International Society for Krishna Consciousness Founder Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

THE GLORIES OF PURUSOTTAMA ADHIK MAAS

(18 August 2012 to 17 September 2012)

A Presentation by His Grace Syama-Ghat Das Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple Wed, 22nd August 2012 ISKCON Vaishnava Research Forum vaishnava.research@gmail.com

In Bhagavad Gita (18.55) Lord Krishna says: bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah tato mam tattvato jnatva visate tad-anantaram
One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.

1. Purusottama Month Lord Krishnaa favourite month

Lord Krishna says: I am bestowing all of my divine qualities in this month. Named after Me, this month will be famous as Purusottama month in this world. This Purusottama month is more glorious than all the other months, including Kartik month. The glories of all other months is not even equal to one sixteenth of the glories of Purusottama month. - Padma Purana

2. Purusottama
Purusha - person Uttama - greatest or supreme So Purusottama refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna. Remember, Sri Krishna alone is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Purusottama. As Svayam Bhagavan Sri Krishna is the most magnanimous, topmost origin of all avataras (incarnations). Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami - Lord Brahmas prayer to Lord Krishna : I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord.

3. Why is this month also called Adhika Masa?

Purusottama month is also known as adhika masa (extra month). To help the lunar months coincide with the solar year, an extra month, called Purusottama Adhika Masa, is inserted approximately every 30 months (or two and a half years). Adhika means extra and masa means month. According to a vedic text known as the Suryasiddhanta : 1 Lunar year = 29,5305 x 12 = 354,366 days 1 Solar year = 365,2587 days

Thus one lunar year lags behind the solar year and one lunation has to be added after approximately 2 and half years to fit the lunar year into the solar one. Astronomers have called this intercalary lunation as adhika month, and have asserted that this month is to be added to the lunar year.

Since the calendar is based on the phases of the moon, the transits take 354 days, 8 hours, and 34.28 seconds This creates a difference of 10 days, 21 hours and 35.16 seconds from the actual solar year (365 days, 6 hours, 9.54 secs).

When the accumulated difference exceeds 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2,865 secons, an adjustment is made with an extra month (Adhika Masa), which carries the name of the previous or next month, depending on the proximity of the month. Normally, 7 extra months occur in 19 years.

It is called Adhika Masa because Sri Krishna has placed all His potencies, mercy, and blessings in this month, and also because one gets more results from any religious spiritual activities. Thus only works of devotion (Krishna-bhakti) give results in Purusottama month AND THE RESULTS ARE BIG!!

4. Why is this month also called Mala Masa?

This month is also called Mala Masa (dirty or useless month) because all forms of karma-kanda (reward seeking) pujas and yajnas dont give any results during this month. Also certain activities are avoided such as marriages, signing of contracts and beginning new construction. Our Guadiya Vaisnavas, however, disagree, saying that it is called mala masa because devotional activities performed in this month quickly and easily destroy the dirt and contamination caused by sins, ignorance and aparadhas.

5. The origin of Purusottama Adhika Masa

The origin of Purusottama Adhika Masa is explained in the Padma Purana. Every month has a presiding deity, but Adhika Masa was rejected by all the deities: it was thought to be inauspicious because there is no sankranti during this month, meaning that the Sun does not enter any new sign. So originally it was known as Mala Masa (meaning a wasted month). Feeling dejected by this, the personified Adhika Masa traveled to Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha for advice. With heartfelt prayers she requested to be delivered from this inauspicious state. Lord Vishnu blessed her, and sent her to Goloka for the darshan of Lord Krishna.

Lord Krishnas boon: Lord Krishna blessed her with the boon: I bless you as My own month. Whatever good deeds are done during your reign will out shine works done during all the other months. Works done with devotion during Adhik Masa will amass such great fruits that even the doors to Goloka will open for the devotee. Among all months, you shall reign as the supreme and shall be known by my own name, Purusottama Masa. The lord then added: I will forgive all the sins of those who perform penance in Purusottama Adhika Masa.

