Katyayani at Gokul

Katyayani at Gokul

Katyayani at Gokul is uniquely worshipped through the Katyayani Vrat — the month-long Kārttika vow the Gopis of Vṛndāvan performed to win Krishna as husband. The vrat is celebrated in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa Book 10, Chapter 22.

The Katyayani Vrat is one of the most beloved Bhāgavata narratives: unmarried Gopis of Vrindavan, desiring Krishna, bathed in the Yamuna at dawn for the entire month of Kārttika, sculpted a Kātyāyanī image in sand each day, and prayed "O Kātyāyanī, Mahāmāyā, Mahā-yogini, supreme mistress, make Nanda-gopa's son my husband." On the final day, Krishna appeared, stole their garments from the riverbank, and initiated them into the līlā. The vrat continues today, especially among Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava women at Vrindavan.