Holy Purushottama Month

27 May: By dividing the whole year in twelve parts, the smārta (literature based on smŗti) śāstras have ascertained the auspicious, or religious, activities for these twelve months. All the karma, religious activities that are part of varņāśrama system when allotted to the twelve months, leaves the extra month (adhimāsa) devoid of any such activity. There is no religious performance in adhimāsa. In order to keep lunar months and solar months in tally, one month has to be excluded every 32 months. The name of that month is adhimāsa (extra month). It is stated in Śrī Sūrya Siddhānta that in one mahāyuga there are 1593336 extra months and 51840000 solar months. Therefore, there is one extra months every 32 months, 16 days and 4 hours of solar calendar. Smārtas have discarded this extra month, considering it abominable. They gave it names as mala māsa, cora māsa, and so on.

On the other hand, the most worship-able paramārtha – śāstras (transcendental literature based on śruti) acclaims adhimāsa as the most outstanding month for transcendental activities. Since life is temporary, it is not proper to spend any part of one’s life meaninglessly, thus it is imperative for all to remain continuously engaged in hari-bhajan at every moment. 

This month is superior to all pious months. Lord Krishna has said, “ Just as I am celebrated in this world by the name Puruşottama, similarly this Adhimāsa too will be renowned in the world by the name Puruşottama. Those who worship this month, either without any desires or with all types of desires, will have their karmas burnt. My devotees sometime commit offenses, but in this month, they will be protected from committing any offense.”

One shall daily read the glories of Puruşottama Vrata, from the writing of Sree Bhakti Vinode Thakura, in the morning; daily recite “Śrī Jagannāthaśtakam” and ‘Caurāgraganya Puruśāśţakam’ in the afternoon and perform Japam instructed by Kaundinya Muni –

Goverdhana – Dharam Vande Gopālam Goparūpinam

Gokulotsavamīśānam Govindam Gopikāpriyam.

In the evening one must offer Deep-dān before Vishnu temple, made of pure ghee. At night one shall read ‘Brahmāśţak’ from Sreemad Bhagwatam. (Tenth canto).