Purushotham/Adhik Maas Story – 1
Sunaina lives in a village with her son Gopal and daughter in law, Deepa. Sunaina’s daughter, Surabhi is married and lives in a nearby village. Sunaina feels happy because she knows she has fulfilled all her duties as a mother to the best of her ability and dotes on her two grandchildren.
She spends all her time in her spiritual pursuits and this fills her with Ananda. Sunaina goes to the Kantha Gowri temple twice a day, fasts on all Ekadashis, attends all Satsangs and observes all the rituals on each festival meticulously. She chants and reads the scriptures in her free time.
One day, when she looks through the calendar, she is surprised to note that the Purushotham Maas is round the corner. Sunaina feels sad when she realizes this. Her eyes fill with tears and she wonders, “Four years have passed. But it seems only like yesterday that I fasted and worshipped Kantha Gowri during the Purushotham Maas. Surabhi has not found the time to visit me even once during these four years. And neither has Deepa visited her parents’ home in all this time. Surely something is amiss. I must ask the Mukhiyaji in the Kantha Gowri temple about this.”
Sunaina goes to the temple that evening too as usual. She meets the Mukhiyaji after doing the Arti darshan of Kantha Gowri and says, “Mukhiyaji, I think I am doing something wrong. I worship Kantha Gowri religiously. I fasted and offered special prayers to Kantha Gowri and Purushotham Bhagawan during the Purushotham Maas four years back too. Purushotham Maas is approaching soon. But Surabhi has not visited me even once in all these years and neither has Deepa been able to visit her parents. Please guide me. Is there something more that I should do to please Kantha Gowri and Purushotham Bhagawan?”
The Mukhiyaji looks at Sunaina with a smile and says, “Purushotham Bhagawan is slightly annoyed with you, Sunaina. Deepa is busy with household chores and has been a real pillar of support to Gopal. She loves you all and happily takes care of the house too. But Deepa too wishes to fast and offer special prayers to our Lord during the Purushotham Maas. She does not discuss any of this with you because she does not want to disturb your spiritual pursuits in any way. You are a mature woman Sunaina. I’m sure you will find a solution to please Purushotham Bhagawan too.”
Sunaina thanks the Mukhiyaji for sharing this insight with her. She wonders about it during the night. But by the next morning, she knows what she has to do to pacify Purushotham Bhagawan. She wakes up at her usual time. And she starts chopping the vegetables while Deepa is making the tea. Deepa looks at her in surprise and says, “Ma, I’ll do that. Here. Please have your tea first. You can chant and say your prayers after that.”
Sunaina looks at Deepa and says, “No, Deepa. I’ll chant while I chop the vegetables. I’ll clean and wipe dry the cups and saucers too after we all drink our tea. I will hang the clothes out to dry every morning too. And from here on, I will buy the vegetables on my way home from Kantha Gowri’s temple. Just give me a list, lest I miss out on something. And I will arrange all the vessels in the cupboards and fold all the clothes too in the evening before I go the temple.”
Deepa quickly says, “Why Ma? Did I say something that hurt you? Didn’t you like what I cooked last night? Just tell me. I will cook whatever you feel like eating.”Sunaina realizes how blind she had become. She had failed to understand another woman’s challenges. She had been through these very same challenges in her life too. Yet instead of understanding and supporting her daughter in law, she focussed only on one thing – her happiness. Nothing else had mattered to her.
Sunaina looks directly at Deepa and says, “No Deepa. I dumped all the household responsibilities on your shoulders after you got married. And you are so busy running the house that you have no time to do the things that matter the most to you. It’s time for me to make amends now. I’ll help you with as many chores as I can while I say my prayers. So that will give you some free time to do the things that you want to do.”
Deepa hugs Sunaina warmly and says, “Ma, this year we have a Purushotham Maas. I would like to offer special prayers to Kantha Gowri and Purushotham Bhagawan. Also, I want to fast during the entire month with you. I wished to do all these things four years back too. But Gopal was struggling with his business and my children were very young. So I had no time to do all this. So I did not discuss it with you then.”
Sunaina blinks back her tears and says, “Of course, Deepa. We’ll finish the household chores quickly and pray during the Purushotham Maas every day. But I will help you on other days too from now on.” Deepa looks at Sunaina gratefully and both of them make it a point to enjoy a leisurely cup of tea in the morning every day. They both fast during the Purushotham Maas, worship Purushotham Bhagawan with devotion and offer special prayers to Kantha Gowri too.
Sunaina knows that Purushotham Bhagawan has forgiven her for her mistake when she gets a call from Surabhi on the last day of Purushotham Maas. Surabhi says, “All of us will be visiting you next week Ma. And I will be able to stay with you for one whole month this time. It’s been four years since I saw you. And I am so eager to meet all of you.”
Sunaina shares the news with Deepa and says, “Kantha Gowri and Purushotham Bhagawan have answered our prayers Deepa. See. Just see. Gopal’s business too is doing very well now. I know you did not have the heart to leave him because he needed your support when he was setting up his business. But I know all will be well from now on. Now you too must take a break and visit your parents with the children.”
Deepa smiles happily at Sunaina and says, “I could do all this only because of your support Ma. Let me meet Surabhi first and spend some time with her. After that, I too will surely go to my parents’ place and spend some time with them. Yes, don’t worry. I’ll take the children along with me too.”
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