Sridhama Mayapur Calendar

2019-2020 ● Gaurabda 533

sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda
sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

Sri Radhe Kunj

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www.bhaktabandhav.org
 Sridhama Mayapur Calendar Gaurabda 533

MARCH 2019 APRIL 2019

21 Mar Sri Gaura Purnima 16 Apr Fasting for Kamada Ekadasi

Start of Gaurabda 533
17 Apr Paran from sunrise to 9:30 a.m.
Month of Caitra / Vishnu Masa: 22 March—19 April
28 Mar Avirbhava: Sri Srivasa Pandita 19 Apr Purnima. Rasa-yatra of Lord Balarama.
Vasanta Rasa-yatra of Sri Krsna.
1 Apr Fasting for Papamocani Ekadasi
Avirbhava: Srila Syamananda Prabhu
and Unmilani Mahadwadasi
and Vamsivadananda Thakur.
2 Apr Paran from sunrise to 8:30 a.m.
Govinda Gosh Tirobhava Month of Vaisakha / Madhusudan Masa: 20 April—18 May
nāhaṁ vipro na ca nara-patir nāpi vaiśyo na śūdro Mahaprabhu’s visit to Varaha Nagar 24 Apr Tirobhava: Akinchan Srila Krsnadas Babaji
nāhaṁ varṇī na ca gṛha-patir no vanastho yatir vā 5 Apr Amavasya Maharaja & Srila Nitaidas Babaji Maharaja
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramānanda-pūrnāmṛtābdher 10 Apr Avirbhava: Sri Ramanujacarya and 25 Apr Avirbhava: Srila Bhakti Kumud Santa
gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ Srila Bhakti Hrdoy Vana Goswami Maharaja Goswami Maharaja
‟I am not a brāhmaṇa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a 12 Apr Avirbhava: Srila Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Gowami 26 Apr Tirobhava: Sri Abhiram Thakur
brahmacāri ̄, a householder, a vānaprastha, or a sannyāsi ̄. I identify Myself only as the Maharaja 28 Apr Tirobhava: Srila Bhakti Vallabha Tirtha
servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of that ever-brilliant and supremely Goswami Maharaja
blissful ocean of nectar, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the maintainer of the gopi ̄s.” (Padyāvalī 63) 14 Apr Sri Rama Navami
(Fast till noon) Ekadasi preparations only
In the spirit of this mood of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, we endeavor to always reside in 29 Apr Tirobhava: Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur
Avirbhava: Srila Bhakti Vallabha Tirtha
the Holy Dhāma, freeing ourselves of the false ego of thinking that we are Asian, Russian, Goswami Maharaja 30 Apr Fasting for Varuthini Ekadasi
African, European, American, and so forth. Navadvīpa-dhāma, or Mayapura, is non-
Kesava Vrata begins (one-month
different from Vṛndavana-dhāma, and indeed, sastra states that in Kali-yūga, all tīrthas
reside in Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī instructs us to always reside in the continuous watering of Salagram & Tulasi,
dhāma and if we cannot be there by body, we must at least be there by mind. Following offering sattu and water)
the Māyāpura calendar helps us to remain absorbed in this desired consciousness and 15 Apr Paran from sunrise to 9:30 a.m.
establishes us in our real eternal residence.
 Sridhama Mayapur Calendar Gaurabda 533

MAY 2019 JUNE 2019

1 May Paran from sunrise to 9:25 a.m.
4 May Avirbhava: Sri Gadadhara Pandit
Amavasya
7 May Aksaya Tritiya. Candan-yatra of
Lord Jagannatha begins. Opening of the
doors of Sri Badrinarayana Temple
Satya Yuga first day. Parasurama App. Day
9 May Avirbhava: Sri Sankaracharya
11 May Janu Saptami
13 May Avirbhava: Sita devi (Lord Rama’s consort)
& Jahnava devi (Lord Nityananda’s consort)
Tirobhava: Sri Madhu Pandit
15 May Fasting for Mohini Ekadasi
End of Kesava Vrata
16 May Paran from sunrise to 7:15 a.m.
18 May Appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva
(Fast till dusk) Ekadasi preparations only
Avirbhava: Srila Srinivas Acarya and
Sri Madhavendra Puripad
namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ Tirobhava: Srila Paramesvari Thakur
Buddha Purnima
O most munificent Lord, bestower of kṛṣṇa-prema! You are Kṛṣṇa Himself known Month of Jyestha / Trivikram Masa: 19 May—17 June
by the name Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, now appearing in the golden 19 May Paran from sunrise to 9:20 a.m.
