PURUSHOTTAMA  VRAT

Krishna Purushottama Masa:

The Extra Month, we call Purushottama month the ‘adhik-mäsa’(extra month). It is also called, ‘mala-mäsa’, which means dirty or useless month. In India, the sädhus (holy persons), sädhakas (spiritual practitioners), and pious people of all sampradäyas (lineages) observe this month with due care. All are observing and engaging in austerities according to their capacity. We should try to observe the following practices for the whole month. At least three times (morning, noon, and evening) each day we should chant Kaundinya Muni’s mantra, which is found in the
Hari-Bhakti Vilas:

Gowardhandharan Mantra
Govardhana-Dharam Vande Gopälam Goparupénam
Gokulotsavam ishänam Govindam Gopikäpriyam

Meaning
*Govardhana-Dharam Vande: I worship the lifter of Govardhana hill.
*Gopälam Goparupénam: Who has the beautiful form of a cowherd boy, and who continually plays with Gopas.
*Gokulotsavam-Ishänam: He is the Lord of Gokula wherein every day is a festival.
*Govindam Gopikäpriyam: He is the giver of pleasure to the cows and spiritual senses and the beloved of the gopi damsels of Vraja.

Rules:

We should also try to maintain celibacy this month. Instead of sleeping on a comfortable bed, sleep on the floor (use a thin mat or blanket if necessary). Take bath daily before sunrise. Wake up 1 hour and 36 minutes before sunrise (during the Brahma-muhurta) or as early as possible and chant ‘Pancha-tattva’ and ‘Mahamantra’ at least 12 times. Each day chant a fixed number of rounds. You can increase rounds this month according to your ability. For example, if you usually chant 16 rounds daily then in this Purushottama month try to chant at least 24, 32, or 64 rounds according to your convenience. If your schedule allows then perform püja daily by yourself. At least offer a ghee lamp to Radha-Krishna Deities or Their Picture. If possible, offer this twice in a day (morning and evening) while chanting the Sri Jagannatha-Ashtakam or any song about Sri Sri Radha-Krishna’s glories. Daily do parikrama of Tulasi Devi, in the morning and evening. Take a vow to remain peaceful, and become 100% truthful throughout the month, just as a devotee should be throughout their entire life. Please be careful not to blaspheme anyone, especially the Vaishnavas and Brahmanas. Try your best to please Sri Radha and Sri Krishna by performing spiritual practices according to your capacities. No cutting of hair or nails (optional). No cooking in mustard or sesame oil or rubbing these oils on your body. It is best to cook with ghee and eat boiled Hobisanna (a type of rice mixed with Dal and vegetables, but no eggplant or tomato, without salt if possible).

Benefits:

This month is also called mala-mäsa because all ritual forms of karma-kända(reward-seeking), püjas, and yajnas(fire sacrifices) don’t give any results this month. Our Gaudiya Vaishnavas, however, disagrees, saying it is called Mala-Masa because all days, weeks, and months are created by the Supreme Lord for observing devotion. Therefore, we Gaudiya Vaishnavas try our best to follow devotional rituals as our previous teachers have established for the month. Our previous teachers instructed us that this month we have to observe devotional activities in a special manner. Then quickly and easily we can destroy the dirt and contamination caused by our sins, ignorance, and
aparädhas. Firstly, the Puranas say that the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Sri Krishna’s favorite month is Purushottama month. Sri Krishna has not only personally created this month, but He also named it after Himself. Remember, Sri Krishna alone is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Purushottama. As Swayam-Bhagavän, Sri Krishna is the most magnanimous, top-most origin of all the avatärasand incarnations. And so Purushottama month is the top-most, super best, most powerful spiritual reward giving month among all the twelve months. Purushottama month is the holiest month, far superior to the pious Vedic months of Vaisäkha (April-May), Kärtika(October-November), and Mägha(January–February), which the Vedas praise as the three best reward-giving months of all the 12 months of the year. Not only on the earth planet, but all over the universe Purushottama Month is honored and worshiped by all devotees, sages, gods and goddesses, and even Sri Lakshmi DeviHerself.If one sincerely worships Radha and Krishna in Purushottama month, he/she will attain everything he/she wants. One who observes Purushottamavrata will burn up the reactions of all his previous bad karma and attain the direct service of Radha and Krishna.

Purushottama month is the best month for all spiritual advancement because Krishna overlooks all the aparadhas this month. Residence in the holy dhams during Purushottam month yields 1,000 times the benefit. Additional Observances for Purushottama Month During the holy month of Purushottama, certain spiritual practices are observed by devotees, such as recitation of Sri Radha-Kripa-kataksha, Sri Krishna-Kripa-kataksha, and Sri Jagannathashtakam in the mornings, Chauragraganya Purusashtakam in the afternoons, the performance of Japa or chanting as instructed by Kaundinya Muni, Deep-dana or ghee-lamp offerings in the evenings for Vishnu, Krishna or Ram, and last but not the least, reading the Brahmastava, 40 slokas in Sanskrit, from the Bhägavatam, Chapter 14, Canto 10.

This spiritual technique, when performed with devotion in Purushottama, can bestow manifold results on the sädhaka. The observance of Purushottama vrata brings eternal joy to the soul. Puranic Evidence on the Glories of Purushottam MonthListed below are some çästric quotations are from Padma and Skanda Purana:1. Lord Sri Krishna: “Purushottama month has all the power I have, to bless its observer. One who follows Purushottama vrata will destroy all his past sinful reactions. Without performing Purushottama vrata, one cannot perform pure devotional service. The value of Purushottama month is far more valuable than all other types of austerities and religious activities mentioned in the Vedas. Anyone who observes Purushottama vrata will return to My abode, Goloka, at the end of his life.”

Glories of Purushottam Vrat by diferent Divine Personalities:

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

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

Narada Muni: “Purushottama month is the best of all months, vratas and austerities. Just by faithfully hearing the glories of Purushottama month, one attains Krishna-bhakti and immediately nullifies his sinful reactions. One who performs Purushottama vrata properly will attain unlimited piety and spiritual merit (sukrti) and go to the spiritual world.”

Sages of Naimisaranya: “Merciful Purushottama month acts like a desire tree to fulfill a devotee’s desire.”

Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa: “During Purushottama month, one should remember Lord Krishna, and then donate thirty three milk cakes cooked in ghee to grhastha Vaishnava Brahmanas, who are well versed in çastras. Failing to do so, one loses all the piety he accumulated in the previous year.”

HDG Srila Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Goswami Maharaj
President, Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math