Hare Krishna to all devotees !
The Padma Purana describes the month of Kartik as Krishna's favourite month. Devotional activities performed during this holy month are rewarded with greater spiritual results than usual so devotees often take vows to increase their spiritual practices or to simplify their material needs for the entire month. It is a way that they can remember Krishna more and increase their service to Him.
The Padma Purana further recommends the daily offering of a ghee lamp to Krishna during Kartik so in ISKCON temples around the world devotees offer ghee lamps to Krishna either in the morning or evening while singing the Damodaraska prayers. These beautiful verses taught to the devotees by Srila Prabhupada glorify the Damodar pastime of Krishna which occurred during the Kartik month.
Some easy steps for offering a lamp to Krishna :
1. Please find attached an audio file as well as a pdf file (which has the verses) of the "Damodar Ashtakam" Prayers.
2. You can play the audio file while offering the lamp.
3. Small birthday candles can be used.
4. Take a small aluminium tray and have some rice placed on it.
5. Each member of the family can take turn to light a candle and offer it to Sri Krishna and Sri Radha Rani - while offering the candle hold the lighted candle in you right hand
and rotate it clockwise first to the feet of Krishna (4 times), next to the waist (2 times), next to the face (3 times ) and last to the full deity (7 times). Repeat the same to
Radha Rani and other deities too. Finally offer the lamp to all the devotees assembled, by rotating the lamp 3 times.
6. After offering, the candles can be placed in the alumimium tray and the same tray can be used throughout the month.
Thank you
Happy Kartik month
