Adhika Shraavana Maasa

Blessings of Lord Shri Venkata Krishna,  Lord Vayu and Bhaavi Paryaaya Shri Shri Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji to all the devotees of Austin, the Aastika Nagara.

adhika māsa nitya paṭhanīya śloka
govardhanadharaṃ vande gopālaṃ goparūpiṇaṃ | gokulotsavaṃ īśānaṃ govindaṃ gopikāpriyaṃ ||

puruṣottama arghya
devadeva jagannātha purāṇa puruṣottama gṛhāṇa arghyaṃ rādhayā sahito hare

अधिक मास नित्य पठनीय श्लोक
गोवर्धनधरं वन्दे गोपालं गोपरूपिणं । गोकुलोत्सवं ईशानं गोविन्दं गोपिकाप्रियं ॥

पुरुषोत्तम अर्घ्य
देवदेव जगन्नाथ पुराण पुरुषोत्तम गृहाण अर्घ्यं राधया सहितो हरे

This year we have the divine opportunity to celebrate Adhika Shraavana Maasa from July 18 to August 15, 2023.

Please join us at the SVKVA Priest House for Samoohika Adhika Maasa Daana on Saturday August 12th at 6:30 PM (details in flyer above)

Here is a talk by Avinash Achar on Adhika Maasa with salient points extracted below:

In the Chandramana or Lunar Indian calendar followed in most of South India, months are based on the cycle of the moon ending in Amaavaasya tithi. Every month has a Surya Sankramana, or crossing of the Sun from one Zodiac sign to the next Once in 33 months, an additional month appears without Sankramana (compensating for 12 lunar months being shorter than a solar year).

Since there was no associated form of the Lord no auspicious events were to be performe. So this extra month came to be known as Mala (unclean) maasa and just as we get rid of dirt from our body it was discarded (tyaajya). 

However, the Lord Himself then blessed it as His own month Aananda Purushottama Maasa and even made it more blessed than the other months with extra merit for doing any good deeds (adhikasya adhika-phalam).

As recounted in the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna visits the Pandavas in the forest, and relates the background story of how Adhika Maasa is blessed by Lord Vishnu in Goloka. He also explains the background of why the Pandavas were banished to the forest due to Draupadi’s ignoring the virtues of Adhika Maasa in a previous life, and how due to penance to Lord Shiva eventually she is blessed with five husbands in this life.

Many Puranas describe the greatness and benefit of Adhika Maasa, including Padma Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Bhavishyottara Purana and Naaradiya Purana.

Some of the main activities that are to be performed in Adhika Maasa are listed below:

• All kinds of Daana but especially giving 33 Apoopas (Appam sweet) should be done, but only to worthy people with anushthaana.
  • Apoopa daana can be done on a single day to 33 people, or to a person each day for 33 days.
  • The Daana should be given in a Bronze vessel along with Jaggery (Guda) with gold (coin, piece or idol) for Vishnu preeti, i.e. the Lord inside the recipient.
  • The result is equivalent to doing Pruthivi daana, i.e. donating the whole Brahmaanda along with 33 Crore devata-s!
  • Apoopa should be prepared well, without breaks or holes in it
  • By doing this Daana, Shani and Yama dosha is removed.
• Mantra for Apoopa daana:
  • vishnu roopi sahasraaamshu sarva paapa pranashanaat | apoopa daana pradaanena mama paapama vyapohatu ||
    • O Lord Vishnu of thousand (infinite) forms Who are the destroyer of all sins, by this charity of Apoopa sweet, may my sins be destroyed
  • narayana jagat beeja bhaaskara pratiroopadhrik vrataanena putraamscha sampadaamscha abhivruddhaye ||
    • O Lord Narayana, the true form of light and source of the universe, by the vrata and daana I have performed may I have good  children and growth of wealth in the heavenly worlds
• Other daily practices to maintain during Adhika maasa:
  • Installing an idol of the Lord in the courtyard (angaLa) and doing 33 pradakshina
  • Eka bhukta = one meal of naivedya per day
  • Performing both ekadashi-s with fasting and jaagarane
  • Mouna vrata = speaking only as necessary for Lord’s service and sustenance
  • Various daanas and sevas – Deepa, Bhaagavata shravana/pustaka dona, Gita shravana/pustaka daana, Godaana, Goseva, Suvarna/Rajata Daana (Gold/Silver)
  • Paarayana of Vishnu Sahasranama, Vaayustuti  and other stotra-s. 
  • Singing Devaranaama, Daasara Pada songs
  • Performing Homas for various Devatas, but nishkaamy
  • For those who want to do Apoopa or other Daana sankalpa listen to audio from Avinash Achar above (17th minute)

While highest daana in adhika maasa is Apoopa daana another very important one is Shaalagraama daana. Acharya Madhva in His work Krishnamruta-mahaarnava says:

• shaalagraama shila chakram vajra keeTa vinarmitam | adhishThaanam tad vishnoH sarva paapa pranashaanam || Lord Himself takes the form of a Vajra Kita (Diamintine worm/insect) and bores chakra shapes into the Shaalagrama stone (found in Gandaki river in Nepal) and resides there permanently as the destroyer of all sins.

• shaalagraama shilaaroopa yatra tishthati keshava | tatra deva suraa yagna bhuvanani turdashaa || Wherever the Shaalagraama stone resides, there all Devatas,Ssuras, Yagnya-s and 14 worlds also reside
  •  
• shaalagraama shilaa yatra tatra sannihito hariH | tatra snaanam cha daanasya vaaraaNaasya shataadhikaM || Wherever the Shaalagraama stone resides, there is the presence of Lord Hari Himself, and the merit of  holy bath and charity are hundred-fold higher than in Varanasi/Kashi.
  •  

• mlechchha deshe ashuchou api chakraanko yatra tishthati | yojanaani tathaa treeNi mama kshetram vasundhare || In an alien land, or an impure location without cleanliness (and aachaara), Shaalagraama accompanied with Chakrankita becomes Lord’s kshetra for a radius of 3 yojanas (about 13 km

A very important aspect of all Adhika Maasa Daana, Seva, Yagnya is that it should be done with Nishkaamya anusandhaana, i.e. without any desire except for pleasing the Lord Almighty Purushottama.

With the blessings of Shri Hari Vayu Guru,  we are very glad to announce that for Adhika Maasa,  33 Shaalagraama are already in Shri Venkata Krishna Vrundavana including special shaalagraamas like Shimshumaara, Narasimha, Hayagriva, Kaliyamardana, Vaasudeva, Sankarshