All glories
to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga
Purusottam,
the
extra month
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This
year, 2010, the Vedic calendar has thirteen months instead of twelve.
This extra month runs from 15th April to 14th May inclusive, thus
splitting the month of Madhusudan into two. In this regard the following
article was written by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
It was first published in Bengali as the Editorial to the 'Sri Gaudiya
Darshan' magazine of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip, of 16th
September 1955. The following translation is by Sripad B.P. Tirtha
Maharaj, the principal sannyasi of our Kailkhali, Calcutta, Temple. |
The
Month Of Sri Purusottam
This
year there is an extra month, Purusottam Month. It gives a more favourable
opportunity for Krishna-Seva and it is a particularly favourable opportunity
for the fortunate jivas. Purusottam Month has all good qualities, just
like Bhagavan Purusottam, Himself, and is considered the crown of all
months. Even the most holy months such as Vaisak Month, cannot be compared
with this Purusottam Month. Bhagavan, the Lord Himself, has mercifully
accepted this month and given it all His power. We know such things by
reading Sri Brihannaradiya Purana.
The materialistic smarta-sampradaya by their karmik standard of judgement
avoid performing rituals during this month and they avoid anything considered
materially auspicious. By their calculation this extra month is materially
barren or gloomy.
In Srimad Bhagavad-gita the Lord says that if we do karma properly then
we gain some capacity to enter within jnana.
sarvam karmakhilam
partha
jnane parisamapyate
But
the fruit of that knowledge, the knower and the known are all nirvisesa,
or similar to mukti.
By doing holy activities we may be able to attain heaven, but after finishing
that good reaction, we return to this world known as Martya-loka the plain
of death. In this way those who aspire for material things have to undergo
reactions to their actions.
The devotees of Krishna, however, are worshipers of "kirttaniyah
sada harih." Their process of worshiping is given in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta:
nijabhista krsna-prestha
pacheta' lagiya
nirantara seva kare antarmana hana
They
are twenty-four hours per day engaged for the Service of the Lord, for
they do not have a moment for their own sense enjoyment. They cannot tolerate
those who are against doing Seva, especially those who want some result
in this world. When they see these types of jivas they dislike them more
than hell. We can see many Scriptural examples of this.
Similarly the worshipers of svaguna, the plane within the modes of nature,
always show their objection to those who are worshipers of the nirguna
the realm above the modes of nature. There is no lack of Scriptural
examples here also.
The smartas, those under the rules of mundane nature, their material duties
are already scheduled within the regular twelve months so they dismiss
this extra month. However those who continually spend their time in worship
and service of the Lord give much attention to this month. They know fruitive
activity is a cause of material bondage. However those who desire material
results from fruitive activity consider this month to be barren, to be
materially unhealthy. Such persons dismiss this month, therefore this
extra month feels it is rejected so it feels the necessity to surrender
to its Master. The Lord always gives much protection to the surrendered,
so He gives all His own wealth and property to this month and in this
way it takes on His properties and becomes like Him. Therefore the Lord
gave His own Name, Purusottam, making this extra month the king of all
months. He Himself glorified this month and gave it to the hand of His
most dear devotees whom He loves as Himself. The devotees serve the Lord
Goloka Bihari Purusottam very happily in this Purusottam Month, the month
when the materialists are very silent in their activities.
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