complexion of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You. Tirobhava: Srila Bhakti Saranga
- Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī (C.C. Madhya 19.53) Goswami Maharaja
21 May Avirbhava: Srila Nimananda Seva Tirtha Prabhu
23 May Tirobhava: Sri Raya Ramananda Prabhu
30 May Fasting for Apara Ekadasi
31 May Paran from sunrise to 9:20 a.m.
Avirbhava: Srila Vrindavan das Thakur
3 June Amavasya
12 June Ganga dushera and Ganga puja
Avirbhava: Sri Gangamata Goswamini
Tirobhava: Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana
13 June Fasting for Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi
14 June Paran from sunrise to 9:20 a.m.
15 June Dahi-cira festival of Sri Raghunath Das
Goswami
17 June Purnima. Snana-yatra of Lord Jagannatha
Tirobhava: Srila Mukunda Datta and
Srila Sridhara Pandit
Month of Asadha / Vamana Masa: 18 June—16 July
18 June Tirobhava: Srila Syamananda Prabhu
22 June Avirbhava: Srila Vakreshwar Pandit
27 June Tirobhava: Sri Srivas Pandit
29 June Fasting for Yogini Ekadasi
30 June Paran from sunrise to 9:25 a.m.
 Sridhama Mayapur Calendar
JULY 2019
2 July Amavasya.
Tirobhava: Srila Gadadhar Pandit &
Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakur
3 July Cleansing of the Gundica Temple
4 July Ratha-yatra of Lord Jagannatha
Tirobhava: Sri Svarupa Damodara Goswami
and Sri Sivananda Sena
8 July Hera Pancami. Sri Lakshmi Vijay
11 July Tirobhava: Srila Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan
Goswami Maharaja
12 July Lord Jagannath’s return journey
End of Rath-yatra festival
Avirbhava: Srila Bhakti Vijnana Bharati
Goswami Maharaja
13 July Fasting for Sayana Ekadasi
14 July Paran from sunrise to 9:30 a.m.
16 July Sri Guru Purnima. Sri Vyasa-puja
Tirobhava: Srila Sanatana Gosvami
First month of Caturmasya vrata begins -
fasting from all green leafy vegetables
Lunar Eclipse 1:30-4:30 a.m.
Month of Sravan / Sridhara Masa: 17 July—15 August
nityānanda namas tubhyaṁ premānanda-pradāyine 18 July Tirobhava: Srila Bhakti Hrdoy Vana Goswami
kalau kalmaṣa-nāśāya jāhnavā-pataye namaḥ
Maharaja & Srila Bhakti Saurabha Sara
Goswami Maharaja
I offer praṇāma unto Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, who bestows the bliss of divine love,
22 July Tirobhava: Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami
who eliminates the filth of the age of Kali, and who is the master of Jāhnavā-devī.
25 July Tirobhava: Srila Lokanatha Goswami
28 July Fasting for Kamika Ekadasi
Gaurabda 533
AUGUST 2019
29 July Paran from sunrise to 9:30 a.m.
1 Aug Amavasya. Tirobhava: Srila Bhakti Raksak
Sridhar Goswami Maharaja
4 Aug Tirobhava: Sri Raghunandana Thakur &
Srila Vamsidas Babaji Maharaja
11 Aug Fasting for Pavitraropani Ekadasi
Start of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda Jhulan-yatra
12 Aug Paran from sunrise to 9:30 a.m.
Sri Krishna Pavitraropan Utsava.
