Damodar Maas (Kartik Diya-Seva for Shrinathji)

Shri Damodar (Krishna bound by Yashoda's rope) / Shrinathji in Damodar-shringar

Pushti Marg

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Damodar Maas — the entire month of Kartik observed in Pushti Marg as the supreme daily-seva month of the year. From the day after Sharad Purnima until Kartik Purnima (~one lunar month), every Pushti Marg vaishnava performs daily diya-seva for Shrinathji-Damodar, daily Damodarashtaka recitation, daily til-gud bhog, and daily Tulsi-puja. The dates given here mark the start of Damodar Maas (the day after Sharad Purnima) — observance continues for the entire month.

Dates 2026–2027

October 26, 2026October 16, 2027

Mantra

नमामीश्वरं सच्चिदानन्दरूपं ... श्रीदामोदरं नौमि विश्वेश्वरं तम्

Namaamishvaram Sachchidaananda-Rupam ... Shri-Damodaram Naumi Vishveshvaram Tam

I salute the Lord whose form is sat-chit-ananda ... I salute Shri Damodara, the Lord of the Universe — the opening and closing verses of the Damodarashtaka recited daily through Damodar Maas.

How to recite

Recite the Damodarashtaka (eight verses of the Padma Purana, the foundational Damodar Maas text) every evening at sunset before the Sandhya-Aarti. Light a ghee-diya (lamp) for Shrinathji every evening through the entire month of Kartik — the daily diya-seva is the supreme Damodar Maas observance. Read the Damodar-leela of Yashoda binding Krishna with the rope (Bhagavata 10.9). Sing the Damodar padas of Surdas — especially 'Yashomati Maiya se bole Nandalala'.

Benefits

Damodar Maas is the entire month of Kartik (from the day after Sharad Purnima to Kartik Purnima), in which the Padma Purana declares that even one ghee-diya offered daily to Damodar removes the karma of crores of births. For Pushti Marg this is the most concentrated daily-seva month — every haveli and every Brahma-Sambandhi home altar offers daily diya, daily Damodarashtaka, daily til-gud bhog, and daily Tulsi-puja. The month culminates in Kartik Purnima (Tripurari Purnima) and the start of the Margashirsha Bhagavata-saptaha season.

✦ Special Note

Damodar Maas is the Kartik month — also the universal Vaishnava month of niyam-vrata. The Pushti Marg combination of daily diya + Damodarashtaka + til-gud bhog + Tulsi-puja is the complete Kartik niyam-seva. Kartik Purnima (Tripurari Purnima, also Dev Diwali) marks the conclusion. Dates per the Utsav Tippani published by Nathdwara Mandir Seva Mandal on pushtimarg.net (pushtimarg.net/new-updates/utsav-tippani/).

Foods Allowed

Damodar-bhog — kheer with til (sesame), gud (jaggery), and gheeTil-gud ladoo and til-chikki (Kartik is the til-month)Sakhdi with morad and shrikhand-puriPohe with shengdana, coconut and curry leavesNaralachi vadi and ghevarFresh winter fruits — sitafal, orange (early), banana, pomegranateTulsi-charanamrita (Kartik is also Tulsi-month — daily Tulsi-puja accompanies)Milk, mishri, ghee for the abhisheka and the daily diyaSendha namak for fasting members

Foods to Avoid

Onion, garlic — neverBrinjal — restrictedMeat, fish, eggs, alcoholFood not first offered to Shrinathji

Meal Idea

Til-gud ladoo and ghee-diya kheer for the morning naivedya; sakhdi with morad and shrikhand-puri for the family bhojan; warm milk with til-chikki for the evening Damodarashtaka recitation.

🪔 Aarti

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki

आरती कुंज बिहारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥ गले में बैजंती माला, बजावे मुरली मधुर बाला । श्रवण में कुण्डल झलकाला, नंद के आनंद नंदलाला ॥ गगन सम अंग कांति काली, राधिका चमक रही आली । लतन में ठाढ़े बनमाली, भ्रमर सी अलक, कस्तूरी तिलक, चंद्र सी झलक, ललित छवि श्यामा प्यारी की ॥ कनकमय मोर मुकुट बिलसे, देवता दरसन को तरसे । गगन सों सुमन राशि बरसे, बाजे मुरचंग, मधुर मृदंग, ग्वालिन संग, अतुल रति गोप कुमारी की ॥ जहां ते प्रगट भई गंगा, कलुष कली हारिणि श्री गंगा । स्मरण ते होत मोह भंगा, बसी शिव सीस, जटा के बीच, हरे अघ कीच, चरण छवि श्री बनवारी की ॥ चमकती उज्ज्वल तट रेणु, बज रही वृंदावन बेणु । चहुं दिसि गोपी ग्वाल धेनु, हंसत मृदु मंद, चांदनी चंद, कटत भव फंद, टेर सुन दीन भिखारी की ॥

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