The Glories of Purushottama Month From Padma Purana - Part 1

One time Narada Muni went to Badrikashram to visit Nara Narayana Rishi. Naradji enquired from Sri Narayana, “O Lord, I have heard the glories of all months including Karttika, Chaitra etc., but which month is this Purushottama month? O ocean of mercy, please tell me all about this sacred month. What is the way to glorify this month, what should I do in this month, how should I take bath, give in charity, etc? What should I chant? Who should I worship, should I observe fasting in this month? Please tell me everything in detail.”

Suta Goswami said, “O sages, after hearing all these questions from Narada, Lord Narayana began to speak from His moon-like lotus mouth. “O Narada, I am going to tell you something which was previously explained by Lord Sri Krishna to Maharaja Yudhisthira. Once Dharmaraja Yudhisthira lost everything - his empire, his palace, and even his chaste wife Draupadi - to Duryodhana in a gambling match. At that time, Draupadi was insulted by Dusasana in front of the whole royal assembly. But when Dusasana tried to strip Draupadi naked, she was saved from such a shameful situation by Lord Sri Krishna. After this incident, Yudhisthira Maharaja along with his brothers and wife left his kingdom and lived in Kamayaka forest.

Once, Sri Krishna, son of Devaki, visited the Pandavas in that forest. All the Pandavas, including Draupadi, were very happy to see their Lord and forgot their painful forest life immediately. They felt enriched with a new life just by getting Krishna's darshan. They paid their obeisances at their Lord's lotus feet. Seeing the miserable living condition of the Pandavas, Lord Sri Krishna became very upset and became very angry with Duryodhana. It appeared as if the Lord was going to destroy the whole universe. The Pandavas became fearful and all began to pray to the Lord in a humble mood. Listening to the humble prayers of Arjuna, the Lord composed Himself and said, “O Arjuna, being very pleased with all of you and being controlled by your devotion and friendship towards Me, I will now tell you about the wonderful history of Purushottama month.”

“O Arjuna! Once upon a time, by the arrangement of providence, an extra month came to this world. Everyone took this month to be most inauspicious, and even saw it as a stool-like month. Just as one should not touch stool, so this month was also seen as untouchable. It was constantly unprotected, blasphemed, and rejected by everyone as an improper time for any religious and auspicious activities.”

“Being so rejected by all human beings and constantly hearing only bad words and blasphemy, this extra month became very sad. She came to Vaikuntha to explain her sorrowful situation to the Lord. Seeing Lord Vishnu on His simhasana, she fell down at His lotus feet in a mood of sorrow and grief. Tears were falling profusely from her eyes. She started praying to the Lord, “O ocean of mercy! I have come to You helpless. I have been rejected and blasphemed by all peoples of the world. Please protect me, please show me Your mercy. Please don't be indifferent towards me.” Saying these words, the extra month continued crying in front of Lord Vishnu and sat down before Him in a dejected mood. Seeing the humble and pitiable position of the extra month, Lord Vishnu became very merciful towards her. He told her, “Do not lament, I shall give you protection from all of your miseries. Please stop crying. It is not proper to lament after taking shelter at My lotus feet.”

Being so consoled by the Lord, the extra month began speaking in pitiable language. “O Lord, You know all my painful condition. No one is in a more miserable situation in these three worlds than I. First of all, all other months, years, days, nights, directions, etc. are being protected by You, and so they are always moving fearlessly in their unique charming moods. But I don't have any name, nor any protector, nor a husband to give me shelter. All the demigods and human beings have rejected me for any auspicious activities. For this reason. O Lord, I want to die immediately.” O Narada, this extra month repeatedly said, “I want to die! I want to die! I want to die!" Then she fainted at the feet of the Lord.

Being requested by Lord Vishnu, Garuda started fanning the extra month. And after some time, she got up and began to speak again, “O Lord of the Universe, I am in need of Your shelter, so please protect me!”

Lord Vishnu told the extra month, “O child, please don't lament, all of your miserable conditions will be finished very soon. Get up and come with Me to Goloka Vrindavana, which is even unattainable to great yogis. Goloka is the abode of Lord Sri Krishna. There Lord Sri Krishna is in His two-handed form, surrounded by gopis and enjoying His eternal pastimes. The Supreme Sri Krishna of Goloka will deliver you from all your miseries, please come with Me.” Speaking in this way. Lord Vishnu took Mala-masa (the extra month) to Goloka by catching her by the hand.