Tirobhava: Sri Rupa Goswami,
Sri Gauridas Pandit & Sri Govinda das
15 Aug Sri Baladeva Purnima
(Fast till noon) Ekadasi preparations only
Raksha bandhan & end of Jhulan-yatra
Second month of Caturmasya begins -
fasting from yogurt for 1 month
Month of Bhadra / Hrsikesa Masa: 16 August—14 September
16 Aug Paran from sunrise to 9:33 a.m.
23 Aug Sri Krishna Janmastami
(Full fast till midnight) Ekadasi preparations only
24 Aug Paran from sunrise to 9:33 a.m.
Sri Nanda-utsava
Avirbhava: Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada
26 Aug Fasting for Annada Ekadasi
27 Aug Paran from sunrise to 9:33 a.m.
30 Aug Amavasya
 Sridhama Mayapur Calendar Gaurabda 533

SEPTEMBER 2019 OCTOBER 2019

3 Sept Avirbhava: Sri Sitadevi (Sri Advaita’s consort)
5 Sept Avirbhava: Sri Lalita Devi
6 Sept Sri Sri Radhastami (No fasting)
10 Sept Fasting for Parsva Ekadasi/Vijaya Mahadwadasi,
Sravana Mahadwadasi & Vamanadev App. Day
Avirbhava: Sri Jiva Goswami.
11 Sept Paran from sunrise to 9:30 a.m.
Avirbhava: Sri Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakur
12 Sept Ananta Caturdasi. Tirobhava: Sri Haridas Thakur
& Srila Bhakti Vijnana Bharati Goswami Maharaja
14 Sept Purnima. Visvarupa-Mahotsava. Sannyasa day of
Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshav Goswami Maharaja &
Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
3rd month of Caturmasya begins - fasting from milk
Month of Asvina / Padmanabha Masa: 15 September—13 October
20 Sept Tirobhava: Srila Bhakti Sri-Rupa Siddhanti
Goswami Maharaja
25 Sept Fasting for Indira Ekadasi
26 Sept Paran from sunrise to 7:35 a.m.
28 Sept Amavasya
śrī-advaita namas tubhyaṁ kali-jana-kṛpā-nidhe 2 Oct Avirbhava: Srila Bhakti Pramod Puri Goswami Maharaja
8 Oct Vijay Dasami / Sri Ramacandra Vijayotsava
gaura-prema-pradānāya śrī-sītā-pataye namaḥ Avirbhava: Sri Madhvacarya
I offer obeisance unto You, Śrī Advaita Prabhu, who are an ocean of mercy for the 9 Oct Fasting for Pasankusa Ekadasi
people of Kali-yuga, who award love for Śrī Gaurahari, and who are the husband 10 Oct Paran from sunrise to 9:28 a.m.
