Seven Practices for Freedom from Sin in the Kartik Month

The speaker opens by saying that in the supremely holy month of Kartik there are seven things everyone should do, as far as possible and as far as one's strength allows. He says that merely doing these seven subdues many of the obstacles coming into one's life, and that by the grace of the supreme Vishnu, the supreme Narayana, one proceeds on the path of progress. The seven, in the order he gives them, are: bathing before sunrise; japa of the mantra received from one's guru, aiming at a sava lakh anushthan over the month; seva of Bhagwati Tulsi; Deepdaan at the revered places of the home; wholly sattvic, vaishnav food; daan on at least one fixed day of the week, annadaan being best; and helping a person with whatever they need. He closes by saying he hopes all seven have been understood properly, and that through the whole Kartik month one should try to do all seven every day, as far as one is able.

The speaker says that of all the things to be done in this month, bathing before sunrise, in the hours while the stars are still out, matters most. He says bathing in flowing water — that is, a river — during this time in Kartik is held to yield imperishable (akshaya) merit. When going to a river is not possible, he says one should still bathe at home, calling to mind the names of the sacred rivers while doing so.

The speaker says that after bathing, on returning to the puja room, a lamp should be lit for all the deities present there — or at least one principal lamp — and one should sit before it. He says that whether or not one keeps up regular puja and paath in other months, in Kartik, if one is initiated (Diksha) and has received a mantra from one's guru, that mantra should be recited (Japa) as far as one's capacity allows. He says the aim should be to complete a sava lakh (125,000-repetition) AnushthanaAn extended ritual observance — such as 108 recitations of a scripture — carrying its own strict rules. of that mantra over the course of the month, with the japa carried out early in the morning, right after the pre-dawn bath.

The speaker says the fourth major task of the Kartik month is Deepdaan. He says this should not be limited to lighting lamps for the deities — a lamp should be lit near every object one holds dear or that matters greatly in one's life. He names: the place where grain is stored (the bhandar); the place where wealth is kept; the okhal-musal (mortar and pestle) and the silbatta (grinding stone), where present in the home; the place where water is stored; and both sides of the main door of the house. He says he has already mentioned Tulsi, and adds that a lamp should also be lit beside a ShamiA leaf used in remedy rituals — conventionally not to be picked on a Saturday; if needed for a Saturday rite, it's picked the Friday before. tree, a BilvaThe sacred Bael tree associated with Lord Shiva — sadhana is undertaken beneath it, its wood is used as fuel for Havan offerings of ghee and sesame seeds during a release ritual, and its trifoliate leaf (Bilvapatra) is the offering proper to Him. tree, or a mango tree, wherever these are present. He says the oil used may be sesame, mustard, or ghee — whichever one can manage — but that the lamp being lit is what matters most.

The speaker says the fifth thing to observe in Kartik month concerns food. He says one should try, as far as possible, to eat only sattvic food through the month, giving up garlic and onion completely. He says eating meat is not even to be considered — food should be entirely vaishnav in nature throughout Kartik. He says it is only then that the full fruit of whatever else is done in the month is received.

The speaker says the sixth thing is charity (daan), but adds that one should also know when and to whom to give it. He clarifies he is not saying charity must be given every single day — if one has the means, one may do so, but otherwise a single day of the week can be chosen and kept as the day one always gives on. He says Annadaan (giving food) is the best form of charity, and that helping a person with whatever specific thing they need is also a very great meritorious act — which he counts as the seventh thing.

The seventh practice, the speaker says, is helping a person with whatever they actually need. He says that if, during this month, one helps someone in need, the Punya received from that act is capable of destroying many of one's sins. He adds that this is a special point worth remembering: the blessings gained from serving any living being destroy many sins that cannot be destroyed through puja, paath, or japa alone. He says that, owing to PrarabdhaThe portion of destiny already set in motion by past actions — spiritual practice and good deeds can lessen its severity, but not eliminate it., certain events unfold or certain results come due that a person may no longer have the capacity to bear. In such cases, he says, it is by helping another being, satisfying them and protecting them, and receiving their blessing in turn, that this prarabdha is exhausted and one's own well-being is secured.