Karttik is a special month to collect lots of mercy and blessings from Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Before citing the super benefits of observing the Karttik Vrata, we will quote Srila Prabhupada’s translation of one verse of Satyavrata Muni’s Dāmodarāṣṭakam which is chanted daily in the Karttik month.

Srila Prabhupada said, “In this prayer, one passage says, ‘My dear Lord Damodar, once when you were playing as a naughty boy in the house of Nanda Maharaj, you broke the box containing yogurt. Because of that, mother Yashoda considered you an offender and tied you with a rope to the household grinding mortar. At that time, you delivered the two sons of Kuvera, Nalakuvara and Manigriva, who were staying there as two arjuna trees in the yard of Nanda Maharaj. My only request is that by your merciful pastimes you may similarly deliver me.’” (Nectar of Devotion, chapter 4)

In his teachings to Srila Sanatan Goswamipada (Chaitanya Charitamrita 2.22), Gauranga Mahaprabhu explained the 64 limbs of devotion by which one can attain the most valuable treasure of love for Krishna (päi kṛṣṇa-prema-mahä-dhana). At that time, Mahaprabhu said, “In all respects, one of the most important limbs is to observe special vows in the month of Karttik, (karttikädi-vrata, parama-parama-mahattva).

Srila Rupa Goswami extols the Damodar (Karttik) month in his Mathurä Mähätmyam: “To those who worship Krishna in Vrindavan, Lord Krishna gives their original spiritual forms. The perfect atonement to purify the sins of a lifetime is to worship Lord Damodara in Vrindavan during Karttik. The month of Karttik spent in Vrindavan takes one to the spiritual world.”

The Hari-bhakti-viläsa proclaims, “O learned brähmaëas! Lord Damodar becomes very pleased if one worships a deity of Radhika during the month of Karttik solely for her pleasure.” (16.95)

In Jaiva Dharma, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur writes, “Another name for Karttik is ürja. Devotees take special vows of renunciation and increase their devotional activities of hearing, chanting, remembering, circumambulation, etc., to celebrate the pastimes of Sri Krishna.”

In his Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada said, “One of the most important functions is called ürja-vrata, observed in the month of Karttik. The execution of devotional service during ürja-vrata in the month of Karttik is especially recommended to be performed at Mathura. This system is still followed by many devotees. They go to Mathura or Vrindavan and stay there during the month of Karttik. Even unserious persons who execute devotional service according to the regulative principles during the month of Karttik within the jurisdiction of Mathura in India are very easily awarded Sri Krishna’s personal service.”

Srila Prabhupadaki jai!Karttik Super Benefits ki jai!Jai Jai Sri Radhe!