A Momentous Kartik Month of 1935

From October 17to November 15, 2024, devotees observe the special month of Kartik. It’s a month of special vows, observations, practices, etc., in order to gain certain benefits, which are not available ordinarily in the other months.

Why is this so? Well, it’s explained that when a shop has a certain clientele and wants to expand its customer base it tries to give some discounts or festival offers. This catches the attention of new customers and they decide to use that special offer.

Similarly, those who know bhakti yoga and practice it, will perform devotional service anyways; but those who are not yet informed about it may utilize the special Kartik offer and avail the bounties offered.

Vrindavan dhama in the month of Kartik is especially charming. This season in Vrindavan is surcharged with both sensual beauty and spiritual sakti (power). The peacocks freely advertize their rainbow colors, and tall trees flavor the breeze with sweet aromas from their flowers. The Yamuna River, with the arms of her waves, offers crystal clear water for tasting, and cooling currents for bathing.

For the whole month of Kartik at Radha-Damodara temple, and others, there is a special puja performed called, “Niyam Seva.” Every day thousands of Vaishnava pilgrims go around the temple, participate in the many kirtans, and hear the enlightening Bhagavata discourses by different pandits, speaking in turn. This spiritual atmosphere, swelling with sounds, scents and sentiments, saturates any sincere soul with ecstatic love for Sri Krishna. Kartik month is also called “Damodara month”, which refers to that naughty boy, Krishna, who Mother Yasoda bound around the waist with a rope. During this Damodara month, if one manages to capture Krishna with the ropes of pure devotion, he will be released from the bondage of repeated birth and death.

In November 1935, Srila Prabhupada was again with his spiritual master in Vrindavan. It was the Kartik season, the ideal time to visit Vrindavana, and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was staying for a month with his disciples at the peaceful Radha-kunda, the sacred lake where Radha and Krishna used to sport.

The banks of Radha-kunda were overhung with bright green foliage growing from the gnarled branches of ancient tamarind, tamala, and nim trees. In the shallows of the water, cranes stood on stilt like legs, while river terns skimmed across the lake, sometimes abruptly diving for fish. Sometimes a tortoise would poke its nose up from the water’s depth, or a fish would jump. Green parrots, usually in pairs, flew in and out of the green trees, and sparrows chirped and hopped from place to place. Peacocks were also there, mostly in nearby gardens, as were occasional rabbits and even deer.

The atmosphere was enriched with the history of Krishna-lila. Five thousand years ago, Radha and Krishna had engaged in transcendental pastimes here, and only five hundred years ago Lord Caitanya had rediscovered Radha-kunda. Lord Caitanya’s great follower Raghunatha dasa Gosvami had resided here for many years, constantly chanting Hare Krishna and discussing the activities of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And here, in a small bhajana-kutir, Krishnadasa Kaviraja had written Caitanya-caritamrita, the narrative of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati relished so much. Many of the inhabitants at Radha-kunda were babajis, living in small bhajana-kutirs and spending their time chanting Hare Krishna.

Having heard of his spiritual master’s stay here, Srila Prabhupada, who was known as Abhay at that time, bringing his son with him, had travelled from Bombay, just to have audience of his spiritual master. To see Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was always an occasion for jubilation, but to see him in Vrindavana was an added elation. This meeting with his beloved guide and mentor was different from the time in 1932 when Abhay had seen him on the Vrindavan parikrama. Now Abhay was no longer sitting anonymously in the back of a room. Now he was a bona fide disciple, recognized as the “kavi,” who had written the praiseworthy poem and essay, the young man who listened well, the devotee who had helped the Allahabad matha and who had established the matha in Bombay.

This time his spiritual master’s mood was grave and serious. Deeply concerned, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta said to Abhay (in Bengali), agun jvalbe: “There will be fire.” One day there would be fire in the Calcutta Gaudiya Matha, and that fire of party interests would spread and destroy. Abhay heard, but felt his spiritual master was speaking to him in urgency, as if asking him for help or warning him to avert a disaster. But what was he to do?

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta then said directly to Abhay (in Bengali), “Amar iccha chilakichuboi karana”: (“I had a desire to print some books. If you ever get money, print books.”)

Standing by Radha-kunda, and beholding his spiritual master, Abhay felt the words deeply enter his own life: “If you ever get money, print books.”

And Srila Prabhupada carried that instruction which he received in the month of Kartik, deep in his heart, and practiced that instruction to the limits of his stupendous abilities, for all the world to see, recognize, and imbibe, the highest Vedic knowledge. His followers to this day celebrate the legacy left by Srila Prabhupada’s momentous Kartik month’s conversation of 1935.

—Syamananda Dasa