sharad poornima observed on th e3-4 October, 2009

[Guest guest]

Its Sharad Purnima today and in this context,

Here is an article from the web that explains

quite succintly its significance

 

 

 

 

Sharad Poornima / Purnima: Glorious Festival of India

 

 

Let’s know something about it.

Parva-festival or occassion, maangalya-auspiciou s, sharad -autumn. The night of Sharad Poornima holds its own significance. It is believed that on this night the Moon showers on the earth , the cool nectar of peace along with the eternal nourishing power. It makes the mind peaceful and reduces the effect of ‘pitt’,

one should acquire this important moonlight on this night . Maharishi Ved Vyasji in ‘Shrimad Bhagwat ‘ in the 10th episode

has described the night of ‘Sharad poornima’ as the night of

the Raasotsav (raas celebrations) of the incarnation of Lord Krishna

on the earth, because unlike the moon showering the cool nectar

Lord Krishna too, showered ‘Bhakti ras ‘ on the earth. Thousands of fortunate Gopis enthralled themselves by enjoying

the bhakti ras in the accompaniment of the Yogehwar Lord Krishna , the memory alone of this event fills the hearts of the devotees

with love for the lord. The day of Sharad poornima is celebrated with full enthusiasm in Brij. It is also believed to be the day of manifestation of Swami Kartikeya. On this day Poha (puffed rice) made from new rice along with Kheer , a sweet dish made of milk and rice is prepared and left in the moonlight

and then consumed ,gold ornaments are also placed in the vessel used

to cook this kheer , this kheer is kept in the moonlight between

9pm and 12pm .One should never add raisins in any of the milk

preparations, though cashew nuts and charoli can be added . The prasad thus prepared should be taken after the satsang and

performing pooja, jap dhyaan with the feeling of gaining good health , self cool and prosperity. White puffed rice , white milk,white sugar and also the moonlight being

white in colour ….hence this occassion can also be called ‘Dhawal Utsav’

where dhawal means white . The moon is very close to the earth on this day and its bright rays

has its own curative properties,the rays fall on the food or drinks

that are consumed,and help in curing the disorder of Pitt avoids

many other trivial diseases and makes the body healthy. As the Lord says : Pushnaami Chausadhi : Sarvaa Somo Bhootvaa Rasatmak I provide strength to the medicines in the form of Moon . Moon means calmth in the spiritual form ,one should remain undisturbed

by the outwardly unfavourable conditions and be powerful deep within

so that one cannot be affected by troubles big and small . It is not that there were no problems in the life of Shri Krishna, the Lord faced problems from the very moment he took birth,

Shri Ram enjoyed only pleasures in life …this is also untrue,

He was exciled at the time of his coronation, he had to leave for the forest barefooted instead of acquiring the crown… but still he was calm ,and did not lose patience. Lord Krishna himself faced so many hardships but always kept

smiling..hence he has been named Krishna Chandra.(Moon) Overview: Sharad Purnima is also Also known as ‘Kojaagari Punam,’

the festival is celebrated on Aso sud 15 - Purnima.

Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth moves around in the night sky,

asking `Ko jaagarti’ searching for people below who are awake.

In Sanskrit, `Ko jaagarti’ means, ‘ Who is awake?’

And to those who are awake she gifts wealth. Origin: 1. The Sanatkumar Samhita cites the story of ‘Kojaagari Punam.’

In the Samhita Vaalkhil rishi narrates that in ancient times,

a poor Brahmin named Valit lived in Magadhdesh - Bengal.

While he was a learned and virtuous man, his wife revelled in

quarelling, behaving totally opposite to his wishes.

Once on his father’s `Shraddh’ - day of paying homage to the deceased-

she flung the ‘pind’ - ball of wheatflour - in a sewage pit,

rather than the sacred Ganga, as custom required.

This infuriated Valit. Therefore he renounced home to search for wealth.

In the forests, he met ‘Naagkanyas’ - girls of Kaliya Naag’s ancestry.

These Naagkanyas had performed the ‘Kojaagari Vrat’

- staying awake on Aso sud Punam. They then sat gambling with Valit.

The night happened to be Aso sud Punam.

