just as there is the lunar year with the extra month
(purushottam Maas), so is there a lunar year with a diminished or reduced
month, with only eleven months in the year. The lunar year comprising of eleven
months only is very rare indeed. It occurs once in 140 years or once in 190
years. But the extra month or Purushottam Maas comes every third year.
Purosattam Maas adopts the name of the month that follows Purushottam Maas.
Whenever Sankranti does not fall within one month then
Purushottam Maas occurs. When there are two Sankrantis within one month then it
becomes the lunar year with one reduced month (11 months in the year).
Vasishtha Siddhanta (the treatise of Vasishtha) mentions
that Purushottam Maas or the extra lunar month occurs after every 32 months, 16
days and 8 Ghadis (a Ghadi is a period of 24 minutes and 60 Ghadis equal 24
hours).
It is a fact that the solar year is made up of 365 days and
about 06 minutes and the lunar year is made up of 354 days. Thus both the solar
and the lunar years have gaps of 11 days, 1 hour, 31 minutes and 12 seconds. As
this gap increases each year, it approximates in three years to one month.
[Note: The moon takes about 27.3 days to make one complete
orbit around the earth. The earth orbits around the sun once every 365.2422
days (= earth’s orbital speed of 29.79 km per second). The earth and the moon
in 27.3 days have moved as a system about 1/12 of the ways around the sun. This
means that from one full moon to the next full moon, the moon must travel 2.2
extra days before it appears full. This is due to the curve of the earth’s orbit
around the sun. The moon is still making one complete orbit (circle) in 27.3
days. But to line up with the earth and sun to become a full moon again it
takes 29.531 days.
29.531 day Lunar months = 354.372 days per lunar year. Thus
we arrive at a difference of 10.87 days a year between a lunar year and a solar
year of 365.2422 days per year.]
Religious significance of Purushottam Maas
Regarding Purushottam Maas
Hemadri says that Purushottam
Maaas Vrat is capable of washing away all the sins of people (who observe the
Vrat). During this month mukta, nakta, fasting etc are undertaken and garments
etc. are distributed to charities. A beautiful story relates to how, in ancient
times, through the observance of Purushottam Maas Vrat, king Nahush was released
from all bondage and acquired the throne of Indra (the ruler of gods in
heaven).
It is written in the Devi Bhagavat that charitable and
meritorious acts and fastings etc. carried out during this Purushottam Maas
inevitably produce results. Just as atomic sized contents within a seed produce
a giant and long living Banyan tree, so in the same manner even a little
charitable act done during Purushottam Maas produces big results.
There is a nice story
about this. According to the lunar year, there were only 12 months. Each of the
twelve months was assigned to 12 gods. So that the lunar and the solar years do
not get out of step with days and seasons, the far-sighted Rishi-Munis
calculated and facilitated Purushottam Maas (extra month) and shown its
importance. But one problem still remained. Each of the 12 months was assigned
to 12 different gods. But the 13th extra month was not assigned to any god.
Purushottam mass felt sadness and approached Lord Vishnu and said that no god
was assigned to him and for that reason
he was called Purushottam Maas further spoke to Lord Vishnu: ‘ I am filled with
anxiety and I have therefore come to seek your refuge and help.’
Lord Vishnu took pity on him. The Lord (Vishnu) agreed and
assigned Adhik Maas to Himself and gave the name Purushottama Maas to this
month. Lord Vishnu also said that acquisition of merits during other months
through good deeds, japa, austerities etc can be acquired by japa, austerities
etc. carried out within this one month. Since then it is known as the Purushottama
Maas and acquired greater significance than the other months.
In a book called Purushottama Granth can be found many
aspects of the special religious significance of this month. Many people read
or listen to this book during Purushottama Maas . By reading and listening,
high merits are acquired. There are lots of lovely stories connected with the
special significance of this month.
It is written in the Bhavishyottar Purana that fasting or
eating once a day should commence on the first day of the bright fortnight
(Shukla Paksha) and end on the last day of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha).
According to ability, distribute to charities and do good deeds.
Purushottam mass
The Puranas also sing high praises about Purushottam Maas
and indicate Puja, readings of scriptures etc. during Purushottam Maas.
Selfless actions, without the expectations of results, are to be performed
during Purushottam Maas. Purushottam Maas
is the month for Vishnu puja. The recitation of Srimad Bhagavat Purana
and of the Bhagavad Gita during this month produce top meritorious results. In
addition to singing and listening to the praises of the Lord (Vishnu),
undertake Purushottam Maas Vrat also. This Vrat is to begin from the first day
and ends on the last day of Purushottam Maas. Waking up during the hours of
Brahma Muhurta (between 4 am and 6 am), after ablutions, place a murti of
Radha-Krisha or Lakshmi-Narayana and perform Sodashopachara puja. If there is a
temple nearby then perform puja of whatever deities are usually worshipped
therein. During the entire month of Purushottam Maas Vrat eat Sattvic food
(vegetarian meals, milk, fruits, nuts, grains, vegetables). One meal at night
is recommended.
It is written in the Bhavishyottar Purana that Sri Krishna
Himself has said regarding Purushottam Maas Vrat that by carrying out the Vrat
with the sole aim of worshipping God, through fasting, cleanliness, charity,
puja etc. merits are acquired which produce unfailing results and all sorts of
calamities are overcome.
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