We celebrate Kojagiri Poornima on the full moon day of Ashwin. Some people worship lord Lakshmi Narayan while others worship Shiva and Parvati or Radha and Krishna on this day.
Farmers celebrate Kojagiri Poornima as a harvest festival because it marks the end of the monsoons. And they worship Indra, the god of rains and his mount Airavat on this day.
People who worship Lakshmi Narayan fast throughout the day and remain awake during the night of Kojagiri Poornima. They say, “We believe that goddess Lakshmi was born on this auspicious day. She manifests on Bhuloka during the night, goes from house to house and blesses those who are awake with prosperity.”
Others worship Parvati and say, “Parvati performs austere penances before getting married to Shiva. So unmarried women fast like Parvati on Kojagiri Poornima with the hope that they too will get married to a suitable groom.”
But everyone makes it a point to offer their most special prayers to Chandra Deva on Kojagiri Poornima.
Vedic astrologers say, “The waxing and waning phases of Chandra has an impact on the water bodies. Since our body also has water as one of its constituents, the waxing and waning phases of Chandra has an impact on our minds.
Also, on Kojagiri Poornima, Chandra Deva sheds all the Sodasha Kalas and realizes that the Jivatma is not different from the Paramatma. He remains in this exalted state of realization on this auspicious Poorima, shines in full splendour and showers Amrit on Bhuloka.
Scholars say, “On Kojagiri Poornima, Chandra’s rays have a positive impact on our minds and are full of medicinal properties too. That is why we keep a bowl of kheer in an open terrace on the night of Kojagiri Poornima. We believe the kheer imbibes the positivity and medicinal properties of Chandra’s rays. And when we eat this kheer as prasad the next morning we will experience good health for one full year.”
*Interestingly, among all the 10 avatars of Vishnu, we call Krishna alone as Purna Purushotham because Krishna is Akala i.e. has none of the Sodasha Kalas. Maybe that is why Krishna was aware of being an avatar of Vishnu. And since lord Rama could shed only 12 Kalas He was not aware that He was an avatar of Vishnu.
People who worship Radha and Krishna call Kojagiri Poornima as Sharad Poornima.
Gopeshwar Mahadev and Krishna on Sharad Poornima
When Krishna was preparing for the Maha Raas with the gopis on the night of Sharad Poornima, Shiva too yearns to participate in it. When Shiva tries to enter the Raas Sthal, He is stopped by Yoga Maya who says, “Except Krishna no other male can enter the Maha Raas. If you wish to participate in the Maha Raas O Mahadeva, you must transform yourself into a gopi. Seek refuge in Vrinda Devi. She will tell you how to transform yourself into a gopi.”
When Vrinda Devi listens to Maha Deva’s request she says, “O Shiva, take a dip in the waters of Manasarovar and your wish will be fulfilled.” Shiva does so and emerges from the lake as a beautiful gopi.
Vrinda Devi then takes Gopeshwar Mahadev to the Raas Sthal where Shiva prays with utmost devotion to Radha and Yamunaji. They bless Gopeshwar Mahadev with Ananda and Bhakti.
But after engaging in the Maha Raas with the gopis for a while Krishna senses that something amiss. He asks Lalitha sakhi to check whether a man has entered the Maha Raas disguised as a gopi. Lalitha sakhi lifts the veils of hundreds of gopis but does not find any man amidst them.
She comes back to Krishna and says, “O Krishna, I did not find any man but I was surprised to find a gopi with three eyes.”
When Krishna sees this gopi, He laughs heartily and says, “O Gopeshwar Mahadev, I am delighted to see you as a gopi. But this Maha Raas is not for Grihastas. Since you have already participated for a while in the Maha Raas, you can continue to witness it from afar, as a Raas Dwarpalak. And whoever worships you on Sharad Poornima, will be blessed with the bhaav of a gopi.”
That is why, even today, we worship Gopeshwar Mahadev in the form of a Shiva linga and decorate it beautifully as a gopi on Sharad Poornima.
Krishna’s Sharad Poornima leela in Pushti Marg
During the Raas leela, the gopis and Radha Sahacharji become proud and nurture the bhaav of “Saubhagya Madh.” They think highly of themselves because Krishna plays the role of their partner in the Raas leela. So, Krishna disappears quietly from there. Leaving them alone.
Radha Sahacharji and the gopis realize their folly. They experience “Virah Taap.” And seek Yamunaji’s help. Yamunaji manifests before them all and pleads with Krishna to forgive them. Krishna relents on hearing Yamunaji’s pleas and manifests before them as Gokulchandramaji.
Gokulchandramaji then plays the flute again and engages in the Maha Raas with RadhaSahacharji and the gopis in Vrindavan. That is why we call Gokulchandramaji as the Raas Nayak.
Krishna perspires while performing the Maha Raas with the gopis. So, he enters the waters of Yamunaji. Krishna knows that Yamunaji, His Bhakti swaroop alone is a worthy recipient of His sweat. So, He sanctifies Yamunaji’s waters with His perspiration. And engages in Jal Kreeda with the gopis in Her waters. Much to everyone’s delight.
Since, Chandra witnesses Krishna’s divine Raas Leela with RadhaSahacharji and the gopis on Sharad Poornima, we adorn all our Nidhi swaroops in white and silver on this day.
Essence of Sharad Poornima in Pushti Marg
Krishna’s Maha Raas is a metaphor for a state of realization and bliss. The word “Raas” means essence. On Sharad Poornima, Krishna plays His Venu to attract the naïve gopis. For He loves His bhaktas as much as they love Him.
The gopis come running to Vrindavan when they hear Krishna’s Venu Naad. They forget their husbands, children, home, chores, anxiety, worry, misery and tiredness. And run eagerly to Krishna because they yearn to be a part of His Raas leela. This again is a metaphor.
Krishna enables the naïve gopis to shed each of their Sodasha Kalas. For one night. The auspicious night of Sharad Poornima. And He makes them all realize that the Jivatma was and will never be different from the Paramatma. And He Krishna has and will always dwell within them all too.
We represent this symbolically during the Maha Raas in which each gopi dances in gay abandon with Her own Krishna and becomes oblivious to the rest of the world. For one auspicious night. The night of Sharad Poornima.
Today, we try to recreate this bhaav of Ananda on Sharad Poornima. And try to consciously get over our Maya. With the hope that maybe, just maybe, with Krishna’s grace, we too will be able to shed all our Sodasha Kalas. And realize, for a few fleeting moments at the very least, that Krishna dwells in our souls. Always. For we too are and will always be a part of Him.
Let’s hope that once we experience that state of realization, we will strive to reach and remain in that state more often. And maybe, just maybe, someday, if not in this life or the one after that, we too will become gopis and be a part of Krishna’s Maha Raas…
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