their homes and spoke to each other:

 

aksanvatam phalam idam na param vidamah

sakhyam pasun anuvivesayator vayasyaih

vaktram vrajesa-sutayor anavenu-justam

yair va nipitam anurakta-kataksa-moksam

 

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.7)

 

["The cowherd girls said: 'O friends, those eyes that see the beautiful faces of the sons of Maharaja Nanda are certainly fortunate. As these two sons enter the forest, surrounded by Their friends, driving the cows before Them, They hold Their flutes to Their mouths and glance lovingly upon the residents of Vrndavana. For those who have eyes, we think there is no greater object of vision.'"]

 

O sakhi, in this world the vision of this scene is the fruit of having eyes. Krsna is going slowly, remaining somewhat behind the other cowherd boys, so that Balarama will go ahead. Meanwhile, He is looking here and there, hoping to have a glimpse of Srimati Radhika.

 

 

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Previous post from anadi

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Mathura, India: Oct. 28, 2002

 

[in describing the many important pastimes that took place in this holy month of Kartika, which in turn establish the glory of Kartika, Paramaradhya Srila Narayana Maharaja discussed several verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam:]

 

dhanyah sma mudha-gatayo 'pi harinya eta

ya nanda-nandanam upatta-vicitra-vesam

akarnya venu-ranitam saha-krsna-sarah

pujam dadhur viracitam pranayavalokaih

 

(S.B. 10.21.11)

 

In this month, feeling separation from Krsna, the gopis lamented, "We are not fortunate like the deer in this forest. People say they are foolish, but they are not so. We are foolish, because we don't know how to love Krsna like these deer. When prema is very high, it breaks all boundaries. These deer, although by nature very shy, have broken all boundaries by their intense love for Krsna. They gave up their shyness, they approached Him, and they are exchanging their hearts feelings with Him through their loving glances. We cannot do this, and therefore we are unfortunate. We will be lucky if we can die and take birth as deer in our next life. In that way we can see Krsna and approach Him when He is cow-grazing."

 

 

[Guest guest]

http://www.psena.com/~mpatel/audio/SriDamodarastakam.mp3

[anadi 0]

Mathura, India: Oct. 28, 2002

 

[in describing the many important pastimes that took place in this holy month of Kartika, which in turn establish the glory of Kartika, Paramaradhya Srila Narayana Maharaja discussed several verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam:]

 

 

In this month the gopis remembered that when Krsna plays on His flute in the forest, the cows become stunned. With eyes of transcendental emotions the gopis see both Krsna and the cows, and further lament in separation. They see that although it is the nature of animals to spend their time in eating, when Krsna plays His flute these cows forget to eat and instead pick up their ears to hear. Humans have very small ears, but cows have large ears – like cups. Through the cups of their ears these cows drink the nectar of Krsna's flute playing, and when they taste it they forget everything else. They have grass in their mouths, but they forget to chew. Even the calves, who were drinking the milk from the utter of their mothers, are like this. The milk is coming into their mouths, but they have forgotten to swallow. They simply stand with tears gliding down from their eyes, and they embrace Krsna in the core of their hearts.

 

The love of the cows is not as high as that of the gopis, but due to the nature of their own prema, the gopis think the cows are greater. Those who are maha-bhagavatas, and what to say of maha-maha-bhagavatas like the gopis, see their own love and their own mood in all others. Yet, they think, "I am unfortunate; I have no love."

 

 

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In this month, Sri Radhika lamented in separation:

 

purnah pulindya urugaya-padabja-raga

sri-kunkumena dayita-stana-manditena

tad-darsana-smara-rujas trna-rusitena

limpantya anana-kucesu jahus tad-adhim

 

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.16)

 

["The aborigine women of the Vrndavana area become disturbed by lust when they see the grass marked with reddish kunkuma powder. Endowed with the color of Krsna's lotus feet, this powder originally decorated the breasts of His beloveds, and when the aborigine women smear it on their faces and breasts, they feel fully satisfied and give up all their anxiety."]

 

This is an example of Radhika's madanakhya-mahabhava (the highest ecstatic love for Krsna). Here She glorifies the aborigine girls who live in the forest, and She says that they are lucky whereas She is not. In the morning time, when they walk around Giriraja Govardhana, they see some red kunkuma powder on the grass and go to pick it up. This kunkuma came from the lotus feet of Krsnacandra when He was returning home in the early morning on the damp grass, and it originally came from the breasts of His beloved. The Pulindi girls think themselves very fortunate to obtain this kunkuma. Simply by their smelling the fragrance, Krsna appears in their hearts, and then they smear that kunkuma paste all over their bodies and faces and thus meet with Krsna in their hearts. There He fulfills all their desires.

