PURUSHOTTAMA MONTH VRATA
Purusottama month or adhikamasa (extra month) is also called mala masa, which means the dirty or useless month. In India, the sadhus, sadhakas and pious people of all sampradayas undertake serious penances (vratas) during Purusottama Month. Now let us examine the name, history, benefits and method of practice of this age old “King of All Vratas” or month long penances.
WHY IS IT CALLED MALA MASA?
(dirty or useless month) This is because all forms of karmic activities i.e. karma-kanda (reward seeking) pujas and yajnas will not produce any results this month.Therefore it is a useless month. Gaudiya Vaisnavas say the dirt or filth indicated by the word mala refers to the fact that devotional activities performed in this month quickly and easily destroy the mental dirt, filth and contamination caused by sins, ignorance and aparadhas. Thus for Krishna bhaktas this is the most purifying and beneficial month.
WHY IS IT CALLED ADHIKA MASA? (extra month)
The Puranas say that Purusottama Month is the favorite month of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna personally created this month and named it after Himself. Purusottama Month, which only comes once every 36 months, is the most powerful spiritual reward giving month among all the months. It is far superior to the pious months of Magha, Vaisakha and Karttika. On the earth planet and all over the universe the Purusottama Month is honored and worshiped by devotees, sages, gods and Laksmi Devi Herself.
BENEFITS OF PURUSOTTAMA MONTH VRATA
Different months of the year have different ista-devatas, worshipable Personalities. But for Adhika Month, Radha-Krishna Yugala are the ista-devatas. If one sincerely worships Radha and Krishna in Purusottama month, he will attain whatever he wants. Observing thePurusottamavrata burns up the reactions of all one’s bad karma and gives the direct service of Radha and Krishna.
All quotes come from the Padma and SkandaPurana.
1. Lord Sri Krishna: “Purusottama Month has all the power I have to bless its observer. One who follows Purusottama vrata will destroy all his past sinful reactions. Without performing Purusottama vrata, one cannot perform pure devotional service. The value of Purusottama month is far more valuable than all other types of austerities and religious activities mentioned in the Vedas. Anyone who observes Purusottamavrata will return to My abode, Goloka, at the end of his life."
2. Durvasa Muni: “One becomes sinless just by bathing in a holy river during Purusottama Month. The glory of all other months is not equal to one-sixteenth of the glory of the Purusottama Month. Bathing in a holy place, giving charity and chanting the Holy Names of Krishna during Purusottama Month destroys all miseries, awards all kinds of perfection and fulfills all desires."
3. Valmiki Muni: Observing Purusottamavrata brings more benefit than performing one hundred horse sacrifices. All holy places live within the body of an observer of thePurusottama Monthvrata. Anyone who faithfully performs Purusottamavrata will go to GolokaVrndavana".
4. Narada Muni: "Purusottama Month is the best of all months, vratas and austerities. Just by faithfully hearing the glories of Purusottama Month, one attains KRISHNA-bhakti and immediately nullifies his sinful reactions. One who performs Purusottamavrata properly will attain unlimited piety and spiritual merit (sukrti) and go to the spiritual world.”
5. Naimisaranya Sages: "Merciful Purusottama Month acts like a desire tree to fulfill a devotee's desire.”
HOW TO OBSERVE THE PURUSOTTAMA MONTH VRATA
GENERAL POINTS:
WHY IS IT CALLED ADHIKA MASA? (extra month)
It is called adhika (extra) masa because Sri Krishna has placed not only extra but ALL HIS potencies, mercy and blessings in this month, which supercharges this month beyond all others. Thus a sadhaka will receive extra or more results from any religious actions performed.
WHAT MAKES THIS MONTH SO GREAT?
WHAT MAKES THIS MONTH SO GREAT?
The Puranas say that Purusottama Month is the favorite month of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna personally created this month and named it after Himself. Purusottama Month, which only comes once every 36 months, is the most powerful spiritual reward giving month among all the months. It is far superior to the pious months of Magha, Vaisakha and Karttika. On the earth planet and all over the universe the Purusottama Month is honored and worshiped by devotees, sages, gods and Laksmi Devi Herself.
BENEFITS OF PURUSOTTAMA MONTH VRATA
Different months of the year have different ista-devatas, worshipable Personalities. But for Adhika Month, Radha-Krishna Yugala are the ista-devatas. If one sincerely worships Radha and Krishna in Purusottama month, he will attain whatever he wants. Observing thePurusottamavrata burns up the reactions of all one’s bad karma and gives the direct service of Radha and Krishna.
Purusottama month is the best month to make spiritual advancement because Krishna over looks all aparadhas. Residence in the holy dhama in this month yields 1000 times the benefit of living elsewhere!!! We invite all the fortunate to quickly book a room in Radha Kunda or Vrindavana to worship Radha-Krishna Yugala in the prema giving holy abode of Sri VrindavanaDhama. Come and join the thousands of pilgrims doing dandavatparikrama of Giri-Govardhana this month!!! GirirajDharanki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!
THE GLORIES OF PURSOTTAMA MONTH
THE GLORIES OF PURSOTTAMA MONTH
All quotes come from the Padma and SkandaPurana.
1. Lord Sri Krishna: “Purusottama Month has all the power I have to bless its observer. One who follows Purusottama vrata will destroy all his past sinful reactions. Without performing Purusottama vrata, one cannot perform pure devotional service. The value of Purusottama month is far more valuable than all other types of austerities and religious activities mentioned in the Vedas. Anyone who observes Purusottamavrata will return to My abode, Goloka, at the end of his life."
2. Durvasa Muni: “One becomes sinless just by bathing in a holy river during Purusottama Month. The glory of all other months is not equal to one-sixteenth of the glory of the Purusottama Month. Bathing in a holy place, giving charity and chanting the Holy Names of Krishna during Purusottama Month destroys all miseries, awards all kinds of perfection and fulfills all desires."
3. Valmiki Muni: Observing Purusottamavrata brings more benefit than performing one hundred horse sacrifices. All holy places live within the body of an observer of thePurusottama Monthvrata. Anyone who faithfully performs Purusottamavrata will go to GolokaVrndavana".
4. Narada Muni: "Purusottama Month is the best of all months, vratas and austerities. Just by faithfully hearing the glories of Purusottama Month, one attains KRISHNA-bhakti and immediately nullifies his sinful reactions. One who performs Purusottamavrata properly will attain unlimited piety and spiritual merit (sukrti) and go to the spiritual world.”
5. Naimisaranya Sages: "Merciful Purusottama Month acts like a desire tree to fulfill a devotee's desire.”
HOW TO OBSERVE THE PURUSOTTAMA MONTH VRATA
GENERAL POINTS:
Observe celibacy and bathe daily before sunrise; chant extra rounds and read Srimad Bhagavatam daily; give charity.
1. Rise at brahma-muhurta (1½ hours before sunrise), and jump out of bed chanting “Jaya Radhe!”
1. Rise at brahma-muhurta (1½ hours before sunrise), and jump out of bed chanting “Jaya Radhe!”
2. Chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra and meditate on Radha-Krishna's beautiful divine forms, qualities, and ecstatically purifying and heart stirring transcendental pastimes in Sridhama Vrndavana. Daily chant fixed number extra rounds for entire month.