of Śrīmatī Sītā-devī. Tirobhava: Sri Raghunath Bhatta Goswami,
Sri Raghunath das Goswami & Sri Krsnadas Kaviraja
13 Oct Purnima. Saradiya Rasa-yatra of Sri Krsna
Damodar/Kartik/Urja Vrata & Niyam seva begins
Tirobhava: Sri Murari Gupta & Srila Bhakti
Prajnana Keshava Goswami Maharaja
Last month of Caturmasya - Fasting from
sesame seeds, mustard seeds and mustard oil
Month of Kartika / Damodara Masa: 14 October—12 November
18 Oct Akash Dip dan
Tirobhava: Srila Narottama Das Thakur &
Srila Bhakti Kaushal Narasingha Goswami Maharaja
21 Oct Bahulashtami
Avirbhava: Sri Radha Kunda
22 Oct Avirbhava: Sri Virachandra Prabhu &
Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Goswami Maharaja
24 Oct Fasting for Rama Ekadasi
25 Oct Paran from sunrise to 9:28 a.m.
28 Oct Dipawali
Amavasya
29 Oct Annakuta Mahotsava & Sri Govardhan Puja
Go-puja. Avirbhava: Srila Rasikananda Prabhu
30 Oct Yama dvitya. Bhaiya Dooj.
Tirobhava: Sri Vasudeva Ghosh,
Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Goswami Maharaja &
Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Goswami Maharaja
31 Oct Tirobhava: Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 Sridhama Mayapur Calendar Gaurabda 533

NOVEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019

śrī hlādinī-svarūpāya gaurāṅga-suhṛdāya ca
bhakti-śakti-pradānāya gadādhara namo’stu te
I offer obeisance unto Śrī Gadādhara Paṇḍita, who is the embodiment of
transcendental pleasure, the most intimate friend of Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu,
and the bestower of devotional potency.
1 Nov Avirbhava: Srila Bhakti Sri-Rupa Siddhanti
Goswami Maharaja
4 Nov Gopastami. Tirobhava: Sri Gadadhara Das,
Sri Dhananjaya Pandit & Srila Srinivasa Acarya
8 Nov Fasting for Utthana Ekadasi
Tirobhava: Srila Gaurakisora das Babaji Maharaja
Avirbhava: Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Goswami
Maharaja. Start of Bhisma-pancaka
9 Nov Paran from sunrise to 9:30 a.m.
11 Nov Tirobhava: Sri Bhugarbha Goswami, Sri Kasisvara
Pandit & Srila Bhakti Pramod Puri Goswami Maharaja
12 Nov Purnima. Hemant Rasa Yatra of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna
End of Kartik Vrata/niyam seva & Bhisma-pancaka
Avirbhava: Sri Nimbarkacharya
Month of Margasirsa / Kesava Masa: 13 November—12 December
13 Nov Beginning of Sri Katyayani Vrata
17 Nov End of Dipa dan
23 Nov Fasting for Utpanna Ekadasi
Tirobhava: Sri Narahari Sarkar & Sri Kala Krsnadas
24 Nov Paran from sunrise to 9:35 a.m.
Tirobhava: Sri Saranga Thakur
26 Nov Amavasya
29 Nov Tirobhava: Srila Bhakti Jivan Janardan Goswami
Maharaja
2 Dec Jagannath dev Oran Shasthi Ceremony
(Jagannath dev begins wearing winter clothes)
