104
The Nectar of Devotion
through His pure devotees. Therefore, in the system of  Vaiṣṇava  activities, the first duty is to accept a devotee as spiritual master and then to render service unto him.
Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī affirms that all the quotations given in the  Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu  from different scriptures are accepted by the great  ācāryas  and devotees of the Lord.
In the  Padma Purāṇa  there is a statement that one should perform the ceremonies for the Lord according to one's financial position. Everyone should observe the different ceremonies and celebrations of the Lord by all means. One of the most important of these ceremonial functions is called  Ūrja-vrata .  Ūrja-vrata  is observed in the month of  Kārttika  (October-November); especially in Vṛndāvana, there is a specific program for temple worship of the Lord in His Dāmodara form. Dāmodara refers to Kṛṣṇa's being bound with rope by His mother, Yaśodā. It is said that just as Lord Dāmodara is very dear to His devotees so the month known as  Dāmodara  or  Kārttika  is also very dear to them.
The execution of devotional service during  Ūrja-vrata  in the month of  Kārttika  is especially recommended to be performed at Mathurā. This system is still followed by many devotees. They go to Mathurā or Vṛndāvana and stay there during the month of  Kārttika  specifically to perform devotional services during this period.
In the  Padma Purāṇa  it is said: "The Lord may offer liberation or material happiness to a devotee, but after some devotional service has been executed, particularly in Mathurā during the month of  Kārttika , the devotees want only to attain pure devotional service unto the Lord." The purport is that the Lord does not award devotional service to ordinary persons who are not serious about it. But even such unserious persons who execute devotional service according to the regulative principles during the month of  Kārttika , and within the jurisdiction of Mathurā in India, are very easily awarded the Lord's personal service.
In the  Bhaviṣya Purāṇa  there is a statement about observing different ceremonies celebrating the Lord's appearance (birthday) and other transcendental activities. It is said, "My Lord Janārdana