Ready for Kartik / Purusottam?
Our Acharyas tell us a few niyam (rules) we should set for ourself to get 1000x advancement in bhakti during Kartik / Purusottam.
For example, take into consideration any normal day. You chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra Hare Krishna Hare Krishna | Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama | Rama Rama Hare Hare once. Now, let's say you are in Vrindavan. If you chant this same Maha-Mantra here, you will get the result of chanting it 1000 times!
Now comes Kartik into the picture and you get chance to skyrocket your advancement in bhakti absolutely lighting-quick, and hereby adhikar (qualification) to fully realise your individual relationship with the confidential pastimes of Lord.
Every Maha-Mantra or any devotional activity in Kartik gives 1000x results. Clubbing it both, being in Vrindavan and just chanting one Maha-Mantra in Kartik gives 1000 (Kartik Result) x 1000 (Vrindavan Result) = 1,000,000 (1 million) times the advancement in bhakti as compared to one Maha-Mantra chanted on any other day, at any other place, at any time of the year.
[Update 16 May, 2026: Purusottam Month gives 1000x more results as compared to Kartik Month!! This year, Purusottam Month is from 17 May - 15 June, 2026!]
This mathematics sounds exciting. Isn't it? From what I have heard from Acharyas and Vaishnavas here is that a sadhaka (seeker) should have greed (lobha) and desire (lalsa) for pure devotion. This can be further fueled by doing more bhajan in Kartik as this auspicious month of Srimati Radha Rani helps a sincere seeker in advancing spiritually very quickly.
I have used vani and texts of Acharyas as a reference to compile a few rules (niyam) that a Vaishnav should follow in Kartik / Purusottam. Here it goes:
Kartik / Purusottam Checklist
Morning Snan in Brahma Muhurat
Getting up and taking a morning bath (snan) between 3-5 AM. If you are in Vrindavan, snan in Sri Radha Kund or Yamuna Ji would be great if it is convenient for you.
The Divine Couple become indebted to the devotee who even offers a single diya (lamp) to Them in Kartik.
SNAPSHOT TIP FOR GETTING result of offering 10 million deep just by offering a single deep in Kartik - Just add a dry small stick of tulsi stem in the diya. Aindra Prabhu mentions this in one of his lectures (You can find the transcription of this lecture in the book Harinam Kalapatru).
Tulsi Seva in Kartik Mas
Water Tulsi plant, circumambulate, offer obeisances and prayers unto Tulsi Maharani. Sing Tulsi Arti along and pray very humbly! She is most karunamayi (merciful)!
Reading Srimad Bhagavatam 10th Canto or Krishna Book
Srila Prabhupada describes the Vrindavan pastimes of Krishna in the 10th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam and Krishna Book. How can one love Krishna until one knows about Him? This section will help one relate to the beautiful pastimes of Sri Shyamsundar.
Serving saints and offering them donations as per capacity
More Naam Japa
You can take resolve of doing 2,4 or any number of fixed rounds, in addition to the 16 rounds that you chant daily.
Participating in Naam Sankirtan
The entire Vedic scriptures culminate at Yuga-Dharma Harinam Sankirtan. Participate maximum in Sankirtan Yajna. Aindra Prabhu often says in his book and lectures that one should psycho-physically, with full body and mind engage in the congregational chanting of Yuga-Dharma. He adds that the true meaning of humility is to be humble enough to accept that we are so fallen and are not qualified for any other mode or anga of devotion other than Nama-Sankirtana.
If you are in Vrindavan, 24 hour kirtan happens at ISKCON Vrindavan. Try to be there as much as possible and sit in Kirtans!!
Loudly saying 'Jai Shri Radhe' on getting up in the morning
I heard this from a few Vrajavasis in Purusottam Month 2018 and loved it, so just adding it here.
Chanting on Mridanga shaped beads
I was reading Aindra Prabhu's book Harinam Kalapatru where Aindra Prabhu mentions that he accidentally lost his initiated beads given by Srila Prabhupada and was extremely upset. He came across a reference in some scripture that if one chants one Nama on mridanga shaped beads, he/she gets the result of chanting it 100 times! Implies that 1 round gives results of 100 rounds at once.
You can do the calculations for Kartik & Purusottam month. I will leave it for you. Just skyrocket your bhajan this Kartik / Purusottam and see the magic on your own.