4 Dec Avirbhava: Srila Bhakti Jivan Janardan Goswami
Maharaja
5 Dec Avirbhava: Srila Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan
Goswami Maharaja
8 Dec Fasting for Moksada Ekadasi. Gita Jayanti
9 Dec Paran from sunrise to 9:00 a.m.
12 Dec Purnima. End of Sri Katyayani Vrata
Month of Pausa / Narayana Masa: 13 Dec 2019—10 Jan 2020
16 Dec Tirobhava: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Goswami Prabhupada
20 Dec Avirbhava: Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Goswami
Tirobhava: Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana
Goswami Maharaja
22 Dec Fasting for Saphala Ekadasi
Tirobhava: Sri Devananda Pandit
23 Dec Paran from sunrise to 9:50 a.m.
24 Dec Tirobhava: Sri Mahesh Pandit & Sri Uddharan Thakur
26 Dec Amavasya. Solar Eclipse (8 a.m. to 1:36 p.m.)
27 Dec Avirbhava: Sri Locan das Thakur
29 Dec Tirobhava: Sri Jiva Goswami & Sri Jagadish Pandita
 Sridhama Mayapur Calendar
JANUARY 2020
6 Jan Fasting for Putrada Ekadasi
7 Jan Paran from 8 a.m. to 9:55 a.m.
Avirbhava: Sri Jagadish Pandit
8 Jan Tirobhava: Srila Bhakti Kumud Santa
Goswami Maharaja
10 Jan Purnima. Sri Krsna Pusya Abhishek
Month of Magha / Madhava Masa: 11 January—9 February
13 Jan Avirbhava: Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami
Tirobhava: Srila Ramacandra Kaviraja
15 Jan Ganga Sagar Snana / Makar Sankranti
Avirbhava: Srila Bhakti Vaibhava Puri Maharaja
Tirobhava: Sri Narahari Seva Vigraha Prabhu
16 Jan Tirobhava: Srila Jayadeva Gosvami
17 Jan Tirobhava: Srila Locana das Thakur
21 Jan Fasting for Sat-tila Ekadasi
Avirbhava: Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikram
Goswami Maharaja
22 Jan Paran from sunrise to 10:00 a.m.
24 Jan Avirbhava: Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana
Goswami Maharaja. Sri Vyasapuja Mahotsava
Mauni Amavasya
30 Jan Vasanta Pancami. Avirbhava: Sri Visnupriya devi,
Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi, Sri Raghunatha Das
Goswami & Sri Raghunandan Thakur
Tirobhava: Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti & Srila Bhakti
praṇamāmi śrī śrīvāsaṁ tamādyaṁ paṇḍitaṁ mudā Vivek Bharati Goswami Maharaja. Saraswati Puja.
śrī gaurāṅga-kṛpāpatraṁ kīrtanānanda-mānasam 1 Feb Advaita Saptami (App. Day of Sri Advaita Acarya)
O Śrī Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, I offer praṇāma unto you who are the original authority of knowledge (Fast till noon) Ekadasi preparations only
and the ever-joyful recipient of Śrī Gaurāṅga’s mercy whose mind is always absorbed in the 2 Feb Paran from sunrise to 10:00 a.m.
bliss of hari-kīrtana. 3 Feb Tirobhava: Sri Madhvacarya
4 Feb Tirobhava: Sri Ramanujacarya
Gaurabda 533
FEBRUARY 2020 MARCH 2020
5 Feb Fasting for Bhaimi Ekadasi & Varaha Dwadasi
6 Feb Paran from sunrise to 10:00 a.m.
7 Feb Sri Nityananda Trayodasi
8 Feb Paran from sunrise to 10:00 a.m.
9 Feb Maghi Purnima. Mahaprabhu’s Sannyasa day
Avirbhava: Srila Narottam das Thakur
Month of Phalguna / Govinda Masa: 10 February—9 March
12 Feb Avirbhava: Acharya Kesari Srila Bhakti Prajnana
Keshava Goswami Maharaja
13 Feb Avirbhava: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Goswami Thakur Prabhupada.
Tirobhava: Srila Gaur Govinda Goswami Maharaja
14 Feb Avirbhava: Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaja
19 Feb Fasting for Vijaya Ekadasi
20 Feb Paran from sunrise to 10:00 a.m.
22 Feb Sri Siva-ratri vrata (Ekadasi preparations only)
23 Feb Paran from sunrise to 9:58 a.m. Amavasya
24 Feb Tirobhava: Srila Rasikananda Prabhu,
Srila Jagannatha Das Babaji Maharaja &
Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Goswami Maharaja
2 Mar Tirobhava: Srila Bhakti Vaibhava Puri Goswami Maharaja
3 Mar Navadwip Parikrama Sankalpa
4 Mar Navadwip Parikrama begins
6 Mar Fasting for Amalaki Ekadasi
7 Mar Paran from sunrise to 9:52 am.
Tirobhava: Srila Madhavendra Puri
9 Mar Sri Gaura Purnima (Fast till moonrise)
10 Mar Paran from sunrise to 9:15 a.m.
Sri Jagannath Misra Festival
Start of Gaurabda 534
Overview of the Vratas Observed in this Calendar
Ekadasi and Mahadwadasi Vrata: Ekadasi tithi appears twice a month on the
11th day after a new moon and after a full moon. This auspicious tithi has been
glorified as non-different from Madhava (Madhava tithi) or the residence of Hari
(Hari-vasara). On the day of Ekadasi, the scriptures ordain one to observe a fast
from grains and other foods, to minimize the demands of the body, and to engage
more time in the performance of the different limbs of bhakti, such as hearing and
chanting. On this day, one should give up the company of worldly-minded and
sinful people by staying in a holy tirtha or temple and associating with high
class devotees. Sastra instructs that on this day, one should avoid the following:
applying oil on the body, brushing teeth, eating on a bellmetal plate, sleeping,
gambling, cheating, criticising others, becoming envious, becoming angry, and
engaging in sense gratification.
