Kartayani Vrata

[Paramananda das]

Kartayani Vrata
As I have mentioned before, Aindra Prabhu at least sometimes observed Katyani Vrata taking only Havisana, unspiced Kirti ...imagine not even a little salt and pepper no ginger not vegtables now he lived on that for 4 month in Catrumasya and then 1 month doing Katayani Vrata, 5 month of the year he did like this, that is extreme self control I have not met any other Vaisnava like that , on top of this Aindra chanted 64 rounds daily and later 120 rounds daily ...in the late 1980th I also observed Ekadasis with him where he did not drink a drop of water also on Ekadasis and he fasted also on many Visnu Tattva days but he never took grains on these days ,but observed as Ekadasi fast.
In Vrindavana some chant 1000 names of Yamuna devi daily and chant prayers to Yamuna also some chant one lahk and chant 64 rounds ,though in ISKCON as far I have seen no one I know is that strict anymore , though if you know someone in the Asrama in ISKCON Vrindavana ,you might be surprised ,what few devotees observe ...I am out of touch with the residents of the ISKCON Vrindavana so no idea what they do anymore ,I always took it that the best way to celebrate Katayani Vrata is to do Harinama and distribute Srila Prabhupadas books and and worship my Sri Giriraja Silas and Salagrama sila and chant 64 rounds daily ,but also remember this seasonal pastime as we celebrate it yearly , as least we should read Srimad Bhagavatam 10 canto chapter 22 and Krsna book about this chapter, it is also described in Ananda Vrindavana Campu, Garga Samhita and in other Puranas and described by Srila Sanatana Goswami :
Song Name: Gopa Kanya Vrata Prita

Official Name: Obeisance 55 Verses 223 to 228
Author: Sanatana Goswami
Book Name: Krsna Lila Stava
Language: Sanskrit
LYRICS:
(1)
gopa-kanyā-vrata-prīta prasīda varadeśvara
jala-krīḍā-samāsakta-gopī-vastrāpahāraka
(2)
kadambārūḍha vande tvāḿ citra-narmokti-kovida
gopī-stava-vilubdhātman gopikā-yācitāḿśuka
(3)
sroto-vāsaḥ-sphurad-gopa-kanyākarṣaṇa-lālasa
śītārta-yamunottīrṇa-gopī-bhāva-prasādita
(4)
skandhāropita-gopa-strī-vastra sasmita-bhāṣaṇa
gopī-namaskriyādeṣṭa gopy-eka-kara-vandita
(5)
gopy-añjali-viśeṣārthin gopa-kanyā-namaskṛta
gopī-vastrada he gopī-kāmitākāmita-prada
(6)
gopī-citta-mahā-caura gopa-kanyā-bhujańgama
dehi sva-gopikā-dāsyaḿ gopī-bhāva-vimohita
TRANSLATION
1) O Lord Krsna, You were pleased by the vow kept by the daughters of the cowherd men, and when they were intent on playing in the water of the Yamuna, You stole away their garments. O Lord, O Master of all those who give benedictions, please be kind unto us.
2) O Lord Krsna, You climbed the kadamba tree and expertly spoke very amazing joking words to the gopis. Very eager to hear the gopi's prayers. You demanded that they beg for their garments. O Lord, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.
3) O Lord Krsna, clothed only with the waters of the Yamuna, the gopis were ardently in love with You. Afflicted by the cold waters, they emerged from the river, and You became pleased with their pure love for You.
4) O Lord Krsna, smiling and speaking joking words, You placed the gopi's garments on Your shoulders. You instructed them to offer obeisances (to Varuna), and they did this, keeping one hand (to cover themselves).
5) O Lord Krsna, when You requested that they offer obeisances with both hands, the gopis complied. You returned their garments and granted all their desires.
6) O Lord Krsna, O great thief of the gopi's hearts and minds, O lover of the gopis, Who is enchanted by their love, please grant to me the service of Your own gopi friends.
I had some very interesting discussion with Aindra Prabhu on how the Gopis became Krsnas lover in Parakiya Rasa, but they are to confidential to discuss in public ,plus we did some further research on Svakiya Rasa and Parakiya Rasa there is an interesting discussion between Srila Narayana Maharaja and HH Giriraja Swami and Tamal Krsna Maharaja, Bhurijana Prabhu and others Invitation To A Play-Marriage (purebhakti.com)
Aindra Prabhu also went to see Srila Narayana Maharaja in 1990 -91 because he had some questions, and I told him what I had learned from Srila Narayana Maharaja since I got Narayana Maharajas association since 1986 ,and he came back and confirmed everything I had already told him , as he said hearing it from Srila Narayana Maharaja confirmed what you had told me
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.22