SHARAT POORNIMA...HINDUISM

SHARAT POORNIMA...HINDUISM

HINDUISM:-

Hinduism is the most primitive and the most ancient religion of the world. Hinduism has also myths and stories related with it. It is called religion of festivities, as each season and each month of the year brings a new festival with it. Hinduism is a religion which attaches a festival with almost every thing this universe. In Hindu mythology sun, moon, air etc are Gods and each has their mythological significance. There is a festival attached with each God in Hindu mythology. Though it may be full moon or new moon, each has some rituals and festivities associated with them. Though scientifically these are scientific phenomena’s, but in Hindu mythology they have their own special significance. People perform different rituals according to their beliefs on these days.

FULL MOON OR POORNIMA:-

Full- moon or Poornima is one of the most auspicious days in Hinduism. There are many festivities, rituals and beliefs associated with this day. In South India it is also known by the name of Purnima. People usually perform upvaas (fast) on this day. The Purnima fasting begins in the morning with sunrise and ends in the evening after seeing the moon. Some people even have food only after seeing the moon or after their evening prayers. Even Pournima Vratam is dedicated to Devi, mother Goddess in some parts of South India. People perform special Puja in temples on Pournima day, including the Puja of Goddess Purnima.

SHARAT POORNIMA-

Hindu month Ashwin is a month, which brings with it a lot of festivals and rituals. Ashwin in general falls in the month of September and October. Several important festivals of Hindu mythology come in this month. Sharad Purnima or Sharad Pournima is also one of the important festivals coming in the Hindu month Ashwin, that is, month of September and October. Sharat Purnima is generally observed on the full moon night of the month of Ashwin in Hindu mythology. It is believed that Sharat Purnima is linked with the Lord Krishna. It is also believed that divine Raas Lila between Lord Krishna and Gopis happened during this night.

RAAS LEELA:-

t is believed in Hindu mythology that divine Raas Lila between Lord Krishna and Gopis happened on the night of Sharat Purnima in the holy forests of Vrindavan. Since Sharat Pournima is connected with Raas Lila of Krishna, it is also known as the Raas Lila Day or Raas Lila Divas. People often perform fasting and Sharat Pournima Vrat on this day. This festival has a great importance and significance in the places associated with Lord Krishna, that is, in Mathura, Brig, Vrindawan and Nathdwara.

MOON AND EARTH ON SHARAT POORNIMA:-

There is a close association between Moon and the Sharadh or Sharat Pournima Day. It is said that moon comes more close to the earth on this day. It is also believed that moon rays have medicinal effect and contains nourishing elements. As the moon is believed to be near to the earth, it is believed that it has a curative effect on the human beings. So, most of the people used to spend their evenings in the moon light. People also used to prepare poha, puffed rice and Kheer (sweet dish) on this day and used to have them after placing them in the moonlight and consumed later… Even some people have some other belief also, as they don’t see moon directly instead they see it in the vessel filled with boiling milk. It is believed that by keeping dishes in the moonlight, they too acquire the curable elements of moonlight, and as when they are consumed they will have desired effect on the consumer. The significance of the Sharadh or Sharat Pournima has been explained in the tenth chapter of the Srimad Bhagvad Puranna.

MYTHOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE:-

The significance of Sharadh Pournima has been described in the 10th chapter of Srimad Bhagwad Puraana. It is believed in the Hindu Mythology that divine Raas Lila between Lord Krishna and Gopi’s happened during this night. The showering of Bhakti Raas on Gopi’s and Radha on the night of Sharadh Pournima by Lord Krishna has been one of the main themes of for the poets and philosophers across the ages. The night of Sharadh Pournima has been known as the night of lovers and couples, and mostly couples and lovers comes out in the night of Sharadh Pournima to express their love.

MYTH AND STORY ABOUT SHARAT POORNIMA

There is also a story connected with this day. Usually people listen to this story before ending their fast. This story is a story of two sisters, of whom the elder sister is very religious and pious. She used to observe Sharadh Pournima Vrat with full dedication. But the younger sister is not interested in such things, and she used to observe fast only for namesake and end her fast by the afternoon. The result was that her sister gave birth to children who are very healthy and obedient. But all her children died at her birth. She consulted a saint in this regard, who told him to observe Sharadh Pournima Vrat with full dedication. She recognized her mistake and performed Sharat Poornima Vrat with full dedication. The result was that he gave birth to a healthy child, but he too died after birth. This really shocked her. She made a plan. She wrapped her child in a cloth and put it on the chair in such a way that child may look like cushion. Then she invited her sister to her house and made her to sit on that chair on which she had placed her child. As soon as her sister sat on the chair, the child started crying. Her sister scolded her for carelessness. Later her sister told her the reality that her child died after birth, but her touch breathed life into her child. Soon the miracle spread in the whole kingdom, and since then people started observing Sharat Poornima Vrat to have the grace of Goddess Poornima.