Sri Sri Radha-Damodara
Today is the first day of the auspicious month of Kartika, or Damodara. Srila Jiva Goswami, in Sri Radha-Krsnarcana-dipika, explains the origin of the names Radha-Damodara and the value of chanting them:
“On that night [in the spiritual world], the Lord went to the home of Sri Radha, and she being angry [since he was late] bound him up at his belly with her golden waist-belt. Krishna helplessly told her about the great festival at his home and explained the entire cause [of his being late], to appease his most beloved.
“Then Krishna said, ‘O my beloved, O beautiful complexioned Radha, by the golden waist-belt that you have offered unto me, I shall be known as Damodara. No other name is dearer to me in all the worlds.
“ ‘By chanting the names [Jaya Radha-Damodara] continually, all perfection will arise. One will attain extraordinary devotion and stay in my abode. In the future when I will be bound up [in Bhauma Vrindavan] by my mother, at that time, O Beloved, my name will become popular in the world.
“ ‘One who continually chants my name with you [Sri Radha-Damodara] in this month [Kartika] and worships me with proper rules and regulations attains the fulfillment of all desires.’ ”
(This quotation was posted to me by the learned devotee Hari Parsada dasa.)
Sri Radha-Damodara ki jaya!
Hare Krishna.
—Giriraj Swami
