Today Begin Adhik (Purushottam)Maas-Rituls of Adhik Maas-Origin of Adhik Maas-Adhik Maas special Gujarati Bhajan

 Today Begin Adhik (Purushottam)Maas

Today 18 August Begin Adhik Mas.This is Known as a Chaturmas.The Indian year is divided into twelve

months. Deriving its roots from the natural farming cycle, the days of the months follow the lunar cycle and hence fluctuate between 27-30 days. The lunar year consists of 354 solar days and solar year consists of 365 days. So there is a difference of 11 days between the lunar and solar years. Over the years, each lunar month starts earlier to the corresponding solar month. In every two or three solar years, the difference between the two calendars becomes a full month or around 29 days. Manual adjustment is made to bring the two years into line by adding an extra month every 2.5 – 3 years.
Vasishta Siddhanta, a treatise of Sage Vasishta, says that the Adhika Masa occurs after every 32 months, 16 days and 8 Ghadis.
(Ghadi = 24 minutes)
As this additional month was added at various times of the year to achieve this, it could not be given a specific name associated with a season or a stellar system. It was hence termed as “Adhik-mas” i.e. “Extra-month”. To give it some identification, Adhik-mas is always named after the month is precedes – eg the Adhik-mas before Jeth-mas will be called Adhik-Jeth-mas.

Rituls of Adhik Maas

In Adhik Mas, devotees awaken at Brahma Muhurt – around 4.30 a.m. After the ritual ablutions, they perform puja.
They do pranayam for physical and mental purity. If circumstances are favorable devotees should offer Shodshopchar puja – worship with 16 different types of materials.
If physically healthy, devotees should fast; either on water only for the whole month, or do farar, or ektana – one meal a day. The days should be devoted to listening to katha.
The merit of this vrat is greater than that of performing a hundred yagnas, since this leads to attainment of Paramatma’s abode.
Bhagwan Swaminarayan has also enjoined the observance of Purushottam Mas by offering special devotion. The unparalleled feature of this month is that each tithi – date of this month celebrates a sacred festival which falls on that tithi during the year. For example on the first – Padavo, Annakut is celebrated, since it is celebrated on the first of Kartik month, after Diwali.
Hindus worldwide celebrate this sacred month, which arrives every thirty-two months, by performing extra malas, pradakshinas, pilgrimages, scriptural reading and parayans – holding a katha series of a sacred text.

There are several stories associated with Purushottam Mas.
In ancient times, the rishis Asit, Deval, Angira, Vamdev and others gathered at Naimisharanya Kshetra. Soon Sutpurani too arrived, while on a pilgrimage. Welcoming him, the others requested him to do katha which would imbue moksha.
Sutji replied, “Once Naradji visited Nar-Narayan rishi’s ashram. He humbly prayed, “O Prabhu! What is the way to moksha in this KaliYuga – age of darkness, which is plunging in ever increasing hedonism?”
The rishi replied, “O Muni! If man was to listen to the divine lila of Purushottam Narayan, then even in Kali Yuga, He will grant moksha.”
Therefore the rishis listened to the lila in Adhik Mas, henceforth also known as Purushottam Mas.
Prior to this name, the month was known as Mal Mas (meaning waste).
Since the sun did not enter any rashis during Adhik Mas, people considered it inauspicious and hence referred to it as waste.
Grieved by this blot, Adhik Mas took the form of a human and travelled to Vishnu in Vaikunth. With heartfelt prayers he requested to be delivered from this ignominy and attain honor. Merciful Vishnu blessed him, gracing him Shri Krishna’s darshan in Golok.
In turn Shri Krishna blessed him with the boon, “Henceforth I have accepted Mal Mas! From today, I will uplift him to a status similar to mine.”

Atanmasadhipashchaham mayaivayam pratishthitaha,
Purushottameti mannama tadapyasmai samarpitam.