Purushottam Maas

Purushottama Maas
2023 Dates
Start Monday 17 July
Ends Wednesday 16 August

Purushottama Adhik Maas or the auspicious month of Purushottama comes every two, sometimes three years. It is a special month and very dear to Krishna. When the full moon occurs twice in a month, i.e. in less than 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. It is equal to performing 16 Kartik Vratas and therefore it is a very good time to engage in full devotional service.

The Glories of the Month of Purushottam
By Ramanujacharya Das Based on a Bengali Essay by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur
 
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur writes, “Sri Krishna Himself has ascertained that this month, Purushottam, is the best of all. It is even superior to the greatly pious months of Karttik, Maag and Vaishakha. In this month, you should especially perform worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. You will thereby attain all types of perfection.”
 
The glories of this extra month are mentioned in the thirty-first chapter of the Naradiya Purana. Adhimaas, the extra month personified, felt that he was being slighted. Not being one of the regular twelve months, some persons said that he was impure. He went to Vaikuntha and related his dilemma to Sri Narayan. Out of compassion, the Lord of Vaikuntha, took Adhimaas with Him and appeared before Shri Krishna in Goloka. After hearing about the distress of Adhimaas, Sri Krishna’s heart melted and He spoke thus, ‘Just as I am celebrated in this world as Purushottam (the Supreme Person), similarly, this Adhimaas too will be renowned in the world by the name Purushottam. Now I offer all my qualities to this month. Becoming like me, from today onwards, this Adhimaas is the monarch of all the other months, and is the most worshipable and most adored in the world. My devotees sometimes commit offenses, but in this Purushottam month, they will be protected from committing any offense. Those who are filled with bhakti will take advantage of this Purushottam month by worshiping Me. After enjoying worldly happiness, such as wealth, sons and so on, they will eventually attain residence in Goloka, the supreme spiritual planet.”
 
One should perform service in the Purushottam month with all of one’s endeavours. Such service in this month is superior to all types of devotional practice, and fulfils all varieties of desires.
 
In a previous age, Kaundilya Muni chanted the following mantra:
govardhana-dharam vande, gopalam gopa-rupinam                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               gokulotsavam-ishanam, govindam gopika-priyam
“I worship Gopal, the lifter of Govardhan, who has the form of a cowherd boy. He is the festival of Gokul and the Supreme Controller of all. He is Govinda and the beloved of the gopis.”
By chanting this mantra with devotion during Sri Purushottam month, one will attain Shri Purushottam Himself. One should devote the Purushottam month to constantly meditating on the two-armed form of Sri Krishna who has the complexion of a new monsoon rain cloud, who plays the flute, who wears a yellow silk dhoti and who is accompanied by Srimati Radharani.
 
The Lord of Vraja, Bhagavan Sri Krishna, is the sovereign of this month; therefore the Purushottam month is dear to every devotee.