Why Purushottama Month is 16X More Powerful?

Glories of Purushottama Month/Adhik Maas:

The purushottam month is a very special month, specially meant for devotion and service. We need to keep track of days, months, and years to execute our work. These days months and years are calculated by two Vedic counting systems. Those are called the lunar year and solar year. Among them, the lunar year is based on the Tithi.

The period of revolution of the earth around the sun is called the solar year. And the period of revolution of the moon around the earth is called the lunar year. From Krishna (dark) Pratipada to Amavasya (no moon) is Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight).

From the next Pratipada to Purnima is Shukla (bright) Paksha. These two pakshas together make a  lunar month. Thus the lunar year is of 350 days. But the solar year has 365 days. To keep these two years equal, an additional month arises after every 32 months. This additional month is called Adhimasa. Two Amavasyas or three Pratipadas occur this month. The Adimasa starts from the Pratipada. But the actual solar month is calculated from the second Pratipada. Sankranti does not occur in this Adhika month.

Adhika month is named in association with a month of the solar year. This is basically a lunar month in which the Sun does not move from one zodiac sign to another but stays in a particular sign throughout this month. Therefore the month is named after the name of the next month(one month is added) and the word “Adhika” is added to it.

Contemplation of Karmik Smartas:

Smartas reject this month as “Malamasa” or “dirty month”. The word “Mala” means inauspicious. Therefore, no puja or auspicious ceremony of Hindu religion like marriage, rice ceremony, etc is performed in this month. The Smarta Brahmin scholars do not accept that there is any presiding deity of this month like other months. For all these reasons this month is neglected and disrespected by Vedic Karmis.

Adhika-Masa approaches Krishna:

Adhimasa, neglected by the Vedic Karmis, was depressed. Once he approached Lord Vishnu, the master of Vaikuntha. He expressed his grief. Lord Narayana being unable to give him any solution, took him to Goloka, the abode of Lord Govinda.

Adhimasa prostrated at the feet of Sri Golakanatha and expressed his sorrows. He said, “I am very unfortunate. I always get ignored and disrespected by everyone. You are the master of all and as well as other months.  But I have no master. Other months have Ravi Sankranti (transit of sun). But I don’t have it. Other months have some auspicious duties.  But I don’t have it. People despise me as Mala Masa (dirty month). So please shower Your mercy for my prosperity.

Rules to observe Purushottama Month/Adhik Masa :

• Vegetables and other items that can be consumed are:

green peas, spinach, ginger, radish, potato, taro, yam, banana, yogurt, clarified butter (ghee), mango, jackfruit, long pepper, cumin, tamarind, custard apple (ātā), gooseberry (Amalaki), raw sugar, sugar candy (michhri), and ash gourd (Chal-Kumra). Only cow’s milk, buffalo milk, and goat’s milk can be consumed. All other types of milk are non-vegetarian (according to the Vedic vision).

Food should not be cooked with oil, but instead, boiled and complimented with ghee. The benefits of observing a fast and doing habishanna are the same. All food cooked should be offered to the Lord and then honored as prasad. However, we should not accept any grains on the day of Ekadashi. On Ekadashi, one should only take fruits, roots, water, and milk.

• Restricted foods:

Fish, meat, onion, garlic, honey, mustard seeds, chick-peas, chickpeas dhal, sesame oil, mushroom, carrots, green-squash (loki or Lau), eggplant (Begun), tomato, all types of beans, (including soya beans), and any kind of intoxication. Anything containing animal extracts should not be consumed, mashuri dhal (red lentils) and lime (Gnora-lebu) should not be taken. Cooked rice or any other applicable food in this month from the previous day should be avoided.

In this month, we should absolutely avoid criticism of gods and goddesses (dev and devi), Veda, Guru, cow, anyone observing this vow, women, kings, and saintly persons (Sadhu Ninda).

• Rules for Sadhaka (observer):

The observer should hear Srimad Bhagavatam and Mahajana-Padavalikirtan glorifying the Supreme Lord and His pure devotees. Devotees should try their best to worship Shaligram. This vow is better than performing a fire sacrifice. This is because the yagna takes one to heaven (which is part of the material planetary system where we have limitations). When one’s pious credit runs out, they will have to leave heaven and return to this material world again. Put water of Tulasi devi regularly, without fail.

Whoever performs this Purshottamvrata will have the holy places (tirtha), gods, and goddesses residing in the person’s body. One should offer a ghee lamp twice a day to the Lord. If ghee is unavailable, then one can use sesame oil instead. This vrata will give sixteen times more benefit than the benefit one gets from Brahma gyan (Impersonalism), Ashtanga yoga (physical yoga), Sankhyagyna, and tantra (black magic).

