Long long ago, a woman called Shanta lived in a remote village. Her parents had died when she was a newborn baby. A sadhu had taken care of her at that time. When Shanta was old enough to fend for herself, the sadhu had requested Kishore, the owner of a kirana shop to employ Shanta as a helper in his store. Kishore agreed to do so immediately. The sadhu then set off on a pilgrimage. And no one ever saw him again.
Kishore and his wife treat Shanta decently. Kishore and all the other rich villagers rely completely on Shanta’s support whenever they perform elaborate yagnas and rituals on all auspicious occasions. And Shanta feels very happy when she witnesses such divine deeds so she is always eager to help them all.
But one day, she realizes that she can never perform any of these rituals or yagnas. She feels sad for some time but decides to do whatever she can to help at least one human being in some way. From the next day onwards, Shanta wakes up earlier than usual. She makes her way to a sadhu’s hut which lies on the outskirts of their town. Shanta collects all the flowers that she finds on her way.
Shanta then cleans up the sadhu’s front yard, sets aside a few flowers for his pooja, strings the rest into a beautiful garland, leaves them in the sadhu’s courtyard and quietly goes back to the town.
The sadhu is pleasantly surprised when he wakes up. He assumes that some florist who was passing by had spent the night in his courtyard and left behind a beautiful garland by mistake. But he is even more surprised when the same thing happens every day.
So one day the sadhu wakes up early in the morning. He spots Shanta cleaning his courtyard and asks her, “I appreciate your help, Shanta. Your garlands are very beautiful indeed and worthy of offering to God. But why are you doing all this for me?”
Shanta says, “O sadhu maharaj, I feel very peaceful when I assist other rich people who perform yagnas and elaborate rituals to please God. They are truly blessed because they can afford to perform such divine acts. I am too poor to do all this.
But I am grateful for what a sadhu like you did for me several years back. So I decided to thank God in my own simple manner – by cleaning up the courtyard of another sadhu every day. I feel this is the least I can do for God.”
The sadhu says, “O Shanta, the Purushotham Maas begins tomorrow. If you do Go Pujan and Go Parikrama during the Purushotham Maas even for one day, you will get the punya of one Ashwamedha Yagna. Yes, that is how auspicious the Go Pujan and Parikrama become during the Purushotham Maas. Observe this simple ritual of doing the pooja and parikrama of a cow for as many days as you can and leave the rest to Purushotham Bhagawan.”
Shanta thanks the sadhu profusely and decides to do Go Pujan and parikrama on all days of the Purushotham Maas and feels happy that she is fulfilling her wish even through this simple ritual.
Unfortunately, a fortnight later, Kishore’s son swoons and loses consciousness for no reason at all. Kishore and his wife immediately call the Vaidya. The Vaidya examines Kishore’s son thoroughly and says, “I’m sorry Kishoreji. But your son seems to be affected by a new disease for which there is no cure as yet. All I know is that some people recover completely from this kind of coma while others slip away. Pray for your son. That is all you can do.”
Kishore then calls the astrologer who says, “Perform the Ashwamedha Yagna. Or find someone willing to pass on the punya of performing an Ashwamedha Yagna to your son within a week. He will definitely recover.”
Kishore loses all hope now. He knows that no one in their town can afford the expense involved in performing an Ashwamedha Yagna. Only a few kings could perform such a yagna. And he wondered how anyone could pass on their punya to others.
When Shanta hears the news, she goes to Kishore’s house and says, “O Sire, the sadhu living on the outskirts of our village says that if we do Go Pujan and Go Parikrama on one day of the Purushotham Maas, we get the benefit of performing an Ashwamedha Yagna. I have been doing this for the past fortnight. And I will be happy to pass on the benefit to your son – for I have always looked upon him as my son too.”
Kishore smiles at her sadly and says, “How will you pass on the benefit to my son, Shanta? I am hearing of such a thing for the first time. I doubt if there is any specific ritual to do so.”
Shanta says, “What is the harm in trying, Sire? Let me sit by your son’s bedside and pray to Purushotham Bhagawan. I’m sure He will not let us down.” Kishore agrees to Shanta’s suggestion but looks sceptical.
Shanta touches the boy’s forehead gently, whispers this prayer to herself and says, “O Purushotham Bhagawan, please pass on all the punya that I have accrued through my Go Pujan and Go Parikrama to my master’s son. I no longer yearn to perform any yagna or rituals. I play a small part in all the rituals and yagnas that are performed in this town. And I am content with that.”
Kishore, his wife and Shanta look at the boy’s closed eyes with a heavy heart. They had hoped for a miracle when Shanta discussed the essence of Go Pujan and Go Parikrama with them. But now they knew nothing would work for their son. But Shanta continues with her prayers, sits by the boy’s bedside every evening and prays with utmost faith to Purushotham Bhagawan.
On the last day of Purushotham Maas, Purushotham Bhagawan appears in Shanta’s dream and tells her, “I am very pleased with your noble intentions Shanta. Everyone performs yagnas and engages in rituals because they want something or the other from some God.
But I know you treat every family as your own and look upon this boy as your own son. It is rare to find simple pure souls like you in Kaliyug who are willing to transfer their punya to others. I will most certainly fulfil your wish and pass on your punya to this boy. He will live a long and healthy life.
And henceforth, whenever you help the other villagers perform a yagna or ritual a fourth part of their punya will be credited to your karmic account and you will attain moksha at the end of your life.”
Shanta wakes up with a start the next morning when she hears her master’s voice outside her house. Kishore says, “Shanta, Shanta – look – your prayers did create a miracle. My son regained his consciousness this morning and is feeling absolutely fine now.”
Shanta is overjoyed to hear the news. She discusses her dream with Kishore who says, “You have earned the blessings of Purushotham Bhagawan with your noble nature O Shanta. From now on, I too will do Go Pujan and Go Parikrama on all the days of the Purushotham Maas.”
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