Kartik Mahatmya Adhyay 5: The Vrati's Day and Where God Lives

This is chapter 5 of the Kartik Mahatmya. King Prithu asks how the Kartik vow is to be kept, and Narada describes the vrati's whole day. Along the way he shares what Lord Vishnu once told him about where he lives most.

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संक्षेप में: नारद जी राजा पृथु को कार्तिक व्रती की पूरी दिनचर्या बताते हैं, और यह भी कि भगवान ने अपना निवास कहाँ बताया। पूरा लेख हिंदी में पढ़ें →

The story

King Prithu put a new question to Devarshi Narada. By what method should the Kartik vow be kept? How should the vrati's day begin and how should it end? He asked Narada to explain everything in detail.

Narada said that the Kartik vow begins from Ashwin Shukla Ekadashi. The vrati should rise each day at brahma muhurta, about an hour and a half before sunrise. Then, carrying a vessel of water, he should go out of the village toward the east or north and clean the body. Until body and mouth are clean, says Narada, no mantra gives its fruit.

Next comes the datun. Narada asks for a fragrant, soft twig about twelve fingers long, with a prayer for long life, good name, intelligence and knowledge. After that comes a bath in holy water. Then, with flowers, sandalwood and paan in hand and a glad heart, the vrati goes to the temple and gives arghya and achaman to each deity, one by one, and bows.

After this he joins the kirtan of Sri Hari, and honours the singers with garlands, sandalwood and paan. Narada's reason is that in Kaliyuga the greatest means of pleasing the Lord is the singing of his name.

Here Narada shared something from his own life. He had once asked Lord Vishnu directly where he lives most. The Lord replied that he does not live only in Vaikuntha, nor only in the hearts of yogis. Where his devotees sing his name with love, he said, there he lives. He added that whoever honours his devotees pleases him even more than by worshipping him directly.

Narada then gave the rules about flowers. Each deity should be offered the flowers dear to him. At the close of worship the vrati asks forgiveness: Lord, whatever was lacking in mantra, in method or in devotion, please make it whole yourself. Then he bows in full sashtang pranam, joins the kirtan, listens to the katha of Sri Hari and takes prasad. Narada says that one who keeps the Kartik vow this way enjoys happiness in this world and at the end attains liberation.

The teaching of this chapter

The Lord is where his name is sung. The chapter's lesson follows from that, and it does not need a temple or a long ritual. Sit with your family in the evening and spend ten minutes in kirtan. Hare Ram, Hare Krishna or any bhajan will do.

The vrati's day as the chapter gives it

• Rise at brahma muhurta, about an hour and a half before sunrise
• Go out of the village toward the east or north and clean the body
• Use a fragrant, soft twig about twelve fingers long as datun. Avoid twigs from milky, thorny or burnt trees
• Bathe in holy water
• Go to the temple with flowers, sandalwood and paan, and give each deity arghya and achaman
• Join the kirtan of Sri Hari and honour the singers
• Do not offer dhatura, shirish or jackfruit flowers to Lord Vishnu
• Do not offer kevda, juhi, malti or adhul to Shiva
• Ask forgiveness at the close of worship, bow, hear the katha and take prasad

Frequently asked questions

Where does Lord Vishnu say he lives most?
He tells Narada that he lives not only in Vaikuntha or in the hearts of yogis, but wherever his devotees sing his name with love.

When does the chapter say the Kartik vow begins?
Narada says that it begins from Ashwin Shukla Ekadashi.

What is the greatest means of pleasing the Lord in Kaliyuga?
According to this chapter, it is the singing of his name, nam-kirtan.

Which flowers should not be offered to Lord Vishnu and to Shiva?
Dhatura, shirish and jackfruit flowers are not offered to Lord Vishnu. Kevda, juhi, malti and adhul are not offered to Shiva.

What prayer closes the worship?
The vrati asks the Lord's forgiveness and prays that he himself make whole whatever was lacking in mantra, method or devotion.

Previous chapter: Adhyay 4: Matsya Avatar and the Return of the Vedas
Next chapter: Adhyay 6: The Method and Merit of the Kartik Bath