Valit lost everything. At that moment, Lord Vishnu and consort Lakshmi,

happened to pass by. Since Valit had incidentally observed

the ‘Kojaagari vrat’, Lakshmi graced him handsomeness similar to

that of ‘Kamdeva’ - the deity of love. Now attracted to him,

the Naagkanyas married Valit and gifted him their riches.

He then returned home with the riches,

whence his wife received him warmly.

After this episode, the Samhita declared that those who remain awake

on this Punam will be graced with wealth. 2. On this night, Lord Krishna invited his faithful devotees,

the Gopis of Vrundavan, to play the Maha Raas (traditional folk-dance)

with him. They had earned his grace by overlooking society’s disdain

on them (`loklaaj’), to offer him unalloyed devotion. When they left their homes in Vraj and arrived in Vrundavan,

Shri Krishna welcomed them. Yet to further test their love for him,

he averred: ‘Women of character such as you, should not leave home

to meet another man in the middle of the night!’ These words seared the Gopis’ hearts. In extreme grief, they uttered: ‘Our feet will not budge the slightest from your lotus-feet.

So how can we return to Vraj?’ Pleased with such immutable love for him, Shri Krishna initiated

the Maha Raas, by assuming as many forms as there were Gopis.

At this point, they beamed with pride that,

‘Nobody’s devotion can excel ours, by which the Lord favored us.’

Instead of accepting the Maha Raas as the Lord’s grace,

ego marred their devotion.

Therefore he instantly vanished from the Raas mandal! Now filled with remorse, the Gopis repented.

Recalling Shri Krishna’s divine episodes - ‘lila’,

they lamented their pangs of separation, and sang kirtans

known as ‘viraha geet’: ‘Jayati te-dhikam janmanaa vrajaha ….. (Shrimad Bhagvat 10/31/1)Describing the ‘lila’ in the Bhagvat (10/30/25),

Shukdevji narrates to king Parikshit: ‘O Parikshit! Of all nights, that night of Sharad Punam became

the most resplendent. With the Gopis, Shri Krishna roamed the banks

of the Yamuna, as if imprisoning everyone in his lila!’ 3. Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami, the choicest devotee of

Bhagwan Swaminarayan was born on Sharad Punam, Samvat 1841.

He granted ‘wealth’ by blessing spiritually ‘awake’ devotees

with God-realization.

Sentiments: The spiritual import of ‘Jaagrati’ (awake) is to remain vigilant.

In Vachanamrut Gadhada III-9, Bhagwan Swaminarayan elaborates

on this vigilance. He says that the vigilance in one’s heart is the gateway

to the Lord’s divine abode. Devotees should not let mundane desires,

of wealth, lust and so forth, enter their hearts.

When faced with obstacles such as:

success and failure,

happiness and misery,

honor and insult,

the devotees should remain unflinching in their devotion to God.

In this manner, they should remain vigilant at the gateway to God,

not letting any mundane objects through. Therefore, every moment in our lives requires vigilance

and this in itself becomes a subtle form of ‘tapas’ - austerity.

Those who performed severe austerities without vigilance,

succumbed to Maya. Vishwamitra performed austerities for 60,000 years,

but lost ‘Jaagruti’ - vigilance - in Menka’s company.

Similarly, lack of vigilance toppled Saubhari rishi,

Ekalshrungi, Parashar and others. Symbolic Import: Just as the night sky of Sharad Punam is clear and suffused

with lunar resplendence, the aspirant should similarly endeavor

to purify his antahkaran.’ For this he has to eradicate body-consciousness and mundane desires

and imbibe Brahma-consciousnes s, in order to incessantly experience

Parabrahma. (Gita 18/54, Shikshapatri 116).

For this the aspirant needs to seek the Gunatit Sadhu,

who is the gateway to moksha (the Lord),

as proclaimed in the Bhagvat (3/29/20): Prasangamajaram paashamaatmanaha kavayo viduhu,Sa eva sadhushu kruto mokshadwaaram apaavrutam. i.e. the sages decree that if a jiva who is deeply attached to his body

and bodily relatives, similarly attaches himself to the Gunatit Sadhu,

the doors of moksha will be opened for him. Ritual: ‘Dudha-Pauva’ - parched rice soaked in milk - is offered to God.

This prasad is then availed by devotees.

The health attribute of this prasad is similar to that of Dashera’s;

it corrects any disturbance in ‘pitta’.