Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math devotees observe the intense sadhana of eight periods of devotional service as mentioned in Bhajan Rahasya. Srila Gurudev advises that everyone should try to participate in the Kartik Vrata observance. They can go to any branch of the math near to them.

For the devotees not living near the Math, Srila Gurudev advises the following practices for Kartik Vrata. Everybody should try to follow as much as possible according to their capacity.

-- Sing Sree Damodarastakam, while meditating on the meaning. Srila Guru Maharaj has translated the Damodarastakam into English. It is included in the Kartik Handbook.

-- Daily offer a ghee lamp to Supreme Lord Sree Krishna

-- One should always remember Supreme Lord Hari. Devotees should try to chant Harinam correctly.

-- Hear Srimad Bhagavatam, daily in association with exalted Vaisnavas, if possible. Preference should be given to hear the scriptures from Sadhus during this month. Reciting and reading Sree Gajendra Moksha Lila-stava from the 8th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam is most beneficial, which teaches complete surrender to Supreme Lord.

-- Eat only the food offered to the Supreme Lord. There are some food restrictions to be followed in the month of Kartik. (Restricted food items during Kartik Vrata include sesame seed and oil, mustard seed and oil, eggplant, permal (potol), honey, urad dal, louki, tamoto etc.)

-- Daily recite Siksastaka of Sriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and meditate on its meaning. Read the commentary on Sikastaka by Bhaktivinoda Thakur as recommended by Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad. In the Bhajan Rahasya translation, Srila Gurudev has covered the commentary of Sikastaka (In Kartik Handbook).

-- Daily Read the Updeshamrata of Srila Rupa Goswami as recommended by Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad.

-- Observe special days during Kartik month (many Vaishnava appearances and disappearances, Radha Kunda appearance, Govardhan appearance, Gopastami, Param Gurudev appearance etc.). Srila Gurudev has written about the Giriraj Govardhan in Kartik Handbook.

-- Associate more with devotees.