From a distant place, Lord Vishnu and the extra month observed the effulgence of Goloka. This dazzling effulgence automatically forced Mala-masa to close her eyes. Therefore, keeping her behind Him, Lord Vishnu proceeded farther until He reached the main gate. There the doorkeeper paid his respects to Him. Having reached the Supreme Abode, Lord Vishnu met Lord Sri Krishna who was surrounded by many devoted gopis. Lord Vishnu, who is the husband of Ramadevi, paid His obeisances to Lord Sri Krishna. Then He made the extra month also offer her obeisances at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna, even though she was crying loudly.

Immediately, Sri Krishna asked, “Why is she crying? She is in Goloka Vrindavana, why is she crying?” Hearing these words from Lord Sri Krishna, Lord Vishnu got up from His seat and started explaining the whole miserable condition of the extra month. He begged Him to please protect this unprotected month. “There is no one except You, Lord Krishna, who can save this extra month from her hellish condition and give her full protection.” Having said these words, Lord Vishnu remained standing in front of Lord Krishna with folded hands.

Then Suta Goswami continued to speak, “O sages! Lord Vishnu took his seat, and Lord Krishna spoke very confidential words to him. Listen carefully, for I am now going to share those words with all of you!”

Lord Purushottama Sri Krishna said, “Oh Vishnu, you have done a very great deed by bringing this extra month to Me! You will become even more famous for performing this act. Because You have accepted this Mala-masa, I will also accept her. I shall make this poor extra month just like Me in quality, fame, opulence, realization, success, and in giving benediction to devotees. This month will become equally potent to Me. I am bestowing all of My divine qualities in this abused month. Named after Me, this month will be famous as Purushottama Month in this world.”

“O Janardana, now that she has imbued My qualities, I Myself will become the husband and protector of this Purushottama month. And being equal to Me, this month will be the master of all other months. Now this month will become worshipable by one and all. Everyone should pay their obeisances to her, everyone should worship her. This month is equally as powerful as Me to give any type of benediction to its observer. I am making this month desire-free, unlike other months, which are full of some desire or another. The worshiper of this month will be able to burn all his past sinful reactions to ashes, and after enjoying a blissful life in the material realm, he will return back to Godhead.”

“O Garudadhvaja,” Lord Sri Krishna continued, “My Goloka is unattainable to the performers of austerities, mahatmas engaged in pious activities, to people who maintain celibacy, or to those who fast their whole life's duration. But just by observing Purushottama month and becoming a devotee one can easily cross over this material ocean and return back to Godhead. Observance of this Purushottama month is the best of all austerities. Just as a farmer produces a rich harvest by planting seeds in nicely cultivated land, so an intelligent man who practices devotional service towards the Supreme Lord in this Purushottama month will enjoy a blissful life while in this world and after leaving his body he will return back to Godhead!”

“An unfortunate ignorant man who does not perform any japa, does not give any charity, does not pay respect to Lord Sri Krishna and His devotees, does not behave properly to brahmanas, makes enmity with others and who blasphemes the Purushottama month will go to hell for an unlimited period.” Lord Shri Krishna continued, “How can a person make his life successful unless he performs devotional service in this Purushottama month? A person who is fully engaged in sense gratification and does not give any special importance to this sacred month becomes the best candidate for hell. All human beings should perform some devotional service in this Purushottama month by:

1 Taking a bath in a holy river

2. Worshiping Me, Shri Krishna, by chanting My holy name

3 Giving in charity

“A fortunate person who follows My instructions and observes this Purushottama month properly, and in a faithful way worships Me, will attain fame, opulence, and a good son in this very life! And after enjoying a happy life, he will return back to Goloka Dhama. By following My instructions, everyone should worship this sacred month. I have made it the best among all other months. Oh husband of Ramadevi, give up all kinds of mental speculation about this extra month! Just take this Purushottama month with you to your Vaikuntha abode!”

After narrating this brief history of the Purushottama month. Lord Sri Krishna glanced very mercifully upon Yudhisthira and Draupadi, and then began speaking to Arjuna, “Oh lion among man, can you now understand the reason why you Pandavas are suffering? You did not acknowledge or honor the presence of Purushottama month, which has just recently finished. That month which is most dear to Vrindavana Chandra has passed, but you Pandavas were in the forest and did not worship Purushottama month. So now you are suffering. You have been following the ritualistic principles given to you by Vyasadeva, but unless you worship Purushottama month you cannot perform pure devotional service to Me.”