Dear Devotees,
Hare Krsna. Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila
Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Gurudeva.
Tomorrow the Purushottam Month starts and it is a special month and very
dear to Krsna. We could observe this vrata and offer the results for Guru
Maharaja’s recovery. The chanting done for this vrata cannot be added to the
Sata Koti Nama Japa. The sankalpa for this is separate and Sata Koti Nama
Japa is separate.
Your humble servant,
Ratnavali dd
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When the full moon occurs twice in a month, i.e. in less then 29 solar days
then the month is divided into 2 and a leap month is added. This leap month
is known as Adika mas or Purushottama month and occurs about every 3 years.
This year it starts on the 15th April 2010 and finishes on the 13th May
2010. It is equal to performing 16 Kartik Vratas and therefore it is a very
good time to engage in full devotional service.
The following description was sent by Bhanu Maharaja for the previous
Purushottama Vrata:
The main vrata is to worship Radha Krishna Yugala
***Rise Brahma-muhurta DAILY (bm means one . hours before sunrise til one
hour; if sunrise at 6am then bm starts 4:30 goes to about 5 a.m.) Means
taking rest EARLY night before.
***take vow to REMAIN TRUTHFUL for whole month.
***Careful not to BLASPHEME any devotee, sastra, brahmin, cows, saints, or
one observing the Purusottama Vrata.
1. fixed increased chanting 25, 32, 64,128 rounds daily!
2. hearing hari katha (Study Krishna Book (chapters dealing with Vraja lila
and Krishna meeting gopis at kuruksetra) SB& CC specifically desc. RK guna
and lila) and/or speaking daily hari-katha
3. worshiping Radha Krishna, which means, unless you have deity with you,
then daily offer fresh first class lotus or rose plus tulasi = garlands to
Radhe Shyam photo or painting of Radha-Govinda Yugal. *if worship Salagrama
(could apply to Radha-Govinda also) offer 100,000 tulasi leaves and achieve
“unlimited merit beyond the powers of Brahma to describe.”
4. Sing bhajans and kirtans specifically glorifying Yugala Kishora. Such as
Jaya Radha Madhava; Radhe jaya jaya madhava dayite; radha-krishna prana
mora; Radha-krpa kataksa (in back our radhakunda book or in Giti Guccha song
book; also sing Nandanandana Astakam (also in Giti Guccha song book); jaya
radha madana mohan.. sanatana prana dhana he; jaya madhava madana murari
radhe shyam shyama shyam; radha-krsna bol bol bolo re sobhai; vrndavana
ramya sthana; tulasi arotik prayers with deep prayer of longing and
meditation;
5. MUST OFFER Daily GHEE (pure cow’s ghee only) lamp to Radha-Krishna Deity
or photo.
6. Bathe DAILY in Yamuna around sunrise. Or if not in holy land then pour
drops on head from bottle of Radha-kunda water or Yamuna after offering
obeisances and prayers to Radha-kunda or Yamuna.
7.Eating–Fast till noon and eat only fruits or just vegetables without any
beans or grains. (like ekadasi preps for one month!) once a day if you can.
Or just eat mahaprasadam, full to neck ONCE A DAY. Take a vow according to
your capacity to follow, and in no condition can one break his vow in the
middle of the month.
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 Radha-Syamasundara, who wears effulgent yellow garments on
His beautiful body.”
2. Offer pushpanjali and dandavats to Radhe-Syama.
3. Give charity to 3,5,7,9, 11 brahmanas to best of your ability. **Best
charity to give Srimad Bhagavatam to qualified Vaisnava devotee brahmana.
This charity will deliver all you forefathers to Goloka dhama and the
association of Lord Purusottam!
***Other recommended gifts: new clothes, gold (rupees, bucks, pounds), two
pairs of new shoes 4. Feed brahmanas with prasadam
SPECIAL ACTIONS AT END OF MONTH:
1. If not bathed in sacred waters—nullify reaction by donating milk and
yogurt to brahmanas 2. If eat rice, wheat, fruits,oil, or ghee during
P.M.-give charity to brahmanas (as mentioned above)
3. If eat on leaf plates for month-then feed brahmanas with ghee and sugar
4. Not cut hair and nails for P.M.-give mirror to one brahmana.
IF BROKE ANY RULES DURING PURUSOTTAMA MONTH:
Must feed brahmanas with different kinds of sweet juice. (sugar cane, oj,
grape, etc)
BENEFITS OF OBSERVING PURUSOTTAMA VRATA
1. All the holy places in the world come to reside in your body.
2. One who observes Purusottama Month with faith and devotion will go back
home, BTG to serve Radha-Govinda eternally in Goloka Vrndavana at the end of
his life!
THese are the recommended vratas described in Padma Purana PUrusottama =
Mahatyam. We are sure Prabhupada will help you honor this month nicely.