Damodar Outreach Program - 29-oct to 27-Nov - ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry

Damodar Outreach Program – 29-oct to 27-Nov

It is a simple program aimed at capitalizing the most auspicious month of Dāmodara / Kārtika to introduce Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa to as many individuals as possible, especially offering them a chance to offer ghee lamps to Krsna.

The Śāstras clearly elucidates the glories of this simple act of devotion, done knowingly or unknowingly. This agyatya-sukriti, or unknowingly performing devotional service can elevate any sincere fallen soul to the transcendental abode of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Thus, the potency of this activity is further increased.

Rūpa Gosvāmī quotes from the Padma Purāṇa that just as Lord Dāmodara is favorably inclined toward His devotees, so the month of Kārtika, which is also dear to Him, bestows great favor upon them, even for a little service or a little practice. It is even said that the benefit gained for service performed in the last five days of Kārtika is equal to that gained from service performed for the entire month. In other words, for a very small performance of devotional service in the month of Dāmodara, one gets a very big result—especially in Vrindavan. Also, Śrīla Prabhupāda has explained that wherever the Deities of Rādhā and Krsna are installed, that is also Vrindavan. So, even here our devotional service will be magnified “one thousand times.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda instructions about Dāmodara Outreach Program

“You have asked about the specialness of the month of Kārttika, and the answer is that it is a special inducement for persons who are not in Kṛṣṇa consciousness to perform some devotional service. For persons who are doing nothing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it is an indirect inducement to take to devotional service in earnest seriousness, every moment is Kārtika. In this connection, there is a good example that sometimes a store gives a special concession to attract new customers. But for those who are already customers there is no need of a special sale. They will purchase at any cost if they know the important value of the goods. Similarly, those who are pure devotees do not aspire for any concession, and out of spontaneous love try to engage themselves in devotional service twenty-four hours each day, three hundred and sixty  five days every year, without any stoppage.”

SP Letter to Jayapatākā das Brahmacārī, 30th January, 1969

“This is a very special month (Kartik Damodar month), and offering a lamp on this day not only helps you but also your forefathers and also helps your descendants- your children, your grandchildren, even those who are not yet born. So who will not take this opportunity to offer a lamp or do some simple seva.”

H.H. Jayapataka Swami

Dāmodara program (FAQ)

1. Outline of Dāmodara Program

The Dāmodara Program is an initiative taken by the Congregational Development Ministry to promote outreach and the cultivation of congregations in ISKCON according to the guidelines provided by Śrīla Prabhupāda, giving them a chance to participate in the offering of lamps to Lord Dāmodara, in the very auspicious month of Kārtika. (Dāmodara).

Apart from being used by the congregation for active outreach and networking, it can also be used by families to help engage their children, for it is seen that the kids are very fond of it.

The idea of the program is to encourage devotees to create visiting teams and perform the Dāmodara worship (offering of candles, singing the Dāmodara -song and hearing the narration of the pastime) in as many places as possible. This is a great opportunity to establish and cultivate new contacts and strengthen previous ones. We are now focusing on the Dāmodara program more because Kartik, or Dāmodara month is the most glorious and purest of purifiers of all months.

Śrīla Prabhupāda said:

“the Dāmodara month is a good time to bring new people to Krsna consciousness, and the śāstras say that during this month, service performed for the satisfaction of Lord Krsna bestows unlimited benefit.”

2. How to do the Dāmodara Program?

Following are the basic elements of a Dāmodara program:

• Introduction (5 mins) – what is the importance of Kārtika month. Why we are celebrating Dāmodara month in brief.

• Kīrtan (5 mins)

• Explanation of Śrī Dāmodarāṣṭaka song (10 mins) – Reading the translation and singing Damodarastakam.

• Dāmodara ārati (10 mins)- offering of lamp to Lord Dāmodara.

• Interactions (15 mins) participants can ask about Dāmodara Līlā, explain in brief, involve the audience in discussion.

• Feedback form filling (10 mins) Ask them about contact details, offering to sponsor lamps and Śrīla Prabhupāda books and their experience of attending the program in one or two lines.

• End (5 mins)- distribution of dry prasādam, distribution of Prabhupāda books, announcement of next program etc.

Total (I hour)  

 Note: The Congregational Development Ministry has compiled a Dāmodara-kit that has all that you need to go to friends’, relatives’ and neighbors’ homes and hold a Dāmodara program with them. Power points, handouts, the song, the pastime and a step-by-step guide are included in the kit. It even includes a children’s version of the slideshow. In addition, it has handouts for participants, a brochure, and a report template. Everything is designed in a user-friendly style to make it easier for any devotee who wants to implement this program in their local area.

This kit is available at: https://iskconcongregation.com/product/damodara-kit/

3. What can be offered? Lamp or Candle?

It is the recommendation of shastras (holy scriptures) that we should offer a ghee lamp in the month of Kartik to Lord Dāmodara for more spiritual benefits. However, if you are not able to arrange the ghee lamps in your place, then you can offer candles instead.  

