The month of Kartika/Damodara Month/festival of Deepam, considered sacred for worshiping Lord Vishnu, began on Sun, Oct 29, 2023  and ends on Mon, Nov 27, 2023 in the eighth Lunar month of Hindu calendar. It is the best, the purest, and the most glorious of all months because there is no other month equal to Kartika and is very dear to Vaishnavas, Shaivas, Jains, Sikhs, and many others. Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Kartikeya, Tulsi, Lakshmi, Guru Nanak and Lord Adinath are honored with much devotion. They celebrate with great devotion several religious rituals, traditions and spiritual activities, such as vratas, getting up in the Brahma Muhurat, offering prayers, meditation, fasting, activating chakras, performing Sadhana and visiting temple and listening Kartika Maas Katha etc. It is believed that any vrata, even the smallest will yield huge results that lasts for one hundred lifetimes.

During Kartika Masam, the time is starting to move into what is called Kaivalya Pada "solitude" or "detachment" in Sanskrit. In terms of Sadhana, Dakshinayana is for purification, and liberation from rebirth and freedom from suffering, Uttarayana is for enlightenment. The Sadhana Pada was the time of plowing, seeding and cultivating and reaching a state of union with the divine or higher Self.

Why Kartika Maas is known as Damodara Maas?

This month is also known as Damodara Maas  (“Dama” means -“rope” and “udara ” means – “belly”) as little Krishna performed his sweetest pastime ‘Damodara Leela’ in Kartika month on the day of Diwali with Ma Yashoda who tied him up to grinding mortar. Later, by his persistent pulling of grinding mortar, the arjuna tree was uprooted, and two of Kuvera’s sons—named Nalapuvera and Manigriva were rescued and promoted to their life of demigods and they became great devotees of the Lord. Thus, Krishna through Damodara Leela, showed us how one can bind him with the ropes of love, affection and devotion. 

What are the Legends of Kartika Maas?

According to the Skanda Purana, this sacred month is associated to Lord Vishnu’s divine incarnation as Matsya, the first Avatar and Lord Shiva’s slaying of Tripurasura. In Kartika, Lord Vishnu resides in water in the form of Matsya, so, dipping in the river or pond before sunrise are believed to lead one to Vaikuntha. It is said that even the Gods descend to the Earth during this auspicious month to participate in the sacred bathing ritual in the Ganga.

What are the Glories of Kartika Month?

Per Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda, for Lord Krishna, ”Of all plants, the sacred Tulasi is most dear to him, of all months, Kartika is most dear, of all places of pilgrimage, HIS beloved Dwarka is most dear, and of all days, Ekadashi is most dear.” Kartika month is the most rewarding month of the year as every little devotional service or charity performed, pleases lord Krishna and gets magnified a thousand times during this month. 

What to do during Kartika Maas?

During Kartika Maas, everyone should do vratas very strictly. Following dos are important than don’ts. One can make a list of resolutions with firm decisions and push oneself to do so, such as 1) Abstaining from social media and read some Katha. 2) Observing celibacy (physical and mental purity) is a prerequisite in any vrata and spiritual Sadhana. 3) Spending time with spiritual Gurus, Sadhus, and Sants for inspiration/escape velocity to get out of this world’s ignorance gravitational pull. 4) Bowing to Gods and the devotees as a vrata (11 times or 21 times etc.) suppresses our ego and that way, you get both physical and spiritual pushups. 5) Taking a bath early in the morning before the Sunrise obtains the results of bathing at all the holy places and brings goodness and charm into the lives of worshippers. If a person takes bath only once in the water of Yamuna in Mathura resides in Vaikuntha for a long period. 6) People must offer arghya (water) to Lord Surya in the morning and perform Pooja, Havan and Yagnya

