Why is Sharad Purnima celebrated and what is its significance?
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Sharad Purnima is a harvest festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin, in the Sharad- Ritu. It marks the end of the monsoon season.
Other names for Sharad Purnima are:- Kumara Purnima, Kojagiri Purnima, Navanna Purnima, Kojagrat Purnima or Kaumudi Purnima.
Who is worshipped on this day?
The raas-leela of Radha Krishna occurs on the night of Sharad Purnima, together with their Gopis. This dance symbolizes the purest type of relationship between the Supreme soul and the Infinitesimal soul; it is devoid of any hint of selfish material desire but is charged with deep ecstasy. The Gopis, or cowherd damsels of Vrindavan, are supposed to have the greatest affection for Krishna. It lacks any hint of materialism or self-interest. Because their sole aspiration in life is to please God, the Gopis represent the highest manifestation of the soul's love for God. Lord Shiva had assumed the identity of Gopeshwar Mahadev in order to take part in this transcendental raas-leela.
This day is a major day of adoration for Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, as it is thought to be her birthday. Goddess Lakshmi descends to earth to observe how people behave.The Kojagara vrata is performed by people under the moonlight after a day of fasting.
Indra, the Rain God, and Airavata, his elephant, are also revered. The Linga Purana, the Skanda Purana, and the Brahma Purana all provide vivid depictions of this auspicious night.
Different ways are observed throughout India, Bangladesh, and Nepal to commemorate this day.
- Odisha:- Girls observe a fast on this day in praying that they will find a suitable husband. Aarti of Demi-God Sun is performed just before daybreak with a vessel made up of coconut-leafcalled a "kula" loaded with fried paddy and seven different fruits (coconut, banana, cucumber, betel nut, sugar cane, and guava). Also they prepare a dish and offer it to demi-god moon in front of the 'tulsi' plant in the evening to break their fast, which includes the fried paddy from the morning together with the fruits, curd, and jaggery. Afterwards, beneath the light of the full moon, they engage in games and music.
- Indian states in (north and central) like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh:- Kheer is made at night and kept overnight in an open area with a roof under the moonlight. The following day, the kheer is consumed as a prasad. According to Hinduism, amrit, or the elixir of the gods, is said to be dripped from the moon on this night and collected in the dessert known as kheer.
- West Bengal, Bihar, and Assam:-Goddess Laxmi is honoured on this night.There is a celebratory mood in the newlywed groom's home in the Bihar area of Mithila. Betel and Makhana gifts from the bride's family are distributed by the groom family to their neighbours and family members.The evening is referred to as Kojagari Purnima in Bengal. Who is awake is referred to in Bengali as kojagari.
- Nepal:- This day, known as Kojagrat Purnima , marks the end of the 15-day Dashain festival celebrations. In Nepali, kojagrat means "who is awake." Nepalese Hindus spend the entire night waking up to worship the goddess Laxmi, which is a practise that is similar to that in eastern India. Moreover, it is the last day for receiving a Dashain tika from one's family. For the diety, a special offering of paan, makhana (fox nut), batasha, and kheer or payas is prepared in Mithila. These treats are left outside overnight to soak up the auspicious "Sharad Purnima" moonlight, also known as "Amrit Barkha." The event is also seen to be extremely important for newlywed couples.
Popular Stories from ancient times that reflect the significance of Sharad Purnima
- In the past, a king in the country's east made a pledge to his craftsmen that he would purchase any items that went unsold. The Goddess of Poverty, Alakshmi, was created as an idol by one artisan. To keep his word, the king had to purchase the idol, and soon his country was overrun with suffering. When the queen was told to attend the Kojagari Lakshmi vrat on the full moon night of Ashwin and perform the Laxmi puja according to the procedures, the once-prosperous kingdom was in grave danger. The kingdom quickly regained its lost glory and reestablished itself.
- A community once had a moneylender who had two daughters. On Purnima, the two sisters used to observe fasting. The older sister never used to end her fast early and would always break it after giving Arghya to God Moon in the evening. The younger sister, on the other hand, used to follow the fast for name sake so she used to start her fast but not finish it. Both sisters were married when they were adults. Children of good health were born to the older sister. However, the younger sister was childless. All of her new born babies passed away. The younger sister was told by the saint that she had been keeping Purnima fasts without any interest or devotion, which was the cause of her sufferings and misery bringing calamity upon herself. The saint told her that if she kept the fast with complete devotion and dedication, Demi- God Moon's grace would end her hard time. She observed the subsequent Sharad Purnima fast with complete dedication and ceremonies. She gave birth to a kid following her penance and ritualistic fasting on Purnima, but sadly, this child also passed away soon after birth.The younger sister was aware that her older sister might be able to bring her child back to life because she has Lord Moon's blessing. As a result, the younger sister devised a plan and placed the child's dead body on a little bed, covering it with a cloth. After that, she invited her older sister over and offered for her to sit on the bed that the baby's lifeless body was on. When the older sister's garments touched the dead baby as she was going to sit on the bed, the infant came back to life and began to cry. The older sister was taken aback and chastised her younger sibling for being so irresponsible. The younger sister then revealed to her older sister that although the baby had already passed away at birth, her elder sister's touch had brought the child back to life. This result was entirely brought about by the favour of God Moon and the strength of Purnima Vrat. The Sharad Purnima fast gained acceptance over time, and people began to observe it with elaborate rituals.
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