Clik here to view.
Vrindavan, October 26, 2015: In Vrindavan, the forty-day-long Kartik Niyam Seva begins from Shukla Ekadashi, which this year fell on 24th October. Some devotees begin their vow a couple of days later on Sharad Purnima. In both cases the vrata lasts until Kartik (Raas) Purnima. People from around the world have started coming to Vrindavan to celebrate the holy month. Hotels and guest houses are already full.
The temples of Sapta Devalayas have begun attracting the devotees since morning 3 a.m. They attend the mangala arati in Shri Radha Shyam Sundar Mandir at 3.30 a.m. followed by Radha Damodar at 4.00 a.m., Radha Govind Dev and Radha Raman at 4.30 a.m., Radha Gopinath and Gokulananda at 5.00 a.m. and Radha Madan Mohan at 5.30 a.m. They sing and dance glorifying the Lord’s name. Groups of devotees belonging from various ashrams and temple participate in the Nagar Sankirtans which pass through the markets and small lanes of Shri Dham Vrindavan.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Devotees offer lamps to the deities in the morning and in the evening during the aratis. They perform four rounds of Parikrama of the Damodar Mandir, resembling one full parikrama of Shri Govardhan hill. Many devotees take the vow of daily parikrama of Shri Dham Vrindavan.
Gaudiyas especially observe Kartik Vrata for the purpose of worshipping and pleasing the Divine Couple. They sing the songs of the various pastimes of the Lordships and full heartedly glorify Lord Damodara of Gokula throughout this month and devotedly worship the mischievous and beautiful form of Lord Krishna.
The devotees follow all the strict rules and regulations related to their bhajans and adopt satvik lifestyles for the forty day long Niyam Seva. Many take the vow of bathing early in the morning, cooking food with their own hands, walking barefoot in Vrindavan and Vraja, increasing their number of japa rounds, and reading the sacred texts that describes the pastimes of the Divine Couple of Radha Shyam Sundar.
The post Auspicious month of Kartik Niyam Seva begins in Vraja appeared first on Vrindavan Today.
