Festivals that occur in the month of Kartika are described in this Chapter. - Ankoot and Govardhan Festival.
Festivals that occur in the month of Kartika are described in this Chapter. - Ankoot and Govardhan Festival.
Sri Narayanmuni said:-
The Shuddha Pratipada of Kartikmasa though priorly affected by Amavasya (new moon) should be auspicious till Sayahna (sunset), for Govardhana festival. 1.
It is (Pratipada) is Suda- pure but not continues till Evening. it should not be accepted because on the festival day if the moon is seen at night, the soma king destroys the worshippers as well as cows. 2.
Chaturdashi, Amavasya and Pratipala are the three days for the celebration. These three days should be celebrated consecutively. 3.
At this time Lord Krishna should be adorned with red and yellow dhoti and a crown made of peacock feathers and the Karnikar flowers should be put on the ears. 4.
A garland of five colored flowers which is known as Vaijayatimala should also be placed around the neck of Lord Krishna. A flute and beautiful ornaments should also be used. A Tulsi garland and a long cloth should be hanged down the shoulders of Lord Krishna. 5 - 6.
A food festival (Annkut Mahotsava) should also be performedcelebrated according to one’s financial status. Various kinds of vegetables, Bhajis, specially cooked food in pure ghee, rice and all other verities should be also cooked and offered to Lord Krishnaas Naivedya. 7 - 8.
After Naivedya, a betel leaf of various fragrant spices should be offered to the Lord Krishna. Aarti should be followed after Naivaidhya. Brahmins and hermits should be honored by serving them with food. 9.
On this very day, cows, calves and bullocks should be worshipped with turmeric, kumkum etc. 10.
All these cattle should be decorated with various garlands of flowers and their horns should be colored and then they all should be taken in front of the temple for play. The Govardhan mountain of cow dung should be made and worshipped. Again food festival, Annakuta should be celebrated in the afternoon. 11-12.
Interesting story and song of Govardhan-utsava should be preached, heard and sung along with musical instruments such as drums and Dhols. 13.
After the dinner of Vaisnavas, Brahmans and saints, the rest of the Haribhaktas can have the dinner. These are the particularly special rituals of this festival, all other rituals are as usual and regular. 14.
The description of Gopastami Festival.
On the Ashtami of brighter fortnight of Kartik shuddha Astami, Lord Krishna had taken cows to feed in Vrndnvaa in the morning along with Gopas for the first time. 15.
The Tithi Ashtami at the sunrise should be considered as acceptable for the commencement of this day. If the Tithi excluded or added, it should not be accepted. 16.
On that day (Kartik Shuddha astami) Lord Krishna should be dressed as Gopa- a cowboy with a peacock feather crown and yellow dhoti. 17.
The idol of Lord Krishna should be covered with sandal wood paste and the ornaments of flower should be placed on him. A stick be given in arm and a flute in the other. 18.
Curds and sugar should be offered to Lord Krishna. as Naivedya. The story and the songs of Krishna feeding the cows story should be recited. After the worshipping, dinner should be taken. 19.
Prabodhini Festival. On the eleventh day of the brighter fortnight of Kartik, (Shuuddha ekadashi) Lord Vishnu woke up from his sleep, so the day is called the ‘awakening’ day (Prabodhini Ekadashi) 20.
This day, Ekadashi coming with Dashami tenth day should be observed as Ekadashi, but not if it is affected. 21.
This day, Ekadashi must be clear and not pervaded by Dashami, only then it’s acceptable otherwise it’s not. 22.
Even if Dashami is for fifty five ‘Ghatikas’- a period of 24 minutes, it is also not acceptable. But if even a single Pala- 160th part of an hour- is more, then it can be accepted. 23.
The Ekadashi pervaded by sixty Ghatikas on the previous day should also be avoided. But on next day it should be accepted. 24.
When it is Navami for only one ‘Pala’ and Dashami is reduced- excluding, Dwadashi-twelfth day should be accepted for festival. 25.
On this day of Prabodhini Ekadashi, take bath early at dawnBrahma Muhurta, after morning bath collect the material necessary for worship 26.
On this day Lord Krishna in the form of Pujke Yogeswar should be worshipped. If possible a golden idol of Yogeswar should be made and worshipped. 27.
The idol should be in the seat of ‘Padmasan’, seated on a white lotus, with eyes having the sight focused at the end of nose and the left palm resting on the right palm while both hands are resting on the crossed-folded laps. 28.
A mace (Gada) and a lotus should be placed in the lower hands and in the upper two hands of the idol there should be ‘Panchajanya’- conch and Sudershana Chakra. Laksmi should be placed at the left side of the idol. 29.
The Yogeswar so described should be made and the idol should then be worshipped with deep devotion along with all the sixteen formalities of worship. 30.
Rice, milk with sugar and delicious fruits like grape etc. should be offered to the lord as Naivedya. 31.
Shri Dharmadev Janmotsav Festival.
Shri Dharmadev Janmamohotsav - On this day of Prabhodhini Ekadashi Dharmadev’s birth should be celebrated at mid-day. If the idol of Dharmadev is not available then a golden idol should be made. 32.
A beautifully decorated Mandap should be created in front of the temple. A Sarvatobhadra circle (Mandal) should be made where the idol of Dharmadev should be worshipped according to the rituals. 33.
Dharmadev’s idol should have four arms and Chatuspad and it should be decorated with all the ornaments having all the auspicious signs, and white robes should be worn. 34.
