“Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, quoting from the Vaisnava-tosani of Srila Sanatana Gosvami, says that the incident of Krsna’s breaking the pot of yogurt and being bound by mother Yasoda took place on the Dipavali Day, or Dipa-malika. Even today in India, this festival is generally celebrated very gorgeously in the month of Kartika.” (SB 10.9.1–2 purport). We are now in the month of Damodara. It began on the full-moon night and will conti...

Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains the inclusiveness of Vaisnava culture in his Tattva Viveka-Tattva Sutra: “All the types of beneficence to others, like kindness, friendliness, forgiveness, charity, respect, and so on, are included in bhakti... charity of medicines, clothes, food, water, shelter, etc., during adversities, teaching of academic and spiritual educations, etc., are the activities included in the devotional culture.”