The twenty-four Ekadasis which occur during one complete year are: Utpanna,
Moksada, Saphala, Putrada, Sat tila, Jaya, Vjaya, Amlaki, Papamochani, Kamada,
Varuthini, Mohini, Apara, Nirjala, Yogini, Devasayani, Kamini, Pavitra, Aja,
Padma, Indira, Pasankusa, Rama, and Prabodhini. Apart from them, there are
two more Ekadasis, namely Padmini and Parama, which occur during the leap-
year month of Purusottama. According to Garga Samhita, if an Ekadasi is conjoined
with even a fraction of a second of Dasami then such an Ekadasi should be left like
a pot of Ganga water mixed with a drop of wine. If an Ekadasi extends on the day
of Dwadasi, then one should fast on the day of Dwadasi. This is the Mahadwadasi
vrata. There are eight Mahadwadasis as explained in Brahma Vaivarta Purana. Four
are accertained according to the conjunction of tithi:
1. Unmilani Mahadwadasi - when an Ekadasi extends on the day of Dwadasi, but
the day of Dwadasi does not extend.
2. Bynjuli Mahadwadasi - when an Ekadasi does not extend to the day of Dwadasi,
but the day of Dwadasi extends onto the day of Trayodasi.
3. Trisprisha Mahadwadasi - when an Ekadasi extends up to the sunrise on the day
of Dwadasi and the Dwadasi extends up to the sunrise of Trayodasi. (But if the above
Ekadasi is conjoined with Dasami then it will not be a Trisprisha Mahadwadasi).
4. Paksavardhini Mahadwadasi - the Dwadasi which comes prior to an Amavasya
or Purnima that extends into the next day.
The next four Mahadwadasis occur according to Nakshatra:
5. Jaya Mahadwadasi - when the Nakshatra called Punarvasu touches the day of
Dwadasi of the waxing moon (according to Brahma Purana).
6. Vijaya Mahadwadasi - when Sravana Nakshatra conjoins with the Dwadasi of
the waxing moon (as written in Vishnu Dharmottara). Sri Vamanadeva appeared
during Sravana Nakshatra.
7. Jayanti Mahadwadasi - when Dwadasi of the waxing moon is conjoined with
Rohini Nakshatra.
8. Papanashini Mahadwadasi - when a Dwadasi of the waxing moon is conjoined
with Pusya Nakshatra. As stated in Brahma Purana, by observing a fast on this day
one can obtain the result of observing one thousand Ekadasis.
Rules for paran, or breaking Ekadasi fast: One should break the fast with that
which one has been fasting from. Example: If you have fasted without taking water,
you should break the fast with water or caranamrita. If you have observed Ekadasi
by eating fruit and roots, then you should break fast on the next day by taking
grains within the specified time of paran.
Restricted foods on Ekadasi:
• Tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflower, broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, bitter melon,
green peas, loki, parmal, toroi, green chili, drumsticks, lady fingers, radish, beets,
and banana flowers.
• Peas, chickpeas and all types of beans, including products made from beans like
papadams, tofu, tempeh, etc.
• All leafy vegetables, like spinach, salads, cabbages, and leafy herbs like parsley,
coriander leaves, celery, herbal tea, and curry leaves.
• Grains, like millet, barley, farina, quinoa, bamboo rice, wild rice, jungle rice, samo
rice, amaranth seed, pasta, rice, corn, and all types of flour made from grains and
beans, like rice flour, chickpea flour, sesame seeds, urad dahl flour etc.
• Starches from corn or above mentioned grains, and products made from or
mixed with these starches like baking soda, baking powder, soft drinks with corn
syrup, custard, cake, halava, certain varieties of cream and cottage cheese, certain
sweets and candies, and tapioca balls.
• Oils made from grains, like soyabean oil, sun flower oil, corn oil, mustard oil,
sesame oil, other types of refined oils and products fried in these oils, like fried
nuts, potato chips, and other fried snack foods. Honey is also restricted.