6. What makes this month so great?

Bhagavan Sri Krishna not only personally created this month, but He also named it after Himself.

Purusottama month is the topmost, super best, most powerful spiritual reward giving month among all the twelve months. It is the holiest month, far superior to the pious months of Margha, Vaisakha and Kartika, which the Vedas praise as the three best, reward blessing months of the year.

Not only on the earth planet, but all over the universe the purusottama month is honoured and worshipped by all devotees, sages, demigods and even Laksmi Devi Herself.

In India the sadhus, sadhakas and pious people of all sampradayas undertake serious penances and austerities (vratas) during Purusottama Month. It is an age old, scripturally bona-fide King of all Vratas or month long penances.

7. Benefits of Purusottama Month Vrata

If one sincerely worships Radha and Krishna in Purusottama month, he will attain everything he wants. One who observes Purusottama vrata will burn up the reactions of all his bad karma and attain the direct service of Radha and Krishna. Purusottama month is the best month for all spiritual advancement because Lord Krishna overlooks all the aparadhas. Residence in the holy dhama during this month yields 1000 times the benefit.

8.Puranic evidence on Purusottama months Glories

All these sastric quotations are from the Padma and Skanda Purana.

1. Lord 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 Purusottama vrata will return to my abode, Goloka, at the end of his life.

2. Durvasa Muni : Just by bathing in a holy river during Purusottama month, one becomes sinless. The glory of all other months is not equal to onesixteenth of the glory of purusottama month. By bathing in a holy place, giving charity and chanting the Holy Name of Krishna during Purusottama month, all miseries are destroyed, one attains all kinds of perfection and fulfills all his desires.

3. Valmiki Muni: By observing Purusottama vrata, one attains more benefit than performing one hundred horse sacrifices. All the holy places live within the body of a Purusottama vrati (an observer of this penance). Anyone who faithfully performs Purusottama vrata will go to Goloka Vrndavana.

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 Purusottama vrata properly will attain unlimited piety and spiritual merit (sukrti) and go to the spiritual world.

8. How to Observe the Purusottama Month Vrata

1. The main vrata is to intensify your worship of Radha-Krishna; 2. Rise at Brahma-muhurta daily (one and a half hours before sunrise); 3. Chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and meditate on Radha-Krishnas beautiful divine forms, qualities and pastimes in Sridhama Vrindavana; 4. Daily chant fixed number of extra rounds for the entire month: 24, 32, 64, 108 or 192;

5. Daily offer Radha-Krishna deities (or Picture) roses, lotus flowers and tulasi leaves. 6. Daily offer ghee lamp to Radha Krishna deity or picture. 7. Daily read Srimad Bhagavatam Radha-Krishna lila; 8. Hear Radha-Krishna katha from advanced Gaudiya Vaisnavas; 9. Daily sing bhajans and kirtans specifically glorifying Yugala Kishore such as Jaya Radha Madhava; Radhe jaya jaya Madhava dayite; Radha Krishna prana mora etc..

10.

Take a vow to remain truthful for the whole month; Be careful not to blaspheme any devotee, sastra, Brahmin, cows, saints, or one observing the Purusottama Vrata. Dont ask anyone for anything, be satisfied with whatever you have, dont endeavour to acquire any material thing during this month.

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9. How to break the Purusottama Vrata after one month

1. Worship Radha-Govinda and chant this mantra: O Supreme Lord! O Sanatana! O Purusottama! O Lord Hari! I offer my obeisances unto You. May You and Your beloved Srimati Radhika please accept my offerings. I offer my repeated obeisances unto RadhaSyamasundara, who wears effulgent yellow garments on His beautiful body.

2. Offer pushpanjali and dandavats to Radhe-Syama. 3. Give charity to the brahmanas to the best of your ability. 4. Feed the brahmanas with prasadam.

Thank you.
Acknowledgements: This presentation is based mainly on information gathered from an article by His Holiness Mahanidhi Swami