Kartik month is the most auspicious and sacred month for the followers of Sanatan Dharma.It is also known as Damodara month, as it commemorates the pastime of Lord Krishna being bound by the love of his mother Yashoda.
Kartik month is dedicated to the worship of Lord Krishna. It is also the month of Kartik nakshatra, which is associated with Radha Rani, the supreme goddess of devotion and the eternal consort of Lord Krishna.
But do you know why Kartik month is so important? And how can you make the most of this month to please Radha Rani and attain her service? In this article, we will explain the significance and the best practices to achieve Radha Dasyam, the ultimate goal of life.
The Significance of Kartik Month
Kartik month is the best time to perform various spiritual practices, such as fasting, chanting, reading scriptures, visiting temples, offering lamps, donating to charity, and serving the devotees. By observing the rituals and vows of Kartik month, one can attain the blessings of Lord Damodhar and Radha Rani, and achieve the ultimate goal of life, which is to love and serve them.
Kartik month is also the month of gratitude, as it marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the winter season. It is a time to thank the Lord for his mercy and protection, and to share his gifts with others.
The Goal of Radha Dasyam
The internal reason for celebrating Kartik month is that we are worshipping and pleasing Radha Rani, the presiding goddess of this month and the embodiment of service, Radha Dasyam. Radha Rani is the most beloved of Lord Krishna, and she serves Him with the highest devotion and love. She is also the source of all the gopis, who are the best examples of pure devotees. Radha Rani likes this month because of His quality of bhaktvatsalya, or affection for his devotees, because of which He gives himself to His devotees.
The ultimate goal of Radha Dasyam is Krishna Dasyam, which means to serve Lord Krishna the way Radha Rani serves him. Krishna Dasyam is the highest stage of devotion, and it is very rare and difficult to attain. Only by the mercy of Radha Rani and her associates, one can hope to reach this stage. But Radha Dasyam is also not a cheap thing, and it requires a lot of sincerity, purity, and dedication. In Kartik month, we have a great opportunity to please Radha Rani and get her favor by following her instructions and examples.
How to Achieve Radha Dasyam in Kartik Month
To achieve Radha Dasyam, we need to develop the following qualities and practices:
1.Spiritual anxiety: Anxiety to serve Lord Krishna, and to serve him more and more. This is not the same as material anxiety, which is caused by attachment and ignorance. Spiritual anxiety is sweet and blissful, and it increases our love for Lord Krishna. We should always be eager to serve him, and never be satisfied with our service.
2.Detachment and determination: Detachment from everything in this material world except service to Lord Krishna, and determination to follow His will and His devotees’ instructions. We should not be distracted or influenced by the allurements or obstacles of this world, but focus on our spiritual goal. We should have firm faith in the scriptures and the guru, and follow their guidance without hesitation
3.Preaching: Preaching means to glorify Lord Krishna and spread His message all over the world. This is the innermost desire of Radha Rani, and the best way to please her. By preaching, we also benefit ourselves and others, as we purify our hearts and awaken our dormant love for Lord Krishna. Preaching can be done in various ways, such as speaking, writing, singing, distributing books, etc.
4.Expertness: Expertness means to serve Lord Krishna with skill and intelligence, and to make our service refined and pleasing. We should learn from the gopis, who were experts in serving Lord Krishna in every way. They knew His likes and dislikes, His moods and preferences, His needs and desires, and they served Him accordingly. They also served Him with creativity and spontaneity, and always surprised Him with their love.
5.Surrender: Surrender means to give up our own will and accept the will of Lord Krishna. We should not entertain our own desires or opinions, but let Lord Krishna decide what is best for us. We should be ready to do anything and everything for His pleasure, even if it is difficult or painful. We should also surrender to His devotees, especially to Radha Rani and her associates, and serve them with humility and respect.
These are the five essential qualities and practices that will help us achieve Radha Dasyam in Kartik month. Of course, we should also follow the basic rules and regulations of bhakti, such as chanting the holy names, reading the scriptures, observing the festivals, etc. But we should do them with the mood of serving Radha and Krishna, and not for our own benefit.
Take full advantage of Kartik month and make rapid progress in your spiritual life. Kartik month is a golden opportunity to please Radha Rani and Lord Krishna, and to get their mercy and love. If we sincerely follow the above guidelines, we can hope to achieve Radha Dasyam, the highest perfection of life.