Putting up Tulsi Mitti (soil) on the head just before chanting
When Aindra Prabhu had lost his initiated beads, he also found out a reference that said that if you pick up a bit of soil from Tulsi Maharani's root and just sprinkle it on your head, you get 100 days of bhajan while performing any devotional service. Adding the last point of chanting on Mridanga shaped beads with this method of sprinkling Tulsi soil on the head, you get 100 (Mridanga beads) x 100 days of bhajan (Tulsi soil on the head). I forgot to mention that 1000x Kartik results with this. If you are in Vrindavan, 1000x more.
So, summing it up, one Maha-Mantra in Vrindavan = 1000 (Kartik) x 100 (Mridanga Shaped Beads) x 100 days of bhajan (Tulsi Soil on Head) x 1000 (if in Vrindavan)...
I know this sounds overwhelming. Why lose the opportunity? Just push yourself with these simple ways. Aindra Prabhu repeatedly says, "Bhakti is simple for the simple, and complex for the complex".
Meditating (chintan) on Divine Couple's passtimes as per adhikar and attraction
Listen to your antar-swar (inner gut and conscience). It will direct you to meditate on the pastimes of Divine Couple & Gaur Nitai that you have adhikar (qualification) for. It's very personalized and just about listening to the heart. A sincere effort in bhajan every day in Kartik or Purusottam advances you in bhakti billion times and gives adhikar (qualification) for inner confidential secrets.
You might also read books by Six Goswamis, Sri Chaitanya Caricamrta by Srila Prabhupada (my personal favourite), Vrindavan Mahimamrta by Srila Prabhodananda Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada (Uncle of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswamipada in Gaur Lila and Sri Tungavidya Sakhi in Nitya Lila), The Heart of Transcendental Book Distribution by Sripad Aindra Prabhu, Sri Navadipa Mahatmya & Sri Navadipa Bhava Taranga by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur Prabhupada (my personal favourite again!), as per your gut and inner direction.
Visiting Sri Vrindavan Dham in Kartik Month
Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhuapda says in Mathura Mahatya that even a step taken in Vrindavan destroys sins of thousands of births. In Bhakti-Raramrta-Sindhu, Srila Rupa Goswami mentions that the result of going to all the pilgrimage anywhere in the three worlds is achieved simply by touching the holy land of Vrindavan. He also says that one who desires to visit Vrindavan, in case he fails to come to Vrindavan in this lifetime is assured to take next birth in Vrindavan. Srila Prabhodananda Saraswati Thakurpada says in Vrindavan Mahimarta that if a Guru orders his disciple to go out of Vrindavan, the disciple can reject this order and be totally dependent on Vrindavan. There won't be any offence in rejecting this order; but very frankly it is at a pure devotional stage. For insignificant seekers like ourselves, we should be totally dependent on instructions and care of our Srila Prabhupada and his beloved disciples who have taken so much pain for our benefit.
So, even if just for a couple of hours or a day, do try to be here. You just shouldn't skip being in Vrindavan (even if be it for a day) at any cost. Sri Vrindavan Dham awaits you!!
Attending Srimad Bhagavatam Lectures daily
Try to attend Srimad Bhagavatam lectures by bonafide speakers daily. Srila Prabhupada told not to listen to any speakers from outside the temple. Personally speaking, I regularly humbly try to attend as many Srimad Bhagavatam lectures on ISKCON Vrindavan YouTube Channel, or if possible, physically as well. It is live from 8-9 AM daily in the courtyard of the temple, right infront of Sri Sri Gaur Nitai, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama and Sri Sri Lalita Vishakha Radha Shyamsundar!
Suggestion: If you are living outside Vrindavan (or even here), listening to Shudh (pure) Nama-Sankirtan 247 from pure devotees helps in progressing in bhakti by leaps and bounds. Put Srila Prabhupada's kirtan or Aindra Prabhu's kirtan on your Bluetooth speaker, car stereo system or earphones at all times. Focus on the syllables and meditate on your favourite picture of Srimati Radha Rani, Shyam Sundar, Srila Prabhupada, any Vrindavan pastimes or on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu or His divine associates as per your individual mood and attraction.
Sri Kartik Damodar Mas ki Jai!
Sri Purusottam Mas ki Jai!
Jai Jai Shri Radhe!
Vrindavan Dham ki Jai!
Hare Krishna!
P.S.. I will be posting a detailed Vrindavan Travel Guide (Updated on Dec 24, 2019) on this site soon. I just created this website impromptu last night (Oct 8, 2019) after being inspired from within to create a site just for my personal meditation unto Sri Vrindavan Dham. It is no way meant for anyone other than me. In case, if by chance you get any direction, Vrindavan Dham might be guiding you. In case if you find an error, my sincere apologies. In that case, I would advise you to listen to your antar-swar (gut) along with guidance from experienced Vaishnavas and peers around you.