GLORIES OF KARTTIKA MONTH Whatever one does for Krishnaat any time, at any place, under any circumstanceis

to ones eternal benefit: nehabhikrama-naso sti pratyavayo na vidyate In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.--Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Ch.2 Such is the benefit of devotional service in general. However, during certain times of yearsuch as appearance anniversaries of Lord Krishna and His devoteesthe benefits of ones service are compounded. During the month of Damodar, or Krttika (October/November), rewards for service to Krishna are greater than at any other time of year. QUOTES FROM PURANAS

"A person who offers a lamp to Lord Krishna during Karttika attains the eternal spiritual world where there is no suffering." Even one who never performs religious rituals or even the worst sinner will surely be purified by this offering. O Narada, in the three worlds there is no sin that can stand before this Kartika dipa. In fact, by presenting this dipa before Lord Vasudeva, the eternal abode can be reached without obstruction.

"When one offers a lamp during the month of Karttika, his sins in many thousands and millions of births perish in half an eye blink."

"Eveniftherearenomantras,nopiousdeeds,andnopurity,everything becomesperfectwhenapersonoffersalampduringthemonthofKarttika." "Please hear the glories of offering a lamp during pleasing to Lord Kesava. O King of brahmanas, a person who offers a lamp in this way will not take birth again in this world." "O Tiger among sages! For a person who thus offers a lamp burning with ghee or sesame oil, what is the use of performing an asvasmedha-yajna? " "A person who during the month of Karttika offers a lamp to Lord Kesava has already performed all yajnas and bathing in all holy rivers. " "The ancestors say: When someone in our family pleases Lord Kesava by offering to Him a lamp during the month of Karttika, then, by the mercy of the Lord who holds the Sudarsana-cakra in His Hand, we will all attain liberation." "By offering a lamp during the month of Karttika one burns away a collection of sins as big as Mount Meru or Mount Mandara. Of this there is no doubt." "A person who offers a lamp during the month of Karttika attains a result that cannot be obtained with even a hundred yajnas or a hundred pilgrimages." "Even a person addicted to all sins and averse to all pious deeds who somehow offer a lamp during Karttika becomes purified. Of this there is no doubt." "O Narada, no sin exists anywhere in the three worlds that will not be purified by offering a lamp to Lord Kesava during Karttika." "As fire is present in all wood and may be extracted by friction, so piety is always present in the offering of a lamp during the month of Karttika. Of this there is no doubt."