“Anybody who offers the Lord a ghee lamp in the month of Kartik, O brāhmaṇa, becomes free from all kinds of sins, such as killing a brāhmaṇa, and he goes to the abode of Lord Hari.” (Brahmā Khaṇḍa)

4. When does Dāmodara Program start and end?

The Dāmodara Program starts on the 9th of October 2022 and runs for four weeks till the 8th of November 2022.

5. Can we do Damodara program virtually?

As we all know, during the covid-19 pandemic it was not possible to reach people physically. Governments have imposed more restrictions on mass gatherings.

So, the best way of reaching out to more devotees all around the world was via Zoom/Google meetings. This same concept can be utilised in every country or situation where physical gathering is not possible. On our websites you can find a video tutorial on how to organise and conduct meetings/programs using social media.

6. Do I need any permission to conduct a Dāmodara Program?

No, we don’t need any permission to conduct Dāmodara programs but you may want to share your ideas and plans with your local ISKCON authorities.

7. How to do the Dāmodara Program without religious connotation?

This need sometimes arises when we are interacting with new devotees who are not so aware of Krsna, Dāmodara or Kartik month, especially in the western world. So here are some of the points we can explain to them very nicely without any religious connotations:

  1. Explaining environmental benefits of a GHEE LAMP such as that it works as an air purifier. Indeed, when the ghee present in the lamp comes in contact with the fire, the atmosphere becomes sanctified.
  2. Singing the Damodarastakam song together in the association of devotees while offering lamps can act as a meditation therapy for mind, body and soul.
  3. It’s a part of Indian culture and people love to experience each other’s cultures.
  4. From an astrological point of view this could be an indication that fire rituals like lighting of the lamp, would yield quick, sustainable and stable results.

8. Is there any Training Required?

No formal training is required to do the Dāmodara Program.

We can visit ISKCON temples, visit social media sites, You Tube videos, PowerPoint presentations, we can spend time in the company of devotees to learn how to do the Dāmodara program.

9. Is there any course conducted for this program?

Yes, we have PREACHERS TRAINING COURSE manual for Dāmodara house program provided by the MĀYĀPUR INSTITUTE for HIGHER EDUCATION and TRAINING

QUOTES ON DĀMODARA MONTH

1) O great brāhmaṇa, if the opportunity to perform vratas during Kārtika is neglected all pious merits amassed in the past are reduced to ashes, the study of Vedas and Purāṇas becomes futile, charity, japa, and penances become fruitless, and reaching svarga, becomes impossible, despite the performance of countless sacrifices and

hundreds of Śraddhā ceremonies.

 Padma Purāṇa.

2) As Satya-yuga is the best of yugas (ages), as the Vedas are the best among

scriptures, as Gaṅgā is best of rivers, so Kārtika is the best of months, the most

dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

All holy places reside in the month of Kārtika, which is eternally dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Whatever pious deeds one performs to please Lord Viṣṇu during the month of Kārtika brings benefit that is eternal. O Nārada, I speak to you the truth.

Skanda Purāṇa

3) Of the twelve months, this month is particularly dear to Śrī Kṛṣṇa.  Śrī Vishnu certainly rewards the devotee who worships Him during Kārtika with residence in His own abode, even if worshipped with minimum items.  Dāmodara is famous as bhakta-vatsala, and His month imbibes His characteristics: it rewards even a tiny effort with huge results.

Text 41, Kartika-mahatmya, Hari-bhakti-vilāsa

4) During the month of Kārtika, they who with love hear the topics of Lord Viṣṇu, even if they hear only half a verse or a fourth of a verse, attain the pious result of giving a hundred cows in charity.

Text 75, Kartika-mahatmya, Hari-bhakti-vilāsa

5) O tiger of sages, a person who during the month of Kārtika eagerly hears the topics of Lord Krsna delivers a hundred generations of his family.

Text 75, Kartika-mahatmya, Hari-bhakti-vilāsa

6) O tiger of sages, a person who during the month of Kārtika hears the topics of Lord Hari becomes free from the sufferings of hundreds and millions of births.

Text 80, Kartika-mahatmya, Hari-bhakti-vilāsa

GLORIES OF WORSHIPING ŚRĪ DĀMODARA DURING KĀRTIKA MONTH

7) When one offers a lamp during the month of Kārtika, his sins in many thousands and millions of births perish in half an eye blink.

Text 77, Kartika-mahatmya, Hari-bhakti-vilāsa

8) Lord Krsna is pleased by the offering of a single lamp during the month of Kārtika.

Lord Krsna glorifies anyone who lights a lamp for someone else to offer.

Text 44, Kartika-mahatmya, Hari-bhakti-vilāsa

9) Please hear the glories of offering a lamp during the month of Kārtika, an offering that is very pleasing to Lord Keśava. O king of brāhmaṇas, a person who offers a lamp in this way will not take birth again in this world.

Text 100, Kartika-mahatmya, Hari-bhakti-vilāsa

10) Even one who never performs religious rituals or even the worst sinner will surely be

purified by this offering. O Nārada, in the three worlds there is no sin that can stand

before this Kārtika dīpa. In fact, by presenting this dīpa before Lord Vāsudeva, the

eternal abode can be reached without obstruction.