7) Offering Ghee lamp with meditation to the Lord by looking at His face removes one’s all sins, and never see the face of ruthless Yama and attain the eternal spiritual world where there is no suffering. Also daily offering of Ghee lamp and Parikram (circumbulation) to Tulsi Devi offers one eternal residence in Vrindavan and eternal service of the lotus feet of Krishna. Eating basil leaves on an empty stomach provides protection from illnesses. 8) Offering of a garland of fresh and fragrant flowers and/or Tulasi to Krishna every day helps one to maximize one’s spiritual commitments to go Vaikuntha. 9) Cleaning the temples of Lord and the houses early in the morning brings indescribable happiness. 10) Hearing eagerly the sacred scriptures, Hara and Hari Kathas, Bhagvadgeeta, Chanting, and  listening to Kirtans in the presence of Lord purifies mind and body, destroy sins and bestow Moksha. A person, who, with  his controlled senses, reds even one verse of Geeta gets the result of reading the eighteen Puranas. 11)  Eating only just one meal in the entire day and consume radish, tubers, carrots, garadu, and sweet potatoes for good health and essential nutrition.. Avoid eating onion, garlic, spicy food, non-veg, drinks and Urad Daal and sleep on the floor. 12) Charity holds great importance, one can donate grains, sesame seeds, Amla, money, clothes, blankets, shoes, umbrellas and also Deepam to Brahmins and seek their blessings.

What is the importance of Kartika Somavar vratam?

Kartik Masam commences after Diwali and harbingers the winter season. Karva Chauth, Tulsi Vivah, Diwali, Kartik Purnima and many other important festivals are celebrated. Worshipping Lord Shiva during Kartik Masa especially on Mondays is considered to be very holy in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh and is referred to as the “Somavar Vratam”. Devotees observe fasting, visit temples, to have Darshan, offer special Poojas, chant Hymns and Beej Mantras, perform Abhishekam, to Lord Shiva to escape from the curse of Daksha, and get the blessings and Moksha. Somavar (Monday) gets its name from one of thousand names of Lord Shiva – Someshvara, who keeps the “Soma” the Moon curved on HIS knotted hair. Devotees also offer Naga/Snake Pooja and offer milk and eggs to Nagulamma, who removes Naga Dosham and relieves from bad karma effects. Devotees donate offerings to poor, disabled, old, poor and animals as they see Lord Shiva in every living being.

What is the importance of Kartik month?

The importance of Kartik month has been explained in detail in Shrimad Bhagvat and leaves its imprints on both humans and nature by highlighting the strengthens and harmony of their relationship for the welfare to the world. Annakut known as Govardhan Puja shows love and respect of humans towards nature from which we get everything and the colour of life. Diwali that is celebrated on the Amavasya of Kartik month depicts how we can remove the darkness in life with light and teaches us how to live with  hope when we are surrounded by despair. In the same way, the festival of Bhaiya Dooj brings purity and strength to relationship by depicting the importance of natural love and companionship between brothers and sisters. Karva Chauth fasting observed by married ladies shows the way of leading an ideal married life and rejuvenates the happiness and vows between the life partners. This festival marks the bond of faith and trust in marriage and believed that observing this fast ensures long life of the life partner. Ahoi Ashtami fasting is observed by mothers for the happiness and bright future of their children on the Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha in Kartik month. The fasting lays the basic foundation of a family and marks the commencement of life. The love and responsibility of one generation to another generation comes to the forefront from this fasting. Vishwakarma Divas is also celebrated this month by worshipping machines, equipment, tools, and all the nonliving things that help us earn our living with great respect by businessmen, factory workers, laborers and farmers, which shows the harmony between life and nature in one way or the other. The positive development of any society is possible only by undertaking balance between the nature and human beings together. Celebration of lighting lamps in Kartik Masa signifies enlightenment, awareness, consciousness and ultimate liberation.

Kartik Purnima is a special festival for Sikhs, as it marks the birth of their founder, Guru Nanak. On this day, Sikhs worldwide come together to celebrate and remember the teachings of their Guru. Jain devotees walk barefoot during the Shri Shatrunjay Tirth Yatra to reach the Lord Adinath temple at the top of the hill. Worship him with utmost demotion and follow his teachings in their daily lives.