Spices that can be used on Ekadasi: black pepper, fresh ginger, sea salt and fresh
turmeric, all taken from a new and clean package.
Spices not used on Ekadasi: hing (asafoetida), chili, sesame seeds, cumin, fenugreek,
mustard, tamarind, fennel, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg, bay leaf, cardamon, cloves,
oregano, basil, and other leafy spices.
Foods that can be taken on all fast days: fruits (fresh and dried), nuts and oils
made from nuts and other pure sources, like olive oil, peanut oil, coconut oil,
almond oil, and ghee. Potatoes, potato chips, pumpkin, cucumber, squash, lemon,
green papaya, green banana, jackfruit, sweet potato, tapioca root, avocado, olives,
coconut. Pure milk products.
Caturmasya Vrata: This is the vrata observed during the four lunar months of
the rainy season. It starts on Guru Purnima from the beginning of the month of
Sravana, or Sridhara Masa, to the end of the month of Kartik, or Damodar Masa.
During this period, devotees fast from certain foods, avoid shaving hair and cutting
nails, avoid sense gratification and the association of materialistic and sinful
people, and perform more devotional activities in the association of devotees.
Restricted foods during Caturmasya: Tomatoes, eggplants, all beans, soya, loki,
parmal, urad dahl, papadams, mustard, sesame, and honey.
Particular foods that are restricted during each of the four months:
First month: No leafy vegetables, such as spinach, salads of all types, cabbages
of all types, kale, leafy herbs, like coriander, mint, parsley, curry, and powdered
leafy herbs and teas • Second month: No yoghurt. • Third month: No milk. •
Fourth month: No oil except peanut oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and ghee. Only
fruits and roots. Grains allowed once a day.
Kesava Vrata: This is the vrata of Salagram and Tulsi jala dan (offering
continuous drops of water to Salagram and Tulsi) starting from Mesa Sankranti
for one solar month. This falls every year from 14 April to 15 May. This is a special
vrata dedicated to the worship and glorification of Tulsi Devi. By the mercy
of Tulsi, who is a special manifestation of Sri Vrinda Devi, a sadhaka can have
entrance to Vrindavan and establish a relationship with Kesava who is that Krsna
Who in Seva Kunja is taking the help of the sakhis and manjaris to decorate
Srimati Radharani’s hair. During this vrata, devotees include in their daily kirtan
schedule the singing of the prayers Sri Vrinda-Devyastakam, Sri Kesavastakam,
and Dasavatar Stotram, while performing morning abhishek, offering sweet
rice, arti, and parikrama of Salagram or Giriraja shila and Tulsi. During the rest
of the day, they are placed under a hanging clay pot filled with holy water from
Ganga, Yamuna, or other holy tirthas, that gently drips through the tiny hole at
the bottom of the pot. In this way, they engage in this service of keeping them
cool during this dry summer period. For full details of this vrata, please read the
book Sri Kesava Vrata available from bhaktabandhav.org.
Candana-Yatra: This is the sandalwood festival which begins on Akshay
Tritiya, the third lunar day of the waxing moon in the month of Vaisakha.
This festival is observed publicly for 21 days, and another 21 days privately in
the temple. During this festival, devotees prepare sandalwood paste mixed
with some other special ingredients, like camphor, aguru, and saffron. With
this paste, they nicely cover the full body of Krsna, decorating Him with lots
of flowers, and offering Him some cooling drinks. The swelter of summer
embodies the heat of Krsna’s loving separation from Radhika and sandalwood
is the cooling and fragrant love and affection of Srimati Radhika and the gopis.
