The most auspicious month of Puruṣottama from July 18th to August 16th 2023.
It is said that this month is a SUPER SALE for Kṛṣṇa consciousness because any spiritual activity one performs, one gets 1000 times benefit!
The Ācāryas recommend for devotees to take advantage of this holy month and focus on our spiritual lives by committing to doing extra spiritual activities as our vratas or promises to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
This most auspicious month only comes every few years so let us take this wonderful opportunity to get that extra mercy from the Lord as it is the BEST month for spiritual advancement.
Śrīla Prabhupāda considers Sanātana Goswami someone whom we are meant to follow. In a lecture in Māyāpur, February 26, 1977, he said: “Sanātana Goswami is our guide, ācārya”
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally ordered Sanātana Goswami to write the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa to provide direction for the Vaiṣṇava behaviour and practices. The Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya līlā 24.340 describes the details of what Mahāprabhu specifically requested Sanātana: “You should also describe the duties to be observed every month…”
In the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, Sanātana Goswami clearly instructs Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas to observe the Puruṣottama Month.
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes, “The Hari-bhakti- vilāsa was originally compiled by Śrīla Sanātana Goswami. …What is recorded in the Hari-bhakti- vilāsa strictly follows the Vedic scriptures and is certainly pure, but the attitude of the karmīs is always one of giving up the conclusion of pure Vaiṣṇava understanding. CC. M. 4.221. pp.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes about the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: “Another famous book by Sanātana Goswami is the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, which states the rules and regulations for all divisions of Vaiṣṇavas, namely Vaiṣṇava householders, Vaiṣṇava brahmacārīs, Vaiṣṇava vānaprasthas and Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī …This book was especially written, however, for Vaiṣṇava householders.”
CC. A. 5.203 pp.
These guidelines are meant to be followed accordingly depending on the stages in which the devotees are. Śrīla Prabhupāda further explains about the particular contents of the book:
“In the fourteenth vilāsa, different duties for different months are outlined…
“The sixteenth vilāsa discusses duties to be observed in the month of Kārtika (October-November), or the Dāmodara month, or Ūrja, when lamps are offered in the Deity room or above the temple. There are also descriptions of the Govardhana-pūjā and Ratha-yātrā.
“It is Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura opinion, however, that to follow the Hari-bhakti- vilāsa strictly is to actually follow the Vaiṣṇava rituals in perfect order.
CC. M. 1.35 pp.
The Śrī Caitanya Caritamrita describes the interaction between Śrī Caitanya and Sanātana Goswami at the giving of the task to compose the Hari-Bhakti-Vilāsa:
“Folding his hands, Sanātana Goswami said, ‘My Lord, You ordered me to write a directory about the activities of Vaiṣṇavas. I am a most lowborn person. I have no knowledge of good behaviour. How is it possible for me to write authorized directions about Vaiṣṇava activities?’
“Sanātana Goswami then requested the Lord, ‘Please personally tell me how I can write this difficult book about Vaiṣṇava behaviour. Please manifest Yourself in my heart. If You would please manifest Yourself within my heart and personally direct me in writing this book, then, although I am lowborn, I may hope to be able to write it. You can do this because You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Yourself, and whatever You direct is perfect.’”
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Whatever you want to do you will be able to do correctly by Lord Kṛṣṇa is favour. He will manifest the real purport.”
C.C. Madhya 24.324-328
Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes about the importance of following the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa “….This benediction was given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Sanātana Goswami, who was authorized to write Vaiṣṇava smati. Sanātana Goswami was a pure devotee of the Lord, and through the blessings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu he was able to write the book perfectly.” CC. M.24.325
Reason, Meaning and Description of Purusottama Month
-By HH Jayapataka Swami-
Reason for Puruṣottama Month to occur
According to the lunar calendar the year passes through 12 months in 355 days. In our solar calendar it is 365. From 355 to 365, there are 10 days of difference. So every 3 years there is one additional month that is called the month of Puruṣottama.
Meaning of the name Puruṣottama
Puruṣottama is a name of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. “Puruṣa” is the enjoyer or Lord; Uttama is transcendental. Puruṣottama, is “The transcendental Supreme Lord.” The 15th chapter of the Bhagavad Gītā is also called Puruṣottama Yoga.
Description of the Puruṣottama Month pastime
The Pāṇḍavas would ask Lord Kṛṣṇa why, if they are devotees, they had to suffer so many different tests in their lives. In one Purāṇa it is explained that because they did not follow the month of Puruṣottama appropriately, they had to suffer for this offense. And Kṛṣṇa also asked or suggested to follow the month of Puruṣottama that is coming in some time, very soon – to avoid, to cancel out all the previous offenses. Like this, the month of Puruṣottama had no name before; being an additional month, Adika month, in Sanskrit.
He was very frustrated because he didn’t have… all the other months had offerings to the different Avatāras, of Rādhārāṇī, or different activities. But if it is an additional month, nothing happens in him month.
There were two very special Ekādaśīs (in this month), but some people thought that it was an inauspicious month. So he asked Viṣṇu to solve him problem and Viṣṇu took him to Goloka Vrindavan, to Lord Kṛṣṇa. He was very sad that she didn’t have a goal, a purpose; he was crying. And there in Goloka Vrindavan, -the sacred abode of Lord Krsna-. Kṛṣṇa told him “Why are you crying here? This is the spiritual world, here no one cries, there is no suffering.” But he had no purpose in life; he wanted to come to His lotus feet.
So Kṛṣṇa accepted him under His shelter and gave him the name of Puruṣottama, month of Puruṣottama. So whichever activity is realized in this month, spiritual or devotional, is going to have thousand times more results, or even more. It is something very special, and “this month is non-different from Me” (Kṛṣṇa says). This is why whoever does not follow, can have various obstacles in one’s life. Well, for the devotees that chant daily, follow all the regulative principles and do their devotional service, there will be no problem; but for those who are still starting, or in this moment are not very regular, it is a month in which it is the best to regularly chant the name of Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare and improve.
“Radha Krsna Prana Mora”
-By Narottama Das Thakur-
The Glories of Sri Purusottama Month
-By Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura-
–Purusottama Month Slideshow–
***Purusottama Month Checklist***
-Additional Files-
As we are coming to end of the this holy month, It is recommend before breaking the Purusottama vrata that one offer 33 malpuas prasadam to at least one Vaisnava. In this video Kalasudha Mataji is showing us how to make malpuas.
