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Kaartheeka Maasam - The Daamodara Maasam

India, the birth place of Hinduism is rich in spirituality, religious cultures, faiths, austerities, customs and traditions that we don’t find any where else in the world. In the words of Mark Twain “India is the cradle of the human race, the birth place of human speech, the mother of history, the grand mother of legend, and the grand mother of tradition. The most valuable and most instructive material in the history of man is treasured up in India only” We have a unique calendar with each day and each month denoting some or the other religious event or festival associated with a tradition and culture which is being followed since time immemorial. Repetition of these events is only to remind the mankind its significance always with a divine message behind it.

As we move into the Hindu Lunar calendar eighth month is denoted as Kartheeka Masam that generally comes around October-November of every year. It marks the beginning of winter season. When the Moon is at or nearer to the constellation of Kruttika on full Moon day that month is denoted as Kartheeka masam. It is also known as Koumudhi masam the month full of moon light.

Daamodara Masam

Lord Sri Maha Vishnu in the name of Daamodara is the presiding Deity (Masa niyamaka) for Kartheeka masam. Daamodara is one of the prominent names that we generally find being referred to Lord Sri Krishna. We find a reference to the word Daamodara in sloka # 40 of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthothram. Daamodara is a combination of two Sanskrit words Daama + Udara. Daama means rope and Udara means belly. Daamodara means the one who was tied with a rope to his belly. Reference to this we find in Sri Mad Bhagavatham 10th canto in the story of Lord Sri Krishna during his playful childhood days with his foster mother Yashoda. In this episode we find Lord Sri Krishna (Daamodara) liberating Nalakubera and Manigreeva the two sons of the Divine Cashier and Demi God Kubera from the curse of sage Narada.

Dhaam also means an abode and Udara means abdomen. Dhaamodara spiritually means the one whose abdomen is the abode for the entire universe or the one in whose belly rests the entire universe. He is the one who can liberate the souls from the cycle (rope) of births and deaths. Kartheeka masam also known as Damodara masam is very dear to Lord Sri Krishna (Kartheeka Daamodara) and worshipping Him during this month is sacred and highly meritorious.

Bali Paadyami

Sacred day King Bali gave charity to Lord Vaamana is celebrated as Bali Paadyami (Bali Prathipada) which occurs on the very first day of Kartheeka masam viz. Kartheeka Sukla Prathipada. Worshiping Lord Sri Vaamana on this day is very sacred and celestial. This day is considered to be very sacred and auspicious for giving charity and one will get multiple merits even if little charity is given in memory of King Bali. Worshiping Goddess Lakshmi, Kubera (Divine Cashier), and Cow (Gomatha) on this day are also given lot of significance. Govardhana pooja is also performed on the day of Bali Paadyami by symbolically making an icon of Govardhana Parvatha with cow dung or with cooked rice and it is worshiped along with Lord Sri Krishna who had lifted it and provided shelter to Cowherds and cattle under the mountain.

Uttana Dwadasi

Kartheeka Sukla Ekadasi known as Prabhodini Ekadasi marks the end of Chaturmasam the day Lord Sri Maha Vishnu wakes up from His Yoganidra that he entered on the day of Aashada sukla Ekadasi (Sayani Ekadasi). Kartheeka Sukla Dwadasi also known as Uttana Dwadasi is celebrated as a festival of Goddess Thulasi when Thulasi plant is symbolically married to a Salagrama Shila (Lord Vishnu) called Thulasi Damodara Vivaha with all grandeur. On this day while worshipping we find people keeping a branch of Amla tree (Amalakki) besides the Thulasi plant. If that day is missed out, it is generally celebrated on the Full Moon day-Kartheeka Pournami. Uttana Dwadasi is also known as Ksheerabdhi Dwadasi the day on which Ksheera Samudra was churned. It is also referred to as Brunda (Vana) Dwadasi in the name of Divine Thulasi.

Traditions of Kartheeka Masam

Kartheeka masam is considered as highly auspicious and sacred month for worshipping both Lord Vishnu as well as Lord Shiva. We also find people worshipping Lord Subramanya who is also known as Karthikeya during this month. Kartheeka masam is the holiest among the four months of Chaturmasam. We find an exclusive script known as Kartheeka Purana dedicated in the name of Kartheeka masam.

