चन्द्रोऽमृतात्मा वरदः किरीटी मयि प्रसादं विदधातु देवः ।।
Sharad Purnima
You may have read numerous articles on Sharad Purnima, some are written from religious point of view, some from cultural point of view, some from scientific point of view and may be some from the mixture of all, but I want to give you my personal opinion as Yoga practitioner and Natural healer what I have understood and realized about this special day or I should say the Special Night.
We all know the meaning of the name “Sharad Purnima”, “Purnima” (Full moon night) of “Sharad” (Autumn). In Sharad Rutu (Autumn season), there are two full moon nights, but the full moon night of month Ashwin of Hindu lunar calendar holds more scientific, cultural, religious, and social importance over the other. Sharad Purnima in some part of the country is also known as “Kojagiri Purnima”, very interesting story about this is, it is also birthday of Maa Laxmi (Goddess of wealth and materialistic possession). Kojagiri means “who is awake”, as per Indian Mythology Maa Laxmi on this full moon day comes to the Earth and roam around asking who is awake (Kojagiri)? And those who are awake will receive the gifts and blessings of her.
You may find this story very much the fantasy of the ancient people, however it is very socially and economically significant anecdote. Sharad Purnima denotes the end of the monsoon season and comes on the beginning of the harvesting season. In India which is agricultural society, even after industrialization agriculture plays major role in economy. Who is awake represent the sense of awareness and willing to do hard works, will gets benefits from it. This harvesting season will bring the prosperity. This is the main theme behind the celebration of Kojagiri Purnima and to show their devotion to Maa Laxmi, some people celebrate Sharad Purnima with “Kojagiri Laxmi Puja”.
Other name of the Sharad Punima is “Kumar Purnima”, in eastern part (especially in Odessa) of India young girls celebrate this full moon day by keeping fast. In early morning, after taking bath they offer food and their devotion to the Sun and then keep long day fast. They will break their fast at moon rise after offering food and their devotion to the Moon. Young girls do this to get suitable groom. You may find this very orthodox tradition, but various psychologist and sociologists describe this practice as mental conditioning. Offering to the Sun represents young girl’s life at their parent’s home and offering to the moon represents their life at in-lows house. In India, every girl has to go through traditional and cultural changes from their parent’s home to their in-laws. Showing devotion to both the Sun and the Moon encourage and help them to develop the balance between both, the parents who gave them birth and the parents of her husband. The whole day fast represents the hardship they may face during this transactional phase and also encourage them to develop strong will. It is very beautiful that a simple celebration of one Full Moon night can teach an entire generation how to develop and maintain social structure.
As per Shrimad Bhagvat Purana, on Sharad Purnima Lord Shri Krishna performs his divine dance called “Maha-Raas”. According to legends, the Moon stops rotating around the Earth and stands still to enjoy this divine exquisite dance of Gopis and Radha-Krishna. Lord Krishna was born with sixteen “Kalas”. On Sharad Poonam by the blessing of the Lord Krishna, the Moon blossom with all sixteen Kalas. So in Vraj it is also celebrated as “Raas Purnima”. The same way Lord Krishna perform his divine Raas we have to perform or participate in meditation to improve our spirituality and increase our emotional and physical well-being.
आजु गोपाल रास रस खेलत,
पुलिन कल्प तरु तीर री सजनी
शरद विमल नभ चंद्र विराजत,
रोचक त्रिविध समीर री सजनी
चंपक बकुल मालती मुकलित,
मत्त मुदित पिक कीर री सजनी
देसी सुधंग राग रंग नीकौ,
ब्रज जुबतिन की भीर री सजनी
मघवा मुदित निसान बजायौ,
व्रत छांड्यौ मुनि धीर री सजनी
जै श्री हित हरिवंश मगन मन श्यामा,
हरत मदन घन पीर री सजनी
There is one more sweet tradition associated with Sharad Purnima preparing and eating desert, in North India it is Kheer, In South India it is Paysam, in Western part of India it is Dudh-Poha. Eating sweet milky rice flakes is not just any tradition for sweet tooth, but it holds very scientific significance. Moon is consider the king of medicine and as per Ayurvedas Moon has some therapeutic effects on specific days of the year. On full Moon night of Sharad Purnima it is believed that Moon is the closest to the Earth and radiate rays which comes to the Earth in from of “Amrut” (Nectar of immorality).
You may find this the imaginary and very vivid story from the past, but there are scientific proofs to back this claim. Sharad Purnima comes in the beginning of the Sharad Rutu where days are hot and nights are cold, which creates ‘Pitta Dosh’ (acidity) in human body. Cold milk with rise flakes sweetened with some kind of sugar is the best remedy for it. So, even the desert of this festival is the medicine for acidity. Scientists also believes that Moon rays have some effects on the lactic acid of the milk and consuming this milk during full night which was kept under the moon light for certain period of time has medicinal properties.
Holy basil marinated in water and kept under the moon light for certain period creates elixir which improves immunity if we consume it and it is also a very good eye drops to improve eye sight.
The food we consume transforms into two parts mind energy and life force. This mind energy localised near the Pineal gland area which secretes important hormones in human body, the moon and its ways directly affect this region. It is believed that due to this phenomenon Moon controls all our activities after the dusk till dawn.
The Moon can affect the moment of the flow of the water in creation. Human body is made of 70% water and our mind is housed in cerebral fluid. Both fluids bodily and cerebral are under the effect of Moon and its moments. Hence, full Moon night effect us very emotionally. In Buddhism full Moon symbolize the rhythm of time and associated with spiritual reflection. Because Moon is also brings swing of the mind and emotions hence it is called lunatic. Meditation is beneficial to keep our mind, body and soul in harmony, Moon meditation is one of the most beneficial way of the meditation. It helps us to reset our emotions, improve immune system, and heal our soul with peace of mind.
So let’s celebrate this culturally important, religiously significant, and scientifically beneficial day of Sharad Purnima by showing our gratitude towards the Moon and tradition associated with Sharad Purnima.