Find 42 additional quotes below


Damodarastakam
(1)
namāmīśvaram sac-cid-ānanda-rūpam
lasat-kuṇḍalam gokule bhrājamanam
yaśodā-bhiyolūkhalād dhāvamānam
parāmṛṣṭam atyantato drutya gopyā

To the supreme controller, who possesses an eternal form of blissful knowledge, whose glistening earrings swing to and fro, who manifested Himself in Gokula, who stole the butter that the gopīs kept hanging from the rafters of their storerooms and who then quickly jumped up and ran in retreat in fear of Mother Yaśodā but was ultimately caught – to that Supreme Lord, Śrī Dāmodara, I offer my humble obeisances.
(2)
rudantaṁ muhur netra-yugmaṁ mṛjantam
karāmbhoja-yugmena sātańka-netram
muhuḥ śvāsa-kampa-trirekhāńka-kaṇṭha-
sthita-graivaṁ dāmodaram bhakti-baddham

Upon seeing His mother’s whipping stick, He cried and rubbed His eyes again and again with His two lotus hands. His eyes were fearful and His breathing quick, and as Mother Yaśodā bound His belly with ropes, He shivered in fright and His pearl necklace shook. To this Supreme Lord, Śrī Dāmodara, I offer my humble obeisances.
(3)
itīdṛk sva-līlābhir ānanda-kuṇḍe
sva-ghoṣam nimajjantam ākhyāpayantam
tadīyeṣita-jñeṣu bhaktair jitatvaṁ
punaḥ prematas tam śatāvṛtti vande

Those superexcellent pastimes of Lord Krsna’s babyhood drowned the inhabitants of Gokula in pools of ecstasy. To the devotees who are attracted only to His majestic aspect of Nārāyaṇa in Vaikuṇṭha, the Lord herein reveals: “I am conquered and overwhelmed by pure loving devotion.” To the Supreme Lord, Dāmodara, my obeisances hundreds and hundreds of times.
(4)
varam deva mokṣam na mokṣāvadhim vā
na canyaṁ vṛṇe ‘haṁ vareṣād apīha
idaṁ te vapur nātha gopāla-bālam
sadā me manasy āvirāstām kim anyaiḥ

O Lord, although You are able to give all kinds of benedictions, I do not pray to You for liberation, nor eternal life in Vaikuṇṭha, nor any other boon. My only prayer is that Your childhood pastimes may constantly appear in my mind. O Lord, I do not even want to know your feature of Paramātmā. I simply wish that Your childhood pastimes may ever be enacted in my heart.
 
(5)
idaṁ te mukhāmbhojam atyanta-nīlair
vṛtam kuntalaiḥ snigdha-raktaiś ca gopyā
muhuś cumbitaṁ bimba-raktādharam me
manasy āvirāstām alam lakṣa-lābhaiḥ

O Lord, the cheeks of Your blackish lotus face, which is encircled by locks of curling hair, have become reddened like bimba fruits due to Mother Yaśodā’s kisses. What more can I describe than this? Millions of opulences are of no use to me, but may this vision constantly remain in my mind.
(6)
namo deva dāmodarānanta viṣṇo
prasīda prabho duḥkha-jālābdhi-magnam
kṛpā-dṛṣṭi-vṛṣṭyāti-dīnam batānu
gṛhāṇeṣa mām ajñam edhy akṣi-dṛśyaḥ

O unlimited Vishnu! O master! O Lord! Be pleased upon me! I am drowning in an ocean of sorrow and am almost like a dead man. Please shower the rain of mercy on me; uplift me and protect me with Your nectarean vision.
(7)
kuverātmajau baddha-mūrtyaiva yadvat
tvayā mocitau bhakti-bhājau kṛtau ca
tathā prema-bhaktiṁ svakām me prayaccha
na mokṣe graho me ‘sti dāmodareha

O Lord Dāmodara, in Your form as a baby Mother Yaśodā bound You to a grinding stone with a rope for tying cows. You then freed the sons of Kuvera, Maṇigrīva and Nalakūvara, who were cursed to stand as trees and You gave them the chance to become Your devotees. Please bless me in this same way. I have no desire for liberation into Your effulgence.
(8)
namas te ‘stu dāmne sphurad-dīpti-dhāmne
tvadīyodarāyātha viśvasya dhāmne
namo rādhikāyai tvadīya-priyāyai
namo ‘nanta-līlāya devāya tubhyam

O Lord, the entire universe was created by Lord Brahmā, who was born from Your abdomen, which was bound with a rope by Mother Yaśodā. To this rope I offer my humble obeisances. I offer my obeisances to Your most beloved Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and to Your unlimited pastimes.

RESOURCES

Power Point Presentation

Additional Files

Promotional Flyers

VIDEOS

For Damodara Outreach program you can write to us here: cdm.damodara@gmail.com

Shopping Cart
Scroll to Top