Kartik- ( Kartik Maas) The holiest month in the ANCIENT lunar calendar

*Kartika vrata starts 7th October to 5th November 2025*

Kartik- ( Kartik Maas) The holiest month in the ANCIENT lunar calendar

kartik damodara Kartik is the holiest month in the ancient lunar calendar. It usually overlaps with the months October & November in the

English calender . Kartik Maas, also known as Damodar Maas, is described in the scriptures as the best among months for performing austerities. Kartik or the festival of offering lamps to Lord , glorifies Lord’s  pastime. Observing vrata (fast) in the month of Kartik is glorified in the Puranas (Ancient scriptures). The padam purana describes the month of kartik as the lord’s favorite month. Kartik mahina is the eighth month in a traditional ancient calendar followed in the eastern part of the globe. KARTIK MONTH FOR YEAR 2025 BEGINS ON OCTOBER 7 AND ENDS ON NOVEMBER 5. Karva Chauth and Diwali are the most important festivals observed in this month.

Devotional activities performed during this holy month are rewarded with greater spiritual results than usual so devotees often take vows to increase their spiritual practices or to simplify their material needs for the entire month. It is a way that they can remember GOD and everything in relation to the almighty Lord more and increase their service to Him. .

Month of Kartik is celebrated in a very special way. *Holy bath*, *meditation*, *charity*,  are some of the religious ceremonies performed during the Kartik month and the one who performs them, gets relief from all the sins accumulated from many lives. It is considered one of the most auspicious month of the year, in which the devotees gets an opportunity to discard all evil deeds and adopt a pure way of life. The person observing the fasts in this month should follow certain rules and regulation to get good results, since it is known that without following these rules the fast is not considered fully complete. The devotees take bath in holy Ganga River or the sea or salty water early in the morning and worship God through praises and meditation at their homes.

It is known that in the Kartik month, the rays of the Sun and Moon have a positive effect on the body and mind of humans. Worshipping the Lord with hymns, praises and meditation in Kartik month has a special significance and the one who does it is blessed with good fruits.

Lord Shri Krishna says, “Of all plants, the sacred *Tulasi* is most dear to Me; of all months, *Kartik* is most dear, of all places of pilgrimage, My beloved *Dwarka* is most dear, and of all days, *Ekadashi* is most dear.” (Padma Purana, Uttara Khand 112.3)

“As Satya-yuga is the best of yugas (ages), as the Vedas are the best among scriptures, as Ganga is best of rivers, so *Kartik* is the best of months, the most dear to Lord Krishna.” (Skanda Purana)

“O Narada! I have personally seen that a person who happily reads the Bhagavad Gita in the month of Kartik does not return to the world of birth and death.”

the gift of a lamp during the month of Kartik is the best. No gift is its equal. A person, who for the entire month of Kartik eats only once a day, becomes very famous, powerful and heroic.

*Significance of Holy Bath in Kartik Month:*

A person gets good results by fasting and worshipping God in this month,  which is considered equivalent to visiting all the pilgrimages. Ancient scriptures like skanda Purana, Narada Purana, Pagh Purana etc have mentioned the significance of this month. Taking bath in the holy water, during the Kartik month is considered to be as auspicious as taking bath in the Ganga 1000 times. The result that one gets by taking bath in the Prayag in Kumbha is equal to taking bath in one holy river during the Kartik month.  Entire month, people should take bath in the river or lake or pond or the sea outside the house or salty water and should recite the universal prayer twice a day in the whole month. One should eat meal only one time or as could be contained and non-vegetarian foods should strictly be avoided if possible for maximum benefits. Those who follow all the rules and regulations as mentioned in the scriptures gets relief from all sins. Kartik month’s purnima Or full moon is the last date of autumn season and is considered very sacred and holy. Every person should take a bath in a river, pond, sea or salty water on this date and donate to needy people according to their own potency. Pushkar, Kurukshetra and Varanasi are the best places to perform such religious ceremonies, holy baths and charity. Kartik fast is observed on the sixth day of the Kartik month dedicated to the Lord of  Kartik. (The supreme Lord)

*Tara Bhojan in Kartik Month- (WHAT DEVOTEES EAT DURING KARTIK)*

The devotees eat non grain meals during kartik month. They keep fast for the whole day and eat food only after worshipping the lord with praises, hymns and meditation in the evening. On the last day of the fast, udhyapan is done and priests are offered some kind of dakshina, (gifts). Donate cloths to brahamin/priests female, mother-in-law along with some money according to your potency.

A person should take bath early in the morning. He should fast and worship the Lord with praises, hymns and meditation. A bath in the river Ganga is also considered to be sacred on this day. People, who are unable to take a bath in river Ganga, often visit any water body in their vicinity. Lamps are lit in the evening near temples, crossroads, lanes, pipal trees, tulsi plants etc.

The last five days of month of Kartik    are traditionally known as the *bhishma Panchaka.*

The padma Purana says that one pleases the Lord and makes spiritual advancement if unable to fast for previous 25 days then by fasting on the last 5days one receives the same benefits as fasting the entire month. If  some one observes this fast ,he is considered to have observed all other fasts, because it is greatly meritorious and frees one from great sins. Therefore everyone should make a great endeavor to fast on these last five days of bhishma panchaka.

The fast should begin by remembering many of the evil things we have done and not to repeat them. One should eat only vegetables or fruits and should worship the Lord with praises, hymns and meditation. if one needs to eat then one should do so only in the evening. All of one’s material and spiritual desires can be fulfilled and all of the senses can be controlled by following these five days Fast. If one follows this kartik fast, one can obtain the results attainable from fasting on all auspicious fasting days for the whole year.

During this fast take note of the following-:

Remember what you do in this month has a thousand fold effect so try to perform many good deeds and charity as possible because that  multiplies by a thousand fold. “If somebody performs even a little worship of the Lord  in this month, He offers that devotee His own abode.” the gift of a lamp during the month of Kartik is the best. No gift is its equal. A person, who for the entire month of Kartik eats only once a day, becomes very famous, powerful and heroic.

One may observe the following foremost activities throughout the entire month of Kartik:

*Japa*– reciting the holy names of the Lord. Or the universal prayer
*Practice brahmacharya* – celibacy
*Perform austerities*- Fasting.
*Give charity*- Be generous

The month of Kartika is the best of all months, and it is in this month that many many desires and wishes are fulfilled if one follows the recommendations.

WISHING YOU THE BEST IN THIS HOLY PERIOD.

*TO ASSIST MY BELOVED MEMBERS TO MAKE MORE SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENTS DURING THIS AUSPICIOUS PERIOD OF KARTIK, I WILL DAILY POST A CHAPTER OF AN AUDIO VERSION OF BHAGAVAD GITA AS IT IS, ON OUR TELEGRAM PLATFORM FOR YOUR AURAL RECEPTION. THANK YOU!!!*