Hare Krsna my dear devotees, this month has a great importance for us because as Srila Prabhupada describes it's like a store that is on sale. You can pay less and get a very nice product for the buy, the same happens on this month of Kartika, by a little investiment in terms of service you can get a lot of benefits.

Then some devotees make some austerities on this month in order to offer the Lord more service, just like extra rounds, distributing more books, prasadam, making more namahatas and preaching the glories of Sri Radha Krsna all over the world.
Last weekend I did that, I made efforts and worshipped the Deities with a better standart and felt the difference even though it wasn't Kartika month yet, I received a reciprocation from the Lord with much more service and my house became blessed, more chanting of the holy names during the week, everyday the boys woke early to chant and other devotees like my brother and sister in law joined us. This is the power of our dedication, our service and prasadam distribution, it's so potent that we become involved by this mercy.

Today is also sarat purnima, the full moon night of the sarat season, the night that Krsna played his flute by the Yamuna river in Vrindavana and called the gopis to dance with him.
By reading my guru maharaja's lecture, H.H. Giriraj Swami I felt very touched by this part that Krsna responds to the gopis question. The following is part of the lecture:

Actually, the gopis wanted Krsna to admit that He had been ungrateful. Ultimately, Krsna had to respond to their question, and His answer was "I did not neglect you, nor was I indifferent to you. I was always thinking of you. But in order to increase your love for Me, I hid Myself from you."

He says,
"Actually, I am unable to repay my debt for your service to Me even with the prolonged life of Brahma, because you have given up everything for Me. You have given up family ties, which are so difficult to break. You have given up the dictates of the world, of the Vedas, and of your relatives. You have forsaken everything for My sake--which I could not do for you. You have given up all other relationships for Me, but I could not do that for you. I still have My father and mother and friends. You came running out of your houses in the middle of the night, but I sneak out and return in the morning so that no one catches Me. But you, with complete abandon, have come to meet Me without any consideration of the consequences. And I have so many devotees with whom I reciprocate: devotees in madhurya-rasa, in vatsalya-rasa, in sakhya-rasa, in dasya-rasa, and in santa-rasa. I also reciprocate with the sadhakas in the material world who are struggling and trying to become devotees. I reciprocate with everyone who approaches Me. But you love only Me. So I cannot equal your love. I admit it: I can never repay My debt to you." He concluded, "I am defeated by your love."

The gopis were so touched by Krsna's words that they thought, "Now He has defeated us! We could not admit to Him that He defeated us, but He has admitted to us that we defeated Him. So He has defeated us." [laughter] Of course, this is all on the platform of transcendental love. And it is said that later, when Krsna left Vrndavana to go to Mathura and Dvaraka and the gopis were left in separation from Him, they would think of His words to them, na paraye 'ham, and that would give them solace to bear the separation. Of course, here we come to another subtle and intricate discussion, because even in separation from Krsna they experienced His presence.

A Talk by Giriraj Swami - October 17, 2005
Sri Sri Radha-Radhanatha Temple, Durban, South Africa

This is so beautiful to hear that we become more and more attracted to Srimate Radharani and Krsna because our hearts become full of love and service to offer to this divine couple, that's our nature, serve Them.

I pray so I can serve the Lord more this month, not just in quantity but in quality, making my little service capable to achieve the heart of the servants of Sri Radha Krsna.

your servant,

Aruna devi