In the right upper arm of the Dharmadev should be placed crystallized Japamala and in the left upper arm a book should be placed. At the right side of the idol Vyavasaya should be placed. 35.
A beautiful idol of full of happiness (Shuk) should be placed on the left side. The idol should be created in a such a way that the lower right hand is resting on Vyavasaya while the lower left hand is resting on Shuk idol. (full of happiness) 36.
Dharmadev’s idol should be made in a human figure with one mouth (head) two arms and it should be adorned with rich robes. 37.
A beautiful Goddess, Bhaktidevi should be placed to the left side of Dharmadev. She should be with two arms and should be decorated with ornaments, pure red colored robes. 38.
Glitter should be placed in her left hand and a basket with garlands of pearls and fragranced flower should placed in the right hand. 39.
Idols of Bhakti and Dharma thus should be made of either gold or silver according to the economic status which should be worshipped with Saptarshis and Arundhati. 40.
Kashapa, Saptarshis and Arundhati should be made of Darbha on sandalwood etc. 41.
Shraddha, Maitri, shanti and others also, the twelve wives of Dharma should be worshipped. 42.
On that day drums should played for whole day and Bhagavan’s prayers and songs should be sung throughout the day. 43.
The idol of the Lord to be worshipped should be decorated with a valuable crown and with rich robes. 44.
Fresh, maiden flowers should be offered to the God and red robes and ornaments should be put on. Goddess Laksmi also should be clothed with rich robes and valuable ornaments. 45.
A special food for Naivedya should be the Gheevar- pours, cakes of flour boiled in pure ghee and dipped in boiled sugar soup. As usual the ghee lamp and camphor should be lit for the Arati - devotional hymns sung in praise of the God. 46.
Hatadi Festival.
In the evening a market like design should be arranged in front of it where there should be newly cooked food in separate pots. 47.
Different kinds of vegetables, fruits should be arranged along with sugarcane stems and sweet dishes like Penda in different sections. 48.
On this day of Ekadashi, the followers of Uddhav cult- tradition should observe a strict fast and should not take anything except water. 49.
Radha-Damodar should be worshipped with Kumbhi and lotus flowers on this Ekadashi day. 50.
Lastly for Naivedya, raw gram Laddoos should be prepared . Thus, in short, I have narrated to you about the festival of ‘Prabodhini - Awakening festival. 51.
Lord Shri Krishna should be worshipped on every Ekadashi as described in other scriptures. 52.
All the Ekadashi-related kathas and stories should be recited on the auspicious day of Ekadashi by the Hari Bhaktas. 53.
Tulsi Vivah Festival.
Now about the Tulasi Vivaha ceremomy- On the Dwadashi day of Kartika, the twelfth day of the brighter fortnight in the month of Kartika. Tulasi Vivaha ceremony should be performed. For this festival the dwadashi pervading the mid-day should be accepted for Tulasi Vivaha. (Tulasi’s marraige with Lord Krishna) 54.
On this day of Dwadashi the idol of Lord Krishnashould be dressed with Usnisa- a turban of red color and the idol should be adorned with various pearls, flowers and garlands. A golden threaded upper garment should be placed on the idol and a golden colored sari should be put on the idol of Laksmi. 55 - 56.
Rice cooked in Jaggery should be prepared specially as Naivedya. In the evening God Vishnu and Goddess Laksmi should be worshipped in a beautiful Mandap. 57.
In the evening during sunset, the idols of Shaligrama , Krishna and Tulasi should be worshipped after having placed them in a beautiful decorated Mandap. 58.
The goddess Tulasi should be adorned with a yellow sari, a necklace, nose ring, turmeric, Kumkum and bangles. 59.
Fruits available at that time and sugarcane should specially be included in Naivedya along with other sweet items. 60.
Tulasi and Vishnu should be worshipped with an oil or ghee lamp turning clockwise around them (Aarti), then Lord Krishna’s scarf and Laksmi’s sari should be tied together. Hence Tulsi should then be married to Lord Krishna. 61.
Brahmins should be served with dinner and they should be honored by giving them alms. Songs regarding the Tulasi Vivaha should be sung on this occasion. 62.
Dev-Diwali Festival.
On the full moon day in the month of Kartika Lord Vishnu should be adorned with a sacred crown in the morning. 63.
For Naivedya, rice, Shira, Puri and the Vegetable of Surana and brinjal should specially be offered. 64.
At night various lamps should be lit in the temple and lamps of ghee should be lit in front of Lord Krishna according to the economic status. 65.
At the moon rise on the full moon day, Bhaktidevi and Dharmadev should be worshipped and various types of music should be played. 66.
If there is no idol of Bhakti in the temple, a golden idol of Bhakti should be made with full deep devotion and it should then be worshipped. 67.
All devotees should sing songs about the play that Shri Krishna and Balaram performed with Gopis at night on this full moon day. The devotees should sing and recite the play. 68.
In the morning on this day, the God should be dressed with regularly clothing and Goddess Laksmi should be wrapped with a cotton sari. 69.
From this day till the full moon day of Phalguna, Lord Krishna should be covered with a blanket every night. 70.
All the men should, from this day till Phalguna Poornima (full moon day), use blankets to stay warm in winter. 71.
‘O sons, young ones, I have told you about the festivals that are to be celebrated in the month of Kartika. Now I shall narrate to you about the festivals in Margasheersha month. 72.
Thus ends the fifty-eighth chapter entitled ‘describes the annual festivals and the festivals that are celebarated in the month of Kartika’ in the fourth Prakaran of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 58
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