GLORIES OF PURUSHOTTAM ADIKA MAAS

This conversation between Muni and Lord comes in Sri Padma Purana. Lord Vishnu said, “O Narada, please listen to the narrations about the supremely pious pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri , for they will diminish all sinful reaction. You already know of all the activities of the Supreme Lord, but for the benefit of others, you are asking Me again. So now I will tell you about the glories of the sacred Purushottama month. This was already told by Lord Sri Krishna to Yudhistir Maharaj when they were living in Kamyavan in .

Once upon a time, by the arrangement of providence, an extra month came to this world. Every one took this month to be most inauspicious. Just as one should not touch stool, this month was also seen as untouchable (Mala Mas). It was constantly unprotected and blasphemed, and rejected by everyone as an improper time for any religious and auspicious activities.

Being so rejected by all human beings this extra month became very sad. She came to to explain her sorrowful situation to the Lord. Seeing Lord Vishnu on His simhasana, she fell down at His lotus feet in a mood of sorrow and grief she prayed to the Lord, “Oh ocean of mercy! I have come to You because I am helpless. I have been rejected and blasphemed by all people of the world. Please protect me; please show me Your mercy. Please don’t be indifferent towards me.”

Seeing the pitiable condition of this month, Lord Vishnu said, “Do not lament, I shall give you protection form all of your miseries. It is not proper to lament after taking shelter of My lotus feet.” He then took her to Goloka Vrindavana, where Lord Sri Krishna resides to ask for remedy. When Lord Vishnu explained the situation of Mala Masa to Sri Krishna, He said, O Lord Vishnu, as you have given protection to this month, I will also give all protection. I shall make this poor extra month just like Me in quality, fame, opulence, realization, success, and in giving benediction to the devotees. This month will become equally potent to Me. I am bestowing all of My divine qualities in this abused month. Named after Me, this month will be famous as Purushottama month in this world. “Oh Janardana, now that she has imbued My qualities, I Myself will become the husband and protector of this Purushottama month. And being equal to Me, this month will be the master of all other months. Now this month will become worshipable by one and all. Everyone should pay their obeisances to her, everyone should worship her. This month is equally as powerful as Me to give any type of benediction to its observer. The worshiper of this month will be able to burn all this past sinful reactions to ashes, and after enjoying a blissful life in the material realm, he will return back to Godhead. In contrary if a person who fully engages in sense gratification and does not give any special importance to this sacred month becomes the best candidate for hell.

All human beings should perform some devotional service in this Purushottama month by:

1. Worshipping Me, Sri Krishna, by chanting My holy name. 2. Study of Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, particularly Chapter Fifteen, Purushottama . 3. Giving in charity. 4. Offering ghee diya (lamp) daily.

Lord Sri Krishna continued, “My Goloka is unattainable to the performers of austerities, mahatmas engaged in pious activities, to people who maintain celibacy, or to those who fast their whole life’s duration. But a fortunate person who follows My instructions and observes this Purushottama month properly, and in a faithful way worships Me will attain fame, opulence and a good son in this very life. After enjoying a happy life, he will return back to Goloka Dhama and never comes back to this temporary, miserable world again.

II. Gories of purusottama month (from padma and skanda )

1. Lord Sri 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 . 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 one-sixteenth of the glory of the Purusottama month. By bathing in a holy place, giving charity and chanting the Holy Name of Krsna during Purusottama month, all miseries are destroyed, one attains all kinds of perfection and fulfills all his desires”.

3. Muni: “By observing Purusottama vrata, one attains more benefit than performing one hundred horse sacrifices. All holy places live within the body of a Purusottama month vrati. Anyone who faithfully performs Purusottama vrata will go to Goloka Vrindavana”.

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 krsna- and immediately nullifies his sinful reactions. One who performs Purusottama vrata properly will attain unlimited sukruti (devotional merits) and go to the spiritual world”.

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