The Name and Its Story
Dāmodara (Sanskrit: dāma = rope, udara = belly) refers to the famous episode from the Bhāgavata Purāṇam (10th skandha) in which Yaśodā, having exhausted herself trying to catch the butter-stealing Kṛṣṇa, finally caught him and decided to tie him to a mortar (ulūkhala) to stop his mischief. The divine Lord — before whom even Brahmā and Śiva bow — allowed himself to be bound by his mother's love.
Theological Significance
The Dāmodara-līlā is one of the most theologically rich episodes in Vaishnava devotion:
-
The Lord can be bound by love — The rope was initially too short by two fingers (the width of ego, say the commentators), and Yaśodā kept adding more rope — but still short by two fingers. Until she gave up and the rope fit. The teaching: the Lord submits to love when the ego-driven effort is surrendered.
-
The rope is bhakti — The Lord who cannot be bound by karma, by ritual, by philosophical knowledge — can be bound by the love of a devoted heart.
-
Voluntariness of submission — The Lord didn't have to be caught. He allowed it. This is the same principle as prapatti: the Lord's acceptance of surrender is his gift, not the devotee's achievement.
Kārttika Month Observance
The Dāmodarāṣṭakam is recited throughout the month of Kārttika (October-November), and offering a lamp to Dāmodara during this month is a major Sri Vaishnava observance (Kārttika-vrata).