The month of Kartik (Damodar Masa) this year will correspond to the period covering October 19 to November 17 in the Gregorian calendar.
Devotees follow tenets of physical and mental purity and worship God during this month, which is considered auspicious.
Holy bath, meditation, donating to charity and celebrating the ‘marriage’ of Goddess Tulsi are some of the social and religious duties performed during the month of Karthik.
The Hindu belief is that performers of such duties would be relieved of their sins.
Karthik also witnesses the Festival of Lamps as offerings to Lord Krishna.
In some places, people would re-enact His childhood days including the time He would be ‘punished’ for his pranks, by being tied to a pillar by his Mother Yashoda.
Singing the glory of Lord Krishna and fasting during Karthik bring peace and solace to the human mind and heart.
Lord Krishna says, “Of all plants, the sacred Tulasi is most dear to Me; of all months, Karta is most dear, of all places of pilgrimage, My beloved Dwarka is most dear, and of all days, Ekadashi is most dear.” (Padma Purana, Uttara Khand 112.3).
Hare Krishna Movement
Karthik has special significance to the devotees and members of the Hare Krishna Movement. As well as conducting prayers at the Hare Krishna Temple, devotees will be happy to visit you at your home and perform ‘Damodar Aarti’ to bless you and your family with peace, progress and prosperity.
Raja Venkatesh is a banker by profession and spends much of his after-hours visiting Temples and Churches to offer his services. He is an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and is seen regularly at the Hare Krishna Temple, located at 1229, Riverhead Highway, about 28 kms from the Auckland Central Business District.
Phone (09) 412 8075; Website: www.harekrishna.org.nz
