Wonderful blessings from Damodara Month...
From today starts all auspicious Damodara month . Damodara month occurs
usually during October and November. It is also known as Kartik-month,
in accordance with lunar calendars. It is described in the scriptures as
the best among months. Damodara month glorifies Supreme Lord Krishna’s
pastime of being bound with ropes by Mother Yasoda.
When Lord Krishna, the Supreme Person, the Supreme Lord, appears on
earth, He performs extraordinary pastimes as a transcendental cowherd
boy. As a child, Lord Krishna lived with His pure devotees in the
village of Vrndavana, or Gokula, India. In the spiritual world
(Vaikuntha) the Lord, in His form called Narayana, is worshiped with
great awe and reverence, but the devotees in Vrndavana have such great
love for the Lord that they even forget that He is the Lord. Because of
their intense love for Him, they think of Him as their friend, son or
lover. And the Lord, to please His devotees, responds in the roles in
which the devotees think of Him.
As a transcendental pastime, Lord Krishna used to steal butter from the
gopis, the ladies of Vrndavana. Once, however, His mother caught Him,
bound His waist with a rope, and tied Him to a grinding mortar to punish
Him. The Lord is therefore also known as Damodara (dama means "rope,"
and udara means "waist").
The festival of offering ghee (clarified butter) lamps to Lord Krishna,
lasts the entire month of Damodara. Observing austerities in the month
of Kartika are glorified in the Vedic scriptures. It is also mentioned
that one who offers ghee lamps to Lord Damodara in this auspicious month
and sings the Damodara Ashtakam (8 verses glorifying the Lord) will get
rid of his past sins and develop devotion to Lord Damodara (Krishna).
Everyone, indiscriminately – man, women, young and old can offer the
ghee lamps. Ghee lamp offerings can be made in the morning or evening or
during both times.
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