Sharad Purnima

Kojagari Or Sharad Purnima

This is one of the most special festivals in Hindu religion that can help devotees in the attainment of immortality. Doing this vrat can mean attainment of physical and mental tranquility. An important chain of festivals throughout a year come among us which can neutralize sufferings of ours, and Kojagari Purnima vrat is one of the most special vrat festivals in this context. It falls in Ashwini month of Shukla Purnima, or 30^th day of full moon. It is known as Sharad Purnima and Kojagari Purnima.  After rainy season, there comes autumn which cleanses the river’s water, at the same way, lord moon rains down on earth its immortal rays that courses through the mankind many attributes like passion, zeal, sagacity and enthusiasm, and which rids of their various sufferings and pains. The date of full moon is itself one of the most significant events which happens in 12 Purnima days in every month of a year. Among them, Kojagari Purnima holds special position, that is auspicious and highly pious. If we take into consideration of moon’s gait and orbitary cycle, it sounds very special. However, religious books say about full moon that in the whole year of Purnima, it displays its divine charm on Sharad Purnima with 16 distinct arts in the sky, and kills various disease and sins of devotees who see it and worship it. The vibrant and pristine rays of the moon are very beneficial when it shimmers entire earth with its divine energies on the day of Sharad Purnima. Narratives in various religious books have accentuated the importance of this festival in great details. During churning of the ocean, Mata Laxmi was born, an incident that took place during Sharad Purnima. That’s why this festival is celebrated in great splendor every year.

Variant Names Of Kojagari Purnima

Due to popularity and fame of Sharad Purnima, it is known by different names all over India; such as – Ras wali Purnima in Mathura and Gokul, as this festival is linked to divine romance that lord Krishna did with his female friends called Gopiyan. It is also called Raas wali Purnima, as in this day, lord Krishna granted boon to Gopis that he would play romance with them at Yamuna bank. Somewhere this festival is known as Kaumudi Purnima. It is called kojagiri in Bengal and Maharashtra, it is called Sharad Purnima in Gujarat. This way, the festival has a variety of names addressed in different parts of India, mostly it is known and worshipped by the name of Sharad and Kojagari.

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Herbal Attributes In Kojagari Purnima

It is said that attending a work during Sharad Purnima comes to its auspicious fruition. Any herbal medicine taken in this day is very effectual.  Because of enhancing the potency of the herbal, it, therefore, gives speedy recovery to the patients. During this day, one should look at the moon with devotion. It causes power enhancement to the eyesight. Mental trouble gets neutralized when you drench your body with moon’s rays. It pacifies your soul. An herbal medicine, if put in the contact of moon’s rays can have its positive effects, more powerfully. Special preparation during this day is Kheer that is made with Saffron crocus, mewa and other ingredients, including pure cow milk. The kheer is kept in various types of utensils to be offered to deities like Laxmi, Lord Moon etc. Kheer in some plates are kept under the beams of the moon. Kheer and edible stuffs must be kept safe from the reach of animals. Never accept food half-eaten. Offer the well-kept kheer to God and distribute the prasad among Brahmans and eat it with your family, next morning after you have finished your daily routines like attending washroom etc. Because of herbal attributes, it will benefit you in ailments like runny nose, allergy etc.

Rules Of Vrat And Puja For Kojagari Purnima

Rules regarding keeping Kojagari Purnima vrat are very easy to follow. All you need to do is to wake up early in the morning, take a look at your palms, pray to mother earth, and finish your daily activities like attending washroom etc. After that, wear a clean and consecrated clothe, collect puja related things, like flowers, fruits, incense sticks etc. Be seated eastward, take Achamana to purify yourself, remember the God, apply sandalwood and lit up Diya. Take desirous Sankalp related to puja and convey to God about your wishes. Worship Shri Satyanarayana and other deities according to shadopchar methods. Offer your worship to the lord. Or hire a priest to have your worship ritualized. Special attention is given to worshiping of lord Vishnu and Mata Laxmi, as Purnima is the special day dedicated to these divine entities. Therefore, do worship them. Sanitation around your dwelling place should be given special attention. Lit up diyas outside your home as well, and perform Jagaran throughout the night. Offer sacred water/Arghya to lord Mon. if sacred milk is available, offer that to the lord. In this day, there is ritual of worshiping mother Parvati and lord Shiva, Kartikeya. Lord Brahma is also worshipped in this day with Brahma lotus. Besides, lord Indra, the rider of elephant and his elephant is worshipped during this day.

Importance Of Kojagari Purnima

During Purnima, there is an increased importance of divinity, with which lord moon showers the immortal beams on earth. Sacred bath of Kartika month takes place in this Purnima day. Any pilgrimage and holy bath done in this day gives the devotees utmost benefits, like good luck and prosperity in their lives. Devotees get miraculous benefits by worshiping the divine lord of Shri Satyanarayana and listening to His sermons during Purnima with which their wishes come into fruition. Any wish devotee places in front of lord gets fulfilled. Whether the wish relates to progeny or prosperity, victory or profits, it gets fulfilled by the lord. However, devotion for the Lord must be strong, and should be done with compliance of rituals and rules. Listen to devotional stories. There is importance of kheer made of pure cow milk mixed with Keshar and Mewas and offering the same to the lord in the morning, and donating it to Brahmans and eating the same as prasad during Kojagari Purnima.

