The Lord Who Let Himself Be Bound

One morning in Gokula, mother Yashoda was churning butter when little Krishna climbed onto her lap for milk. When the milk on the stove began to boil over, she set Him down. Annoyed, the child broke the pot of yogurt and ran off to feed stolen butter to the monkeys.

When Yashoda came back with a stick in her hand, Krishna ran away, His eyes full of fear. She caught Him at last and decided to tie Him to the wooden grinding mortar. But the rope was two fingers too short. She joined another rope, then every rope in the house, and it was still two fingers short. The Srimad Bhagavatam explains that the Lord has no inside or outside, no beginning or end. How can a rope measure Him?

Only when Krishna saw His mother tired and perspiring, the flowers falling from her hair, did He agree to be bound. The Lord who controls the whole universe is controlled by one thing only: pure love. For this reason He is called Damodara, "the one whose waist (udara) was bound with a rope (dama)."

"Of all months, Kartika is the dearest to Lord Krishna."

Padma Purana, as quoted in Hari-bhakti-vilasa

The Deliverance of Nalakuvara and Manigriva

Tied to the mortar, little Krishna crawled toward two tall arjuna trees in the courtyard. They were really Nalakuvara and Manigriva, the sons of Kuvera, the treasurer of the demigods. Intoxicated with wealth and pride, they had once insulted the sage Narada, who out of compassion cursed them to stand as trees until they could see Krishna face to face.

Krishna honoured His devotee's words. He pulled the mortar between the trees and they crashed to the ground. Out stepped two shining demigods, who prayed only to always remember the Lord. The Bhagavatam tells this story in Canto 10, chapters 9 and 10.

Why Kartik Is So Dear to Krishna

Kartik, also called Damodara month, is when Vaishnavas remember this pastime above all others. The Padma Purana and the Hari-bhakti-vilasa of Srila Sanatana Gosvami describe its glories again and again: any devotional service done in Kartik gives a much greater result than in other months. Above all, offering a small ghee lamp to Lord Damodara is said to burn away the sins of many lifetimes and bring great spiritual benefit.

Srila Prabhupada and the Kartik Vows

Srila Prabhupada encouraged his followers to observe Kartik with simple, heartfelt vows. Devotees chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra with extra attention, hear the Srimad Bhagavatam and the pastimes of Damodara, offer a lamp every evening while singing the Damodarashtakam, and serve Tulasi Devi, who is especially worshipped in this month. Many also take on a small personal austerity, such as rising early or giving up a favourite food, as an offering of love.

"I do not ask for liberation or any other boon. Let only this form of Yours, as the cowherd boy of Gokula, always appear in my heart."

Sri Damodarashtakam, verse 4 (Satyavrata Muni)

How Your Family Can Take Part

• Come to the temple any evening and offer a ghee lamp to Lord Damodara. Children love it, and it is open to everyone.
• Light a lamp at home each evening and sing or play the Damodarashtakam together.
• Read or tell the Damodara story to your children at bedtime.
• Offer water and circumambulate a Tulasi plant in the morning.
• Chant a few extra rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra as a family.

Krishna let Yashoda bind Him because of her love. This Kartik, let us offer Him a little light and a little love, and let Him bind our hearts to His.