 

Radhika is thinking that these Pulindi girls are fortunate, but more fortunate is the grass because it was directly touched by Krsna's feet; and more fortunate is that beloved gopi from whose breasts this kunkuma has come. That gopi is Radhika Herself, but because of Her madanakya-mahabhava she forgets this and instead glorifies others.

 

 

[dev 0]

Hare krishna pranhu,

Can any body provide the link ( audio) .

Hari Bol

[anadi 0]

I think it is above.

The are other songs too, but for the moment no link available.

[anadi 0]

Govardhana-puja also took place in this month. All the Vrajavasis worshiped Giriraja Govardhana and performed Annakuta Mahotsava. Seeing this, Indra became very angry, created torrential rain, and Krsna cut his pride. In this month, Indra came and worshiped Krsna after his pride was cut, all the demigods performed kirtana, and Krsna received the name Govinda.

 

Saradiya rasa-lila was also performed in this month. As stated in Srimad Bhagavatam:

 

sri-badarayanir uvaca

bhagavan api ta ratrih

saradotphulla-mallikah

viksya rantum manas cakre

yoga-mayam upasritah

 

["Sri Badarayani said: Sri Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in all opulences, yet upon seeing those autumn nights scented with blossoming jasmine flowers, He turned His mind toward loving affairs. To fulfill His purposes He employed His internal potency."( Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.29.1)]

 

Although, Krsna is Bhagavan, although He is atmarama (taking pleasure within) and aptakam (fully satisfied), in this month He became inspired by the beauty of the Vrndavana forest. There, in the middle of the night, He left his home and took shelter of Yogamaya:

 

drstva kumudvantam akhanda-mandalam

ramananabham nava-kunkumarunam

vanam ca tat-komala-gobhi ranjitam

jagau kalam vama-drsam manoharam

 

["Lord Krsna saw the unbroken disk of the full moon glowing with the red effulgence of newly applied vermilion, as if it were the face of the goddess of fortune. He also saw the kumuda lotuses opening in response to the moon's presence and the forest gently illumined by its rays. Thus the Lord began to play sweetly on His flute, attracting the minds of the beautiful-eyed gopis."(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.29.3)]

He began to play on His flute, and the flute sound entered the hearts of the Vraja gopis. They became mugdha, completely bewildered and, forgetting everything else, they ran into the forest to meet with Him.

 

In this month, the gopis who were locked inside their homes were brought to Krsna by a very strong viraha-tap, fire of separation from Krsna. By this viraha-tap, any imperfection in the moods of those who did not yet have sufficient association with the nitya-siddha gopis was completely burned away. By deeply meditating in intense separation they at once met with Krsna in their hearts and embraced Him. These sweet pastimes took place in this month.

 

[anadi 0]

In this month the gopis saw the footprints of Radhika and said,

 

anayaradhito nunam

bhagavan harir isvarah

yan no vihaya govindah

prito yam anayad rahah

 

["Certainly this particular gopi has perfectly worshiped the all-powerful Personality of Godhead, Govinda, since He was so pleased with Her that He abandoned the rest of us and brought Her to a secluded place."(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.30.28)]

 

"This gopi, whom Krsna has taken alone into the forest, leaving all the rest of us, is most fortunate." In this way, all the Vraja gopis give honor to Srimati Radhika in this month. When Krsna disappeared from rasa-lila, the gopis cried and sang in separation the verses from Gopi-gita. One example is as follows:

tava kathamRtam tapta-jivanam

kavibhir iditam kalmasapaham

Sravana-mangalam Srimad atatam

bhuvi gRnanti ye bhuri-da janah

 

["The nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those suffering in this material world. These narrations, transmitted by learned sages, eradicate one's sinful reactions and bestow good fortune upon whoever hears them. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Certainly those who spread the message of Godhead are most munificent."(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.31.9).]

 

This verse is so sweet and powerful that when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard it from the lotus mouth of Maharaja Prataparudra, He told him, "You have given me so many valuable jewels. I have nothing to give you in return; I have only have my self, so I am embracing you." When Mahaprabhu embraced Prataparudra Maharaja, the bhavas and sweet meanings of the verses of Gopi-gita manifested in his heart.

