PURUSHOTTAM MASS
Astronomy
The lunar calendar adds one extra month every third year. This extra
month is known by various names: Adhik Maas, Mal Maas, Purushottam Maas. This
is the thirteenth month of the lunar calendar. Sankranti means transition. When
the sun transits from one Raashi to (Zodia Sign) another Raashi that day is
called Sankranti. Since the Sun passes through 12 Raashis (Signs) every year,
there are 12 Sankrantis every year – one Sankranti every month. Whenever
Sankranti does not fall within one month then the Adhik Maas (extra
month) occurs.
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 the solar and the lunar years
have gaps of 11 days, 1 hour, 31 minuites and 12 seconds. As the gap increases
each year, it approximates in three years to one month. Vasishtha Siddhanta (
the treatise of Vasishtha) mention that Adhik Mass 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).
Religious significance of Adhik Mass
There is a nice story about Purushottam Maas. According to the lunar
year, there were only 12 months. Each of the 12 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 Adhik 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. Adhik Maas ( Mal Mass) felt sad and
approached Lord Krishna and said that no God was assigned to him (Adhik Maas)
and for that reason he was called Mal Maas. Adhik Maas further spoke to Lord
Krishna: ‘I am filled with anxiety and I have therefore come to seek your
refuge and help.’
Lord Krishna took pity on him. The Lord (Krishna) agreed and assigned
Adhik Maas to Himself and gave the name PURUSHOTTAM MAAS to this month. Lord Krishna also said that acquisition of merits through
good deeds during all other months put together can be acquired by
japa,austerities etc.,carried out within this one month. Since then it is known
as the Purushottam Maas and acquired greater
significance than the other months.
In a book called “Purushottam Granth” can be found many aspects of the
special religious significance of this month. By reading and listening, high
merits are acquired. There are lots of lovely stories connected with the
special significance of this month.
DEVI MAHATMYA
Durgaani harti iti Durga (दुर्गाणि हरति
इति दुर्गा).
Durgaani (दुर्गाणि,దుర్గాణి ) – The troubles; harti (हरति, హరతి)– remover; iti (इति,ఇతి) – is itself; Durga (दुर्गा,దుర్గా)– Devi Durga.
A burst of energy emanated from Lord Vishnu and took the form of Devi
Durga. All the other Lords contributed their essence into the form. Devi thus
emerged as an embodiment of Supreme Energy capable of surpassing any hurdles to
our life.
The Devi Mahatmya or “Glory of the Goddess” is a religious text
describing the victory of the Goddess of Durga over the demon Mahishasura. As
part of the Markandeya Purana, it is one of the Puranas or secondary Hindu
scriptures after the Vedas. It was composed with authorship attributed to the
sage Markandeya.
Contents
The Devi Mahatmya consists of chapters 81 – 93 of the Markandeya
Purana, which is a set of stories being related by the sage Markandeya to
Jaimini and his students. The thirteen chapters of Devi Mahatmya are divided
into three charitras or episodes.
The framing narrative of Devi Mahatmya presents a dispossessed king,
amerchant betrayed by his family, and a sage whose teachings lead them both
beyond existential suffering. The sage instructs by recounting three different
epic battles between the Devi and various demonic adversaries ( the three being
governed by, respectively Maha Kali ( chapter 1), Mahalakshmi (chapters 2-4) and Mahasarasvati(chapters 5-13). Most famous is the
story of Mahishasura Mardini – Devi as “Slayer of
the Buffalo Demon” – a tale known almost universally in India. Among the important
Goddess forms of the Devi Mahatmya introduced into the Sanskritic main stream
are Kali and Sapta – Matrika ( ‘Seven Mothers’).
Chandika Havan
Devi Mahatmya is the ritual text for performing Chandika Havan. This is
the one of the most popular Yagnas conducted throughout India.This is performed
for the general welfare of the people. Further the items like Bilva Phallam(బిల్వఫలం), Kapita Phallam(కపితఫలం), Madhuka Pushpam(మధుక పుష్పం) etc., which form the ‘Dravyas’ that
go as “Ahutis(ఆహుతి)” into Havan are considered to purify
the surroundings and highly beneficial for the health of the people
participating in the Yagna.
Courtesy: Sri Umesh Purushottam Pai, G.S.B. Sabha, Dombivli, Mumbai.
