09/05/2018
Camp: Global Hospital, Chennai
Home base: Sri Mayapur Dham
Dear Devotees,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Please accept my best wishes.
After three years again we got a great opportunity to celebrate “Purusottama Month” the most auspicious month from 15th May to 12th June 2018.
The Sastars and our previous Acharyas say that in this month one has to do only spiritual activities. And here I am sharing some excerpts from an article by Om Visnupada Bhaktivinoda Thakura from the Gaudiya Magazine 14th July 1928
and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
Find out below how you can observe this HOLY Month!
FOLLOW THE VRATA!
“O living entity! Why are you lazy in performing haribhajana in the month of Purusottama? This month, made by the Lord of Goloka, Himself, is the pinnacle of all months. It is even better than the greatly pious kartika, magha and vaisakha months. With special bhajana, worship Sri Sri Radha Krsna. You will gain everything.”
WHEN DOES THIS MONTH APPEAR?
There are normally 12 months in one year. In line with Varna and Ashrama, various pious activities to be performed have been described for the 12 months. When the 13th month is joined with the 12 months, it comes to be known as the Adhimasa or Karmahina month in which no Karmic activities concerning piety can produce results. This month appears every three years.
DESCRIPTION OF THE VRATA IN THE PURANAS:
The Brhannaradiya Purana describes the Purusottama month. Adhimasa, the chief of all months, feeling sad due to the humiliatory ideas associated with itself, approaches Narayana in Vaikuntha and explains the situation. Narayana subsequently takes Adhimasa along with Him to Lord Krsna in Goloka. Krsna, hearing malamasa’s sadness, overcome with compassion, speaks as follows. Krsna says: “O Lord of Ramaa Devi, in the same way in which I am known in the world as Purusottama, this adhimasa will also be famously known in the world as Purusottama. All of my qualities are offered to this month. Being just like me, this month will be the chief of all months. This month is worshippable and worthy of being praised with prayers. All other months are sakama, filled with material desires. This month is niskama, without material desires. Whether one is akama, without any material desires, or is sakama, with material desires, if he worships this month, then all of his fruitive reactions get destroyed and he attains Me. My devotees sometimes get involved in offenses, but in this month, there will be no offenses. In this month, all those people who are most foolish and do not perform chanting and charity etc., those who do not perform activities for eternal benefit and who do not take baths etc., and those who are inimical towards the devas, holy places and brahmanas, all of these evil, nefarious, unfortunate people, living off of the wealth of others, will not even attain happiness in their dreams. In this Purusottama month, those who worship Me with bhakti, love and devotion, attain wealth, sons etc. enjoying happiness and at the end become residents of Goloka.”
HOW TO FOLLOW THE VRATA:
Serve Lord Purusottama with utmost care. This service to Purusottama is the greatest Sadhana and the greatest provider of results. Recite mantras such as the Govardhanadharam mantra (govardhanadharam vande gopālam goparupiṇam gokulotsavamīśānam govindam gopikāpriyam) with bhakti and you will attain Purusottamadeva. Meditate on Radha along with Krsna who is the color of a fresh raincloud having two hands holding a Murali flute, dressed in yellow garments. One should follow the Vrata in the way in which Damodara Vrata is followed, offering lamps for the pleasure of Purusottama, either with ghee or if that cannot be afforded, then with sesame oil. Vratis shall take a bath before brahmamuhurta (if possible), then perform acamana and apply tilaka, sankha and cakra with Gopicandana. Performing puja of Radha Krsna is to be done in this month. Purusottama Sri Krsna is the main lord of this month. There are additional services that can be done such as offering 16 articles of worship to Sri Krsna, bathing early, etc. Listen to Srimad Bhagavatam with bhakti. Worship the Salagrama Sila. In he who follows this Vrata, all the holy places and devatas reside. Service to vaisnavas is of great importance during this month.
Those normally engaged 100 percent of the time in bhagavatadharma should, in Purusottama month, one-pointedly engage in devotion taking sri-bhagavatprasada according to the rules, and, according to one’s goal, engage in Hari-sravana-kirtana.
There are other processes and rules of following the vrata for those not involved 100 percent in devotional service. Some people take Haviysanna during this month. Suta Goswami says to avoid misfortune, follow this Vrata.
The starting tithi is Amavasya at the beginning of the month and the ending tithi is Krishnapaksha Caturdashi at the end of the month.
I hope that you will take advantage of this Purusottama Month and uplift your spiritual consciousness. And render many more services to Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada.
Your well-wisher Always,
Jayapataka Swami