Sharad Purnima- Divine Night for Seekers

Sharad Purnima - Divine full moon night of Ashwin Shukla Paksha. On this night, the Moon illuminates with 16 different Kalas, making it all the more special. Sharad purnima is also called Kojagiri Purnima.

Sharad Purnima 2021 - Date & Time:-

Moonrise on Sharad Purnima- 05:20 PM

Poornima Tithi Begins - 07:03 PM on Oct 19, 2021

Poornima Tithi Ends - 08:26 PM on Oct 20, 2021

Sharad Purnima Significance:-

Sharad Purnima marks the beginning of the Winter season.

The night of Sharad Purnima is an auspicious time to have a glimpse of all the deities. Thus, it is said that on this night elixir from the moon is showered in the form of pure rays.

Devotees cook kheer and keep it on the terrace or in the open sky under moonlight.

The mind becomes calm and the body gets rejuvenated by looking at the moon on this night. 

For spiritual seekers , Sharad Purnima holds a greater importance as it symbolises enlightenment, liberation, purity and Maharas which is said to be the symbol of the union of Jiva and Brahma.

Why do we make kheer on Sharad Purnima?

On Sharad Purnima, all those who want to be healthy must make kheer and keep it under the moonlight. Along with this , keep a vigil at night to be prosperous.This is the reason why this night is also called Kojagiri, Ko-jagiri is a question meaning who is awake ? It is said that on this night Goddess Lakshmi appeared from the churning of the ocean. That is why it is also called the incarnation day of Goddess Lakshmi. Therefore, those who worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu on this night are blessed by the Goddess.

According to the beliefs, kheer should be kept in a silver utensil if possible. Silver has a high disease resistance property. This keeps the virus at bay. Milk contains lactic acid and the essence of elixir. It absorbs a greater amount of power from the Moon's rays. The starch in the rice makes this process easier.

It is beneficial to prepare kheer from Mishri (crystal sugar) and cow's milk .  Mishri cures hyperacidity which is dominant during Sharad month. Adding 5-6 pieces of black pepper (kali mirch) is also beneficial as it helps prevent cold. 

Sharad Purnima - Scientific Reason / Why do we drink milk on Kojagiri?

1.As the moon rises with all the 16 kalas and is too close to the earth, it is believed that staring at the moon continuously on this night prevents loss of eyesight.

2.People test their eyesight by inserting a thread in the needle under moonlight on Sharad Purnima.

3.The moon rays have healing and medicinal properties that nourishes the body, mind and soul. Hence the night of Sharad Purnima is considered to be effective for those suffering from chronic diseases like Asthma.

4.One must drink cold milk on Sharad Purnima as the days are hot and nights are cold during Sharad Ritu (autumn season). During such weather acidity becomes predominant and consumption of milk is a good remedy to get rid of acidity. Also, in every festival where the supreme deity is the moon , milk is used.

Sharad Purnima 2019 | शरद पूर्णिमा तक करें ये उपाय और पाएं लाभ ही लाभ

Raas Leela on Sharad Purnima:-

Prernamurti Bharti Shriji says-

Raas is derived from ras which means bliss.

The gopis of Braj took various forms. Some of the saints and sages of Dandakaranya who were fascinated by Lord Shri Ram played Raas in Braj in disguise of Gopis. After thousands of years of strict penance, saints and sages are blessed to be the part of Maha Raas. Every living entity requires Ras , without it life loses its meaning.

Karshati Aakarshati iti Krishna…

The One, who attracts and fascinates towards Himself, is Krishna. Gopis are our Vritti (instinct) and attitude. The importance of Lord Krishna cannot be understood till this world is considered to be real.  When the importance of Lord Krishna is understood and the devotion and love for Krishna is attained, then the materialistic things become valueless, one leaves behind everything and starts doing bhakti (devotion) of that Lord…!!

Gopis would go mad when they used to listen to the divinely melodious sound of Krishna’s flute.  One of the Gopis was feeding milk to the baby, she left the baby aside and ran towards Krishna. Another Gopi was eating food; she left the food and went after Krishna. All the deities take a glimpse of the divine dance of Shri Krishna and Gopi.

Playing flute is the invocation of Lord Krishna. When He plays the flute, it means He is calling all Gopis. It symbolises that the devotees have to leave their materialistic work and run after Krishna. Similarly, in your heart too, that Lord plays the flute, sometimes by giving sorrows, sometimes by granting happiness, sometimes through his existence, sometimes through experience, sometimes through His wisdom. His flute is being played, but you don’t listen to it, you don't pay heed to it. When you will hear it, then you will also leave behind all the work of this materialistic world and start meditating on that Supreme God alone…!!

Sharad Purnima gives you the message that, when you consider all the materialistic work to be trivial and only Krishna as your main goal, then you also will become happy like Gopis

Get drenched in the devotion of Lord Krishna and feel the ecstasy!

Don't forget to share your experience of the divine night in the comment section below.