(translated by Swami B.V. Giri)
Kārttika-vrata is one of the main duties of a Vaiṣṇava. This year, Vaiṣnavas observe Kārttika-vrata from the 9th of Kārttika to the 9th of Agrahāyaṇa.*
*Generally corresponding to the months of October and November.
āśvinasya tu māsasya yā śuklaikādaśī bhavet
kārttikasya vratāniha tasyām kuryād-atandritaḥ
(“One should enthusiastically begin the prescribed vows of Kārttika from the Ekādaśī of the waxing moon in the month of Aśvina.” – Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 16.168)
According to this statement, every year, Kārttika-vrata begins from the day of Ekādaśī, the day after Vijaya-Daśamī. The observance ends on Utthana Ekādaśī. The vow that is observed during this one month is called niyama–sevā (‘offering service by observing regulations’). The rule of niyama–sevā is that every day during this month, at the last yama of the night*, one should offer maṅgala-ārati to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. After bathing in the morning, one should worship Dāmodara. At night, a bright lamp filled with ghee or sesame oil should be placed offered in Bhagavān’s temple and at the base of tulasī and the sky. During the month of Kārttika, one should be vegetarian and eat Bhagavān’s prasāda. One should avoid eating food cooked by others, sleeping in another person’s bed, oil, honey, and the use of bell-metal vessels. After prasāda-sevā, one should listen to and recite the Śrīmad Bhāgavata and other śāstra in the association of Vaiṣṇavas. One should constantly perform hari-nāma kīrtana and smaraṇa. Spending the month following these kinds of rules, on Utthana Ekādaśī, one should fast, even from water, and stay awake at night by speaking kṛṣṇa-kathā. The next morning after purifying oneself and performing hari-kīrtana, one should serve the affectionate Vaiṣṇavas and finally perform prasāda-sevā oneself. On that day, the vow will be completed at the end of the night.
* Three hours before sunrise.
(‘Kārttika-vrata’ by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was published in the 10th Volume, 7th issue of Sajjana Toṣaṇī in 1899. This was translated into English by Swami B.V. Giri)
More Articles by Bhaktivinoda Thakura
A Critique of the Book Rasa Śaivalinī Gītā (Samālocana – Rasa Śaivalinī Gītā)
Samālocana – Rasa Śaivalinī Gītā (A Critique of the Book Rasa Śaivalinī Gītā) was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.10 Issue 6 in 1898. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura reviews a book by Pañcānana Gosvāmī Padaratna, and warns how some so-called ‘sādhus’ misuse works such as Ujjvala Nīlamaṇi in order to engage in nefarious activities.
Jīvera Dayā (Mercy to the Living Entities)
Jīvera Dayā (Mercy to the Living Entities) was published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 4. Issue 8 in 1893. In this important article, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains the absolute necessity for a Vaiṣṇava to cultivate compassion for other living beings and states that this is one of the most important qualities of a devotee.
The Sunrise of Eternal Dharma (Nitya Dharma Sūryodaya)
This important article "Nitya Dharma Sūryodaya (The Sunrise of Eternal Dharma)" which was first published in 1885 in Volume 4, Issue 3 of Sajjana Toṣaṇī, predicts the spread of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s nāma-saṅkīrtana movement all over the world.
On 18th August 2012, on the occasion of his Vyāsa Pūjā, Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja announced to the devotees that he had a strong desire to create a website called “Bhaktivinoda Institute” in honour of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and his teachings in order to preserve and propagate them. 
