(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, October 2011)

In Kartika we will try for pure devotional service. In this month one can take vows to perform some special service! Because this month is the month of Srimati Radharani who is especially noticing this service that we render.

When she recommends us to Krishna, then Krishna will also be inclined towards us and she is very compassionate and soft hearted. Therefore, this month is especially a very favourable time to try and attract mercy!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, October 2011)

There is a chance during this month to make a special advancement. Especially whoever goes to Vrindavan during the months of Kartika is very fortunate. It is said because in Vrindavan, during Kartika one can make many times more advancement under normal conditions – it's a thousand times more!

Therefore, being in Vrindavan during Kartika is very, very special. Not all of us have the opportunity or the time to just leave everything and go to Vrindavan for Kartika, but one can at least go in consciousness, because sometimes the acaryas – Srila Jiva Gosvami are pointing out that:

"Mathura is not a place, it's a state of consciousness"

So the consciousness of Mathura (or Vrindavan) is what really transports us there! Therefore we can also invoke that atmosphere from wherever we are, and in that way one can reside in Vrindavan by remembering Vrindavan, because remembrance on the spiritual platform is as good as being there, and we simply remember the spiritual world. So it is a month to meditate on Krishna!

This is a lecture on the topic of the month of Kartika, given by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami on the 11 October 2011 at a home program in Melbourne, Australia.

In the lecture Maharaja explains the importance and meaning of Kartika. He especially emphasises the immense benefit one can make in this month, simply by taking on vows, which then should be kept throughout the whole month.

To download the lecture, click here.