It is believed and said that during Kartheeka masam, Goddess Ganga (River Ganges) enters all the rivers, lakes and ponds and flows as Antarvahini. People observe strict austerities during this month. Lot of significance and prominence is given during Kartheeka masam for taking bath in sacred rivers before sunrise, lighting of lamps (Deepaaraadhana), fasting, visiting of Shiva and Vishnu temples, giving charity especially Deepa Dana, Salagrama Pooja, and Vana Bhojana.

Actually Kartheeka Snana Vratha begins from Aaswayuja Sukla Pournami and is held for a period of one month up to Kartheeka Pournami. On the full moon day, Kartheeka Pournami we find people especially women floating lighted lamps in rivers and lakes after sunset. In some parts of South India, we find people performing the festival of Naga Chaturthi on the 4th day of bright fortnight in Kartheeka Masam.

Worship of Lord Shiva during Kartheeka masam

Kartheeka masam is very dear to Lord Shiva who is extensively worshipped throughout Kartheeka masam, especially on Mondays known as Kartheeka Soma Vara. People take up a special austerity known as Kartheeka Soma Vara Vratham during this month which is considered as highly meritorious. On this day Lord Shiva is exclusively worshipped along with His consort Goddess Parvathi Devi, by taking bath early in the morning, by visiting a Shiva temple, lighting lamps, performing abhisheka, giving charity, observing mouna vratha, and also observing fast. Rare coincidence of Kartheeka masam + Somavaara (Monday) + Sapthami thithi + Sravana Nakshathra is considered as highly sacred and meritorious for worshipping Lord Shiva and is referred to as Koti Somavaara Vratham.

Dhaathri Vana Bhojana

Another significant feature that we find in Kartheeka masam is Vana Bhojana, taking food under the shade of an Amla (Amlaki) tree. Dhaathri is a Sanskrit word meaning Amla. This is generally performed on any day during the month, other than Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays and Sapthami thithi days. Generally it is performed on any of the lunar days starting from Trayodasi in sukla paksha to Panchami in Krishna Paksha. On this day a ritual known as Dhaathri Pooja and Dhaathri Havana is performed worshipping Lord Damodara (Sri Krishna) under an Amla Tree.

Thereafter people are served with food in open space within the vicinity of Amla tree. It is generally a mass event. By doing Vana Bhojana like this it is said that one would get rid of the dosha from Paraanna Bhojana, partaking food in others houses. Nowadays this Vana Bhojana has become a corporate culture where, we find Corporates taking their employees for a picnic during Kartheeka masam known as Kartheeka Samaraadhana. In performing this ritual there is a message of health significance and worshipping of the nature.

At Tiruchanoor Sri Padmavathi Devi temple, annual Brahmotsavam known as Kartheeka Brahmotsavam of Goddess Padmavathi Devi will be held every year during Kartheeka Masam. As per Padma Purana it is said that Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi emerged out of Lotus (Padma) flower on the day of Kartheeka Sukla Panchami from the midst of Padma Sarovara.

Kartheeka Sukla Dwadasi is considered as Swayambhuva Manvaadi the day on which Swayambhuva Manvanthara had commenced; Kartheeka Sukla Pournami is referred to as Indra Saavarni Manvaadi, the day on which Indra Saavarni Manvanthara had commenced, and Kartheeka Sukla Navami is considered as Krutha Yugaadi the day on which Krutha Yuga had commenced. Kartheeka masam also marks the beginning of the New Year as per Vikrama Sakha calendar.

Any austerity, ritual, worship, charity performed during Kartheeka masam is more meritorious than the one performed on ordinary days. Kartheeka masam in Hindu sampradaya is a highly rewarding month that has been prescribed by Sages for acquiring spiritual as well as materialistic benefits inculcating a spiritual as well as physical discipline.

Na Kaartheeka samo maasa, Na Deva Kesavaatparam

Nacha Vedasamam Shaasthram, Na theertham Gangayaasamam

There is no month equal to Kartheeka masam, there is no God equivalent to Lord Kesava (Sri Hari), there is no script equal to Veda, and there is no theertha (pilgrimage) equal to sacred river Ganges.