In ancient times, Maharaj Indradyumna, Maharaj Jaubanashva, and Maharaj Bhagirath all observed this vow and they got the benefit of reaching the same abode of the Lord’s abode – samipya (among the 5 types of liberation – mukti).

Koudinya Muni used to chant this mantra regularly in Purushottam month.

Goverdhana Dharam vande Gopalang goporupinag
Gokulutsavanishanam Govinda gopika priyang.

Lord Govinda’s causeless mercy towards Purushottama Month:

Hearing the lament of Adhimasa, Sri Govinda began to say, “O the husband of Rama! As I am famous in this world as Purushottama – similarly this Adhimasa would be named as Purushottama in the world.  All the qualities that I have, I am bestowing him. He will not be different from Me. This month will rule all other months. This month will be venerable. All other months have material desires. But this month is beyond mundane desires.

He who performs the puja of this month without all kinds of desire will attain Me. His sins will get destroyed. Although my devotees rarely commit offense, in this Purushottama month no sin will touch them. But those who abstain from chanting and good actions, and show hatred of the Devatas, pilgrimages, and Brahmins in this month, are considered to be ignorant. They do not get any happiness even in their dreams.

But he who worships me with devotion in this month of Purushottam attains happiness of getting wealth and followers. Finally, he becomes a resident of Goloka.”

Conversation between Narada & Lord Narayana in the Narada Purana, for Adhik Mas:

Narada Muni was told about the glory of Purushottama Vrata by Lord Narayana – “It not only gives worldly happiness but also makes one eligible to back to Godhead.” Narada Muni was very pleased to hear the glories of this Purushottama month from Lord Narayana. He repeatedly offered obeisance and said, “This Purushottama month is known as the best of all months.

Even if one just listens to this Vrata Mahatmya with devotion, he immediately attains the service of the Lord and becomes free from the consequences of all sinful actions.

Under the influence of the Purushottama Vrata, one attains Golaka Vrindavan soon.” In this Purushottama Vrata, one does not need to observe severe austerities but should give up worldly pleasure for Krishna and serve the Vaishnavas. Havishya (boiled sunned rice) can be taken 1 to 2 times throughout the day. Body oil, soap, cosmetics,s, etc. are prohibited. At night, fruits, milk, bananas, and peanuts boiled or fried, can be consumed.

In Haribhaktivilasa, Chapter 13, Verses 10-13, all the elements of Havishyanna are mentioned. The following ingredients can be used in the preparation of havishyanna – sunned rice, ghee, kaon rice, sama rice, sea salt, full-fat milk, ripe banana, raw banana, raw or ripe papaya, potato, pepper, wheat & fruits can be consumed.

In Nagara khanda of Skanda Purana prohibits the multi seeded fruits. Foods that are excluded in Havishyanna are moong, beans, sesame oil, wild spinach, radish, cumin and tamarind, water spinach, Malabar spinach, gourd, brinjal, pointed gourd, string bean, jujube, chickpea betel nut, and jaggery are not to be consumed.

Apart from this, one should not consume non-vegetarian substances, honey, mustard, drugs, fish, meat, foods contaminated with bad action or mind or cooked by a non- vaishnava, as well as onion and garlic. Sleeping on the ground is obligatory this month. Celibacy is observed in this month. In the month of Purushottama, eating in brass vessels is prohibited but eating on leaves is allowed.

After completion of this vrata, one should donate every item which he was refrained from during the vrata, to Brahmins and Vaishnavas. On the day of breaking the vow, it is obligatory to donate edible clothes and Dakshina to Vaishnavas for the pleasure of Hari.

Purushottama Month”s Significance by (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura):

In this month, the main goal of all austerity is to please Krishna. What is not related to the pleasure of Krishna, is not real Dharma. To please Krishna is the true success of all kinds of religious rituals. This is the ultimate conclusion of all scriptures.

“Svanusthitasya dharmasya samsiddhi haritoshanam”

The purpose of all vows is to attain love at the lotus feet of Hari. Otherwise, everything is worthless. Lord Brahma said,

“Purtena Tapasa Yajnair dana yogatratadivih.
Raddham Nishshreyasam Punsam Matpritisattvavinmatam”

That is to say, Purtakarma (digging wells, building water channels), austerities, yajnas, donations, vows, and yogas are primarily aimed to attain unconditional love for me. Hence, the sole purpose of all Sadhanas is to please Lord Krishna. One should reduce his material activities this month and increase the intensity of his service to Lord Krishna.

How many Purusharthas are there?