Following the example of Sri Madhavendra Puri, the devotees soothe away
Krsna’s suffering of the heat of separation by smearing sandalwood paste all
over His body and thus make Him feel direct meeting with Radhika. Just as Srila
Rupa Goswami says: grisme govinda-sarvange candra-candana-candrika ̶ “In
the hot summer, Radhika is camphor, sandal paste, and moonlight, cooling the
limbs of Lord Govinda.” (Sri Visakhanandabhidha-stotra, 59)
Kartik Vrata: The lunar month of Kartik is the month of Srimati Radharani,
therefore it is Krsna’s favorite month. Krsna was once bound to the grinding
mortar by the vatsalya-prema of Mother Yasoda and became known as Yasoda-
Damodar. Moreover, Krsna is continuously bound to Srimati Radharani by the
madhurya-prema of Radha and Her sakhis, and is thus celebrated as Radha-
Damodar. Similarly, Krsna will be bound by the devotees who take shelter and
worship Srimati Radharani in Her month of Kartik. This is why this month is also
known as the month of Damodar. In this month, devotees daily sing special
kirtanas for Srimati Radharani and prayers like Damodarastakam, Krpa Kataksa
Stava Raja, Nandanandastakam, etc.; listen to Srimad-Bhagavatam and other
devotional scriptures; refrain from mundane talks, especially avoiding criticism
and discussion on sense gratification; increase rounds of Harinama japa; follow
fasting according to the fourth month of Caturmasya; perform pilgrimage and
parikrama to the different pastime places of Radha-Krsna in Vraja; daily offer
ghee lamps to Radha-Damodar; and worship Tulsi. The 16th Vilasa of Sri Hari
Bhakti Vilasa is all about the glories of Kartik and how to properly follow Kartik
vrata. Please read this chapter to know all details of Kartik vrata.
Akash Dip dan: This one-month vow of daily offering a ghee lamp to the sky
begins on Tula Sankranti (every 18th of October) and ends on Vrscika Sankranti
(every 17th of November). The ghee lamp is offered to the evening sky, while
chanting the following mantra from Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa: damodaraya nabhasi
tulayam lolaya saha / pradipante prayacchami namo’nantaya vedhase: “We offer
this lamp with obeisances to Damodar, the unlimited and Supreme Creator, and to
the goddess of fortune (Sri Radha).”
Katyayani Vrata: Devotees observe this vrata from the first day of the lunar month
of Margasirsa, or Kesava masa, until the full moon day of that month. The vrata
includes daily rising in the early morning and bathing in a holy river, like Yamuna or
Ganga; daily chanting of the mantra: katyayani maha-maye maha-yoginy adhasvari
/ nanda-gopa-sutam devi patim me kuru te namah, and worshipping the Deity of
Yogamaya with sandalwood pulp, garlands, incense, lamps, fruits, and special food
preparations; eating only unspiced kichari (havisyanna) once a day; and hearing this
pastime and commentaries about this pastime of the gopis performing katyayani-
vrata from the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Gopala-campu, Ananda-vrindavan-campu,
Caitanya-caritamrta, Ujjvala-nilamani, and other books. This is a vrata not to imitate
the gopis but to help the sadhaka realise how saranagati (surrender) is the doorway
to bhakti. The main limb of surrender is goptrtve varanam, fully accepting Krsna as
one’s only pati, or maintainer. One can enter the realm of bhakti only after becoming
free from all bodily identifications and material attachments. Katyayani Mahamaya
is known as Durga, meaning a fortress, because this material world under her
dominion is very difficult to escape. But she is only a shadow of svarupa-sakti Srimati
Radharani’s Yogamaya manifestation. By surrendering to Srimati Radharani and
getting the mercy of Yogamaya, one is easily released by Mahamaya. Therefore the
real worshipful Deity of this vrata is not Durga, but Srimati Radharani Herself along
with Her Yogamaya manifestations, Paurnamasi Devi and Vrinda Devi. By invoking
their mercy, devotees aspiring to enter into madhurya-rasa can easily escape the
world of Mahamaya and enter the realm of Yogamaya.
Eclipse
• During lunar or solar eclipse, spend time in chanting Harinama (kirtana or japa).
• The following should be avoided: cooking, drinking, eating, sleeping, using the
toilet (as much as possible).
• This time is very auspicious for attaining perfection of one’s chanting of gayatri-
mantras.