Srimati Radharani and Urja Vrata – October8, 2018

Mahanidhi Swami

Every year throughout the world, thousands of sincere, love divine hankering devotees seriously observe the “Karttika or Urja Vrata”. The Puranas and Gaudiya Goswamis proclaim that Srimati Radharani is Karttiki-Devi, the Empress or Queen presiding over the yearly Karttika month (October-November) which is also called the Urja month.

The word urja means power, strength, energy or vigor. Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti says, “Urja means strength and life air.” (Ujjvala Nilamani 9.36/tika). “Urja is Sri Krishna’s internal potency for performing pastimes.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.39.53-55/tika)

It is very easy to see that all the meanings given above for the word URJA especially indicate Srimati Radharani who is the “one and only source and maintainer of Sri Krishna’s very power, strength, energy, internal hladini sakti pastime potency, vigor and life air, prana.”

Krishna Pranesvari Srimati Radharani ki jai!

Quoting the Puranas, Sri Rupa Goswamipada says that the one month long Karttika vow or vrata of austerity that Vaisnavas perform to please Sri Radhika is called the Urja Vrata because Radharani is Urjesvari-devi—the presiding Devata of the Karttika month. And it is Sri Radha who is gives all the wonderful benefits to Karttika month vratis. Urjesvari also means that Srimati Radharani ALONE is the Controlling Queen of the strongest (urja) internal potency of Bhagavan Sri Krishna —the POWER OF PURE SELFLESS LOVE!

Sri Radha Kunda Mahanta Acarya, Sri Ananta Dasji Maharaja extols the Karttika month:

“By calling Sri Radha the goddess of Karttika, Sri Rupa Goswamipada indicates Radha’s Absolute Supremacy over all the other devotees. Sri Rupa says: ‘O Radha, Devata of Karttika! I praise You and I pray to You with sweet, anxious words:

“’O Srimati Radhika! May Sri Krishna give me more mercy, knowing me to be Your maidservant! Krishna will serve You with His own hands, and I will assist Krishna. Then Krishna will shower me with His mercy, knowing me to be Yours Sri Radha!’” (Utkalika Vallari 20)

“In his books Sri Rupa Goswamipada repeatedly mentions Sri Sri Radharani’s Holy Names of Karttika Devi, Urja Devi and Urjesvari. Therefore, it is understood that those who observe the vow of Karttika will be blessed by attaining the lotus feet of Sri Vrndavanesvari. (Raga Vartma Candrika/tika I.14)

“The human form of life is very rare, short and uncertain. Similarly, the Karttika month also short and occurs rarely—once a year. If one offers even a little lamp [to Krishna] in Karttika, or even just relights another person’s extinguished lamp, Bhagavan Hari will be very pleased and bestow a good destination on that person.

“It is Srimati Radharani who bestows all these glories on the month of Karttika. Thus Radha is indeed the presiding goddess of this month, Urjesvari.” (Stavalli/tika)

In our next new post, we highlight a beautiful and simple vow to please Srimati Radharani during Karttika. For more information on Karttika, and specific details of observing the Karttika Vrata, please see our older posts which will again appear here.

Karttika Devi Urjesvari Sri Radha ki jai! Urja Vrata ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!