Auspicious KARTHIK month starts from TUESDAY (27th October)!!!

[Praveena Gaddam]

Hare Krishna,

The most auspicious Karthik Month starts from coming Tuesday (27th October 2015). Whatever sacrifice/austerity/tapasya that can be followed in this month will have 1000s of times more spiritual benefit than normal months of the year. This month is Damodar month (Krishna as Damodara pastime, Yashoda binding Krishna) and it's very good to offer "Ghee lamp" to Lord Krishna during this month.

In Vrindavan there would be thousands and thousands of people visiting this month. During this month any small sacrifice/austerity/tapasya that can be followed is very good. Some examples of  sacrifice/austerity/tapasya..that are generally followed are mentioned below. You can try to practice one/two/more of the below items depending on your capacity....You can take a vow in front of the Lord that you will try to follow this and seek His help in following the same till the Karthik month ends (ends on Wednesday, 25th November 2015). Even if you can not take any vow, just thinking sincerely about it and praying to the Lord to give you strength to practice the vow in the future is also very good.

 

Examples :

 

1. Chanting one extra round of Hare Krishna Maha mantra than what you are currently doing (or start chanting Hare Krishna maha mantra if you are not chanting currently)
2. Waking up early
3. Offering ghee lamp everyday to Lord Damodar (I can give the frame to everyone if u don't have - please remind)
4. Reading one chapter of Bhagavad gita (just sanskrit verses, or english translations is good enough)
5. Reading special prayersin Srimad Bhagavatam, like Kunti prayers/Gajendra prayers/Brahma samhita/Prahlad prayers etc
6. You can follow austerity by eating only twice a day/once a day
7. Meditating on one/few important verses of Bhagavad gita/Bhagavatam
8. Reading a book and trying to target to complete it (small books like Isopanisad/perfection of yoga/any small Srila Prabhupada book)
9. Taking only Prasadam ( pure vegetarian food without onion and garlic that is offered to the Lord)

10. Attending early morning Bhagavatam or Bhagavad gita conference calls run by our temple (Srimad Bhagavatam call at 5 am and there are two Bhagavad Gita calls  starting at 6:30am and 6:40 am).

etc...

If you have any questions regarding any of the above points please feel free to call me anytime @ 408-833-4058.

HAPPY KARTHIK!!!!

Thank you,
Yours in the service of Sri Krishna Balaram and Srila Prabhupada,
Priya Sakhi DD (Praveena)