Coming Wednesday marks a beautiful festival of Sharad Purnima, also known as Kojagari Purnima. It is celebrated on a full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin. The ‘Sharad’ in Sharad Purnima signifies the ‘Sharad ritu’ (season) of the year. In Sanskrit, ‘kojaagari’ literally means ‘who is awake?’ Laxmiji, the Goddess of Wealth, is said to travel through the skies that night searching for people that are awake to bless them with prosperity. Hindus usually leave a light on or a candle lit so that Laxmiji knows that they are awake and worshipping God on that sacred night.
After Navratri, this is another important festival celebrated in almost every house in India. It marks the end of monsoon and ushers in the season of autumn. It is the celebration of the day when the moon gets closest to the Earth. It is believed that on this day, the Moon through its beams showers amrit or elixir of life on earth. The brightness of the full moon brings special joy, especially after monsoon.
Goddess Lakshmi was born on Sharad Purnima, People worhsip Goddess Lakshmi and observe fast through out the day. Anyone observing this fast avoids solid foods. Upon completion of the fast, he/she must first taste a mixture of cold milk and rice flakes. The practice of drinking cold milk during this fast has its origins in science. Sharad ritu brings in very hot days and cool nights. During such weather, ‘pitta’ or acidity becomes predominant in our body. Consumption of milk & rice flakes is a good remedy for ‘pitta’.
Along with that worshiping Goddess Lakshmi,signifies the importance of good harvests and prosperity in the lives of the farmers. They seek blessings of the divine power to achieve good results for the hard work they have put in.
Shri Krishna performed the Maha Raas Lila with his ideal devotees, the gopis, on this night. With the luster of a full moon, Shri Krishna took as many forms as there were gopis and gave each of them the satisfaction of playing raas with him. Shri Krishna tested their devotion by questioning, “How can virtuous women like yourselves leave your homes and meet another man in the middle of the night?” But the gopis’ conviction was firm. They understood the meaning of divine, pure love and spent the entire night relishing in the divine murti of Shri Krishna.
In the Swaminarayan Sampraday, Sharad Purnima is important because Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami was born on this day in Bhadra. Thousands of devotees gather at BAPS mandirs around the world on this day to celebrate his life and work. He helped countless individuals on the path to God-realization and spirituality.
Being BAPS follower this day is very dear to me too. So to celebrate this special day I have created this manicure depicting Full Moon (Sharad Purnima), my beloved Guru Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj and lines of a devotional kirtan we used to sing on Sharad Purnima in Gujarati – Aaj Pragtya Puran Brahm re…Meaning Today is the day when Aksharbrahma or Purna Brahma was born on earth…
Wish you all a very HAPPY SHARAD PURNIMA. May your life be full of health, wealth and happiness.
Thank you for taking time to visit. How do you like this manicure? Would love to hear your thoughts! <3
2 Comments
Very pretty and very unique design /idea.
Thanks dear! <3