Stories Of Kojagari Purnima

Related to Kojagari Purnima, in our religious books, there are so many stories. One of the stories is related to churning of ocean out of which appearing of deity Laxmi is the most significant aspect of the story. The legend has it that a pitch-battle between Gods and Demons finally escalated to the matter of churning of ocean, in which the collective efforts of gods and demons finally led to appearance of deity Laxmi. Equipped with all invaluable fineries and unbeatable beauty, the deity appeared on this day and sets on nocturnal visit in the residence of every devotee of her on earth. On this occasion, devotees who worship and pray to deity Laxmi with devotion and joins in night prayer to the deity attains divine presence of Laxmi in their residence granting them the boon they desired. This is why the occasion has been named as Kojagari Purnima. Another story refers to the two daughters of a merchant, which is as follows – Once upon a time, a merchant had two daughters, one of them followed dutifully the Purnima vrat in the name of lord. Praying for pardon over her mistakes (if any) to God, she used to offer the vrat to lord. This continued every Purnima in which she observed the vrat and dedicated the same to the lord. She was in total devotion of the lord while observing the Purnima vrat. However, second daughter, though she was observing Purnima vrat but half-heartedly or formality-wise. She would quit on fasting in the middle of its completion. This way divine judgment fell on her, as whatever Punya she earned through Purnima vrat got collected to her account in the same proportion of what she did. After marriage of both the sisters, the one who did Purnima vrat religiously got healthy and fine babies compared to other sister not following the vrat religiously and whose babies died the moment they were born. Saddened by the grief, she asked for the solution to her plight from Pandits. They told her it was the outcome of leaving the vrat half-way that she births dead children. Then they advised her to do Purnima vrat religiously and completely so that she would avoid the curse of death of her young ones. She followed the advice of Pandits and did vrat religiously but again she had a baby that died right after the birth. She kept the dead baby under a box and covered it with a fabric. She called her elder sister and requested her to sit on the box. When she approached to the box, an organ of the dead baby touched her body. Miraculously, the dead baby came to life. Enraged by the treachery of her younger sister, the elder sister scolded her for stigmatizing her name. Then the sister said it was the pious deed of her sister with which the dead baby was alive. Otherwise it was dead already. The incident spread to the entire town like a wild-fire, and since then, every town dweller started to follow Purnima vrat. And her sister also performed Purnima vrat, this time with total devotion and rituals.

Do’s And Dont’s On Kojagari Purnima

Spotless cleaning of entire house and nearby surroundings should be given special attention.  Exercise self-control and celibacy.  Adorn the lord with a variety of fineries. Don’t leave Purnima vrat half-way. Complete it thoroughly. Don’t do vrat half-heartedly. Don’t embrace disbelief and suspicion. Do the vrat and worship Shri Laxmi Narayana. It’s auspicious to buy and sell new goods. Worship deity Laxmi with golden or copper-made utensils religiously. If financially unable to afford such utensils, do the worship of Mata laxmi using earthen idol. Offer pure cow milk as Arghya to lord Moon this day. As per your financial condition, lit up Diyas made of gold, copper or soil. Offer kheer prepared ritual-wise to Mata Laxmi and lord moon. Proceed with Arti, worship and continue doing Jagaran whole night. Conclude the worship in the morning and then donate metallic idol and kheer to Brahmans.

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Beliefs About Kojagari Purnima

It is generally believed that during Purnima, Moon rains ambrosia because of which, a variety of herbal products are kept in its contact. Popular belief associated with this day is about worship of Laxmi Narayana, conducting Jagran at night and looking at the moon.  Another belief this day suggests that constitution of special Yoga happens due to planetary meeting of Mars, Moon and other celestial bodies. This is symbolic of utter auspiciousness. According to astrological belief, meeting of Jupiter and Moon constitutes Gaj-Keshari Yoga that is considered very auspicious and effective. Similarly, many auspicious yogas get constituted due to the meeting of Moon and Mars and other planetary bodies, which are very benevolent and effective. Because of this reason that the vrat festival of Kojagari Purnima is thought to be very sanctimonious. Some beliefs associated with this day suggest to conduct these activities – accepting new position, taking oath, manufacturing of products and sales related activities. It is also believed that after passing of a Prahar, a bowl of kheer should be kept under the rays of the moon at night. Because of 24 Purnima days in a year, the significance of this festival becomes more relevant, or it is considered immortal.

Beliefs About Kojagari Purnima

During Purnima the rays of moon are very effective, causing stir of oceanic water called tides. Just as the enormous water of the sea gets affected by the rays of the moon causing its water to stir up violently, at the same way, the aquatic emotions of things, animals, and mankind also get vacillated during Purnima.  Human body is supposed to have nearly 85 percent of water, causing insomnia and negativity in their lives, when they are triggered by Purnima. Sometimes the person becomes the victim of inferiority complex. Situation like this is bound to happen on every Purnima day. There are many such reasons in which it was observed that a person becomes unable to think what’s what. In light of these situations, our religious books and saints had accepted the virtue of doing vrat, donation and praying to God as a remedial cure to these negativities. This is the reason why the custom of keeping the vrat on Purnima tithi with total devotion has been in practice since time immemorial. Devotees are advised to maintain self-control and avoid anger-inducing foods, because of the reason associated with moon’s rays and gravitational force of the earth causing negative energy flow in the body of the mankind. However, containing the immortality in the rays of the moon can help the mankind gain the benefits on various counts. It is called Kojagari Purnima or Sharad Purnima. People in other countries call this occasion Blue Moon. There is custom to worship lord Hanuman during Purnima. Desired results can be gained by worshiping lord Hanuman. During Purnima, whatever donation, holy bath, visiting of Sidh Peetha conducted by devotees are said to give them auspicious results. To worship one’s planetary God or Lord Ascendant during Purnima can give devotees very auspicious results as well. Therefore, worship during Sharad Purnima with total devotion and attain the desired results. Because, in astrology, moon is called the actioner of heart. And it is associated with our heart. Thus, Sharad Purnima or Kojagari Purnima is known to be the giver of utmost fruitful results to the devotees.

Also Read: Karva Chauth Vrat and Saubhagya Panchami Vrat