 

By Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

 

 

[anadi 0]

In this month Krsna told the gopis of Vrndavana,

 

na paraye 'ham niravadya-samyujam

sva-sadhu-krtyam vibudhayusapi vah

ya mabhajan durjara-geha-srnkhalah

samvrscya tad vah pratiyatu sadhuna

 

["I am not able to repay My debt for your spotless service, even within a lifetime of Brahma. Your connection with Me is beyond reproach. You have worshiped Me, cutting off all domestic ties, which are difficult to break. Therefore please let your own glorious deeds be your compensation."]

 

Krsna said, "O My dear gopis, you have left all other obligations, including your families, and all other dharmas for me. This is very difficult to give up, but you have left all this for my happiness only. Therefore, even if I have a lifetime as long as Brahma, and even if I will serve you for many such lifetimes, still I would not be able to repay you. I would always be indebted to you for the love you have given me."

 

By Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

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After describing these pastimes of Rasa-lila and Gopi-gita, Srila Sukadeva Gosvamipada stated:

 

vikriditam vraja-vadhubhir idam ca visnoh

sraddhanvito 'nusrnuyad atha varnayed yah

bhaktim param bhagavati pratilabhya kamam

hrd-rogam asv apahinoty acirena dhirah

 

["Anyone who faithfully hears or describes the Lord's playful affairs with the young gopis of Vrndavana will attain the Lord's pure devotional service. Thus he will quickly become sober and conquer lust, the disease of the heart."(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.33.39)]

 

Bhagavan Sri Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is transcendental and His katha (descriptions of His glories and pastimes) is very powerful. Of all types of such katha, the katha of His servants is more powerful, the katha of his friends is more powerful, the katha of his parents in vatsalya-bhava is still more powerful, and the katha of His sporting with the young brides of Vraja is the highest and most powerful katha. It is so powerful that if even a fallen or sinful person hears it with faith, it can purify him. If one understands this and hears this katha, gopi-prema must enter into that person's heart, kick away all anarthas, and turn him into a parama-bhagavata, topmost devotee.

 

From the same lecture by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

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In this month, Krsna killed the demon Sankasura and cut the jewel from his forehead. He then entered the company of all the gopis, who were all wondering to whom He would give that jewel. Krsna was thinking, "If I give the jewel to one, the others will be upset." Therefore, to avoid an argument among the gopis, Krsna gave the jewel to Baladeva Prabhu, who gave it to Madhumangala, who gave it to Srimati Radhika.

 

In this month Krsna killed Aristasura, and as a result of that killing Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda were manifest. That pastime took place today, (Oct 28) and this holy day is called Bahulastami.

 

In this month, Krsna killed the demons Kesi and Vyomasura, and in this month Akrura came to Vraja and took Krsna and Balarama to Mathura. Krsna also killed Kamsa in this month.

 

From the same lecture by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

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In this month Krsna and Balarama performed the upanaya sanskara (sacred thread ceremony). Because they had been brought up in Vraja, they have the mood that, "I am a cowherd boy and Mother Yasoda and Nanda Baba are My parents." However, Vasudeva and Devaki think, "We are the real parents of Krsna. It is part of the Vedic tradition that parents arrange for the upanaya sanskara, of their child, so if we arrange this function for Krsna, the impression will come in his heart that, "Vasudeva and Devaki are My parents." They tried to do this, but they failed. Krsna had already received the Radha mantra from Bhaguri Rsi. He received this mantra when He was in Vraja, but at that time He had no upanaya sanskara. His upanaya sanskara was performed in Mathura according to the duties of ksatryas.

 

Gargacarya gave Krsna the brahma-gayatri mantra, and when Krsna heard this mantra He fainted. Why? Radhika is the predominating deity of gayatri. Then, after His fire yajna, Krsna was looking for his mother and called out, "O Mother, where are you?" Devaki was standing near Him, but Krsna did not approach her; He was looking for Mother Yasoda. In this way, although the Mathuravasis made the plan to give Krsna the sanskana that He is the son of Vasudeva and Devaki, it failed. This pastime took place in this month.

 

From the same lecture by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

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Sri Narada Rsi received the benediction from Krsna that

those who will hear His sweet lila-katha in the places of His pastimes,

especially during this Kartika month,

will surely attain krsna-prema very soon.

 

We should therefore have confidence;

we need never become hopeless.

We should know that by performing all these simple activities –

offering a ghee lamp every day,

attending mangal-arati,

performing kirtana,

singing Sri Damodarastakam,

doing parikrama,

offering maha-prasada,

observing Annukuta Mahotsava,

hearing hari-katha in all the lila-sthalis (pastime places),

there is no doubt about success.

 

It is only a question of time, and that time will not be very long.

We will attain Krsna-prema and thus serve Radha-Krsna Yugala.

 

From the same lecture by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja