Lord Caitanya and Kartika

[Paramananda das]

Dear devotees

Please accept my humble obaisences

al glories to my Gurudeva Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja 

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

 Yesterday on Rama Ekadasi the head pujari of ISKCON Potomac Naveen Krsna Prabhu asked me to research about Lord Caitanyas observance of Kartika, sadly in the Caitanya Caritamrita,Caitanya Bhagavad ,Caitanya Mangala , etc I have never seen any mention of this.

Lets see what  Srila Prabhupada recommended for Kartika :

 

(Srila Prabhupada Conversation with a disciple) 

Devotee (2): Srila Prabhupada, today is the beginning of urja-vrata  (the Kartik vrata). Can you describe what that is, urja-vrata, how it should be  observed? 

Prabhupada: Urja-vrata, you chant Hare Krsna twenty-four hours one  month (laughter) That's all. 

Gurudasa: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna... 

Prabhupada: Yes. Don't sleep, don't eat. This is urja-vrata. Can you  execute? 

Devotee (1): I don't know. (laughter) (Srila Prabhupada lecture  18/10/72 in Vrndavana RadhaDamodaraMandir)

 

Srila Prabhupada has recommended constant chanting ,this is a month to especially chant 64 rounds or more of Hare Krsna.

When Lord Caitanya came to Vrindavana He sat under the famous Imlitala and chanted 192 rounds ,so Kartika is all about chanting the Maha mantra that glories Radha and Krsna.

 

In the Sanatana Siksa ,Lord Caitanyas instructiones to Srila Sanatana Goswami Lord Caitanya has stated:

 

sarvathā śaraṇāpatti, kārtikādi-vrata

'catuḥ-ṣaṣṭi ańga' ei parama-mahattva

SYNONYMS

sarvathā — in all respects; śaraṇa-āpatti — surrender; kārtika-ādi-vrata — to observe special vows in the month of Kārttika; catuḥ-ṣaṣṭi ańga — sixty-four parts; ei — this; parama-mahattva — very important items.

TRANSLATION

"(34) One should surrender to Kṛṣṇa in all respects. (35) One should observe particular vows like kārtika-vrata. These are some of the sixty-four important items of devotional service.

now one time Lord Caitanya was about to go to Vrindavana during Kartika:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 16.9

kārtika āile kahe — ebe mahā-śīta

dola-yātrā dekhi' yāo — ei bhāla rīta

SYNONYMS

kārtika āile — when the month of Kārttika arrived; kahe — both of them said; ebe — now; mahā-śīta — very cold; dola-yātrā dekhi' — after seeing the Dola-yātrā ceremony; yāo — You go; ei — this; bhāla rīta — a very nice program.

TRANSLATION

However, when the month of Kārttika came, they both told the Lord, "Now it is very cold. It is better that You wait to see the Dola-yātrā festival and then go. That will be very nice."

Now one thought came to my mind when was again Lord Caitanya went for Vrindavana did the Lord visit Vrindavana during Kartika month?

 

śarat-kāla haila, prabhura calite haila mati

rāmānanda-svarūpa-sańge nibhṛte yukati

SYNONYMS

śarat-kāla haila — autumn arrived; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; calite — to travel; haila — was; mati — desire; rāmānanda — Rāmānanda Rāya; svarūpa — Svarūpa Dāmodara; sańge — with; nibhṛte — solitary; yukati — consultation.

TRANSLATION

When autumn arrived, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu decided to go to Vṛndāvana. In a solitary place, He consulted with Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī.

 

So if he had left in August woul he not have arived in Kartika?But it is not mentioned when Lord Caitanya arrived in Mathura now how He

celebrated Kartika:

 

Quotes from Mathura Mahatyam by Srila  Rupa Gosvami

Residing in Mathura During the Month of Karttika 

In the Karttika-mahatmya, Narada says: By bathing in sacred places and giving  charity during the month of Karttika, a person in any country attains piety  equal to an agnihotra-yajna. 

Text 168 krsna-salokya-do masah puja-snanais ca karttikah anyah  puryas tat-samana bhavanti mathuram vina 

In Mathura bathing and worship during the month of Karttika place one on the  same planet as Lord Krsna. No other holy place is equal to Mathura. 

Text 169 damodaratvam hi hares tatraivasit yatah kila mathurayam  tatas turjo vaikuntha-priti-vardhanah karttiko mathurayam vai paramavadhir  isyate 

The month of Karttika, when Lord Hari enjoyed His Damodara-pastime in  Mathura, delights Lord Vaikuntha. The month of Karttika spent in Mathura brings  the supreme destination. 

Text 170 yatha maghe prayagah syad vaisakhe jahnavi tatha karttike  mathura sevya tatrotkarsah paro na hi 

As Prayaga should be served in the month of Magha, and the Ganges in the  month of Vaisakha, so Mathura should be served in the month of Karttika. Nothing  is better than that service. 

Text 171 mathurayam narair urje snatva damodaro 'rcitahkrsna-rupa hi te  jneya natra karya vicarana 

They who, after properly bathing, worship Lord Damodara in Mathura during  Karttika, attain forms like that of Lord Krsna. Of this there is no doubt. 

Text 172 durlabhah karttiko vipra mathurayam nrnam iha yatrarcitah  svakam rupam bhaktebhyah samprayacchati 

O brahmanas, residence in Mathura during Karttika is a rare attainment for  humans. To they who worship Him there and then the Lord gives their original  spiritual forms. 

Text 173 bhuktim muktim harir dadyad arcito 'nyatra sevinam bhaktim  tu na dadaty eva yato vasya-kari hareh 

When He is worshiped in any other place, Lord Hari gives only liberation or  sense-gratification to His servants. He does not give them pure devotional  service, for that service brings Him under their dominion. 

Text 174 sa tv anjasa harer bhaktir labhyate karttike naraih  mathurayam sakrd api sri-damodara-sevanat 

By once serving Lord Damodara in Mathura during Karttika, the people can  easily attain pure devotional service to Lord Hari. 

Text 175 mantra-dravya-vihinam ca vidhi-hinam ca pujanam manyate  karttike devo mathurayam mad-arcanam 

They who, even without proper mantras and offerings, and without properly  following the rules, worship Him in Mathura during Karttika, the Lord considers  His true devotees. 

Text 176 yasya papasya yujyeta marananta hi niskrtih  tac-chuddhy-artham idam proktam prayascittam su-niscitam karttike  mathurayam vai sri-damodara-pujanam 

The perfect atonement to purify the sins of a lifetime is: worship Lord  Damodara in Mathura during Karttika. 

Text 177 sulabha mathura loke pratyabdam karttikas tatha tathapi  samsarantiha nara mudha bhavambudhau 

Although Mathura is easy to visit in this world, and although Karttika comes  every year, the fools still swim in the ocean of repeated birth and death. 

Text 179 yani sarvani tirthani nada nadyah saramsi ca karttike  nivasanty atra mathure sarva-mandale 

All holy places and all holy rivers, streams, and lakes reside in the circle  of Mathura during Karttika. 

Text 180 Sparopahasam uddisya karttike hari-sevaya mathurayam labhed  bhaktim kim punah sraddhaya narah 

They who as a joke serve Lord Hari during Karttika in Mathura will attain  pure devotional service, what to speak of they who serve the Lord with faith and  devotion. 

Text 181 tatraiva dhumrakesam prati yama-vakyam tasman nrpatmaja  sreyah param kincin na-not; vidyate karttike mathurayam ca  sri-damodara-pujanat 

Yamaraja says to Dhumrakesa: Therefore, O prince, nothing is better than  to serve Lord Damodara in Mathura during Karttika. 

Residence in Mathura During Prabodhini tithi

In the Padma Purana, Karttika-mahatmya, it is said: 

When Lord Visnu does not wake from His happy sleep on Prabodhini tithi, then  all the holy places roar with asvamedha-yajnas. Note: Prabodhini tithi is the  first ekadasi in the month of Karttika. On that day the Lord awakens from His  four-month-long nap. 

Text 186 mathurayam tu kim vacyam jagare hari-sannidhau karttike  bodhinim prapya tatah sreyah param hi na 

What can be said about approaching the Deity of Lord Hari when He awakens in  Mathura? No day is better than the Prabodhini day in the month of Karttika. 

Text 187 rajyam anyatra santyajya sphitam nihata-kantakam karttike  mathurayam vai kaimutyam jagaram caret 

One should leave any other great and peaceful kingdom, and in Mathura stay  awake through the night during Prabodhini in the month of Karttika. What place  is better than Mathura for this? 

Residing in Mathura During Dvadasi in Karttika Month 

In the Visnu Purana it is said: 

A person who during the Sukla-dvadasi in the month of Karttika bathes in the  Yamuna and sees the Deity of Lord Hari in Mathura attains the supreme  destination. 

Text 189 atha bhisma-pancake padme bhismam prati sri-krsna-vacanam  tvaya krte vrate pascat khyasyate bhisma-pancakam ye tatra janma-bhumau  me karisyanti maha-vratam mathurayam tu gangeya tesam bhaktih kare sthita 

Residing in Mathura During Bhisma-pancaka (goes from Utthana Ekadasi til  Purnima) 

In the Padma Purana, Sri Krsna says to Bhisma: 

O Gangeya, this vow you have followed will henceforth be known as  Bhisma-pancaka. They who follow this great vow in My birthplace, Mathura, find  pure devotional service resting in their hand. 

Text 191 durlabho bhakti-yogo me mama vasya-vidhayakah karttike  mathurayam ca vratenanena labhyate 

Pure devotional service to Me which, becausae it places Me under My devotee's  dominion, is very difficult to attain, is easily attained by following this vow  in Mathura during Karttika. 

Text 192 puranantare ca sarvabhista-pradam proktam mathure  bhisma-pancakam 

In another place in the Puranas it is said: Following the vow of  Bhisma-pancaka in Mathura is said to fulfill all desires. 

Text 193 yatha bhavisye bhisma-panca-dine prapte mathura-mandale  hareh nidra-ccheda-kare punye paduke cavalokayet 

In the Bhavisya Purana it is said: A person who observes Bhisma-pancaka and  Prabodhini tithi in Mathura will see Lord Hari's splendid sandals.

So I did not find anything about Lord Caitanya offering lamps to Damodara or Him chanting Damodarastakam , it is highly unlikely He would not do so.

Since Damodarastakam is very ancient .

 

 

yathä dämodaro bhakta- vatsalo  vidito janaiù tasyäyaà tädåço mäsaù sv-alpam apy uru-kärakaù yathä-as; dämodaraù-Lord Damodara; bhakta-the devotees;  vatsalaù-loves; viditaù-known; janaiù-by the people; tasya-of Him; ayam-this;  tädåçaù-like this; mäsaù-month; sö-alpam-very slight; api-even;  uru-kärakaù-making big.

"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.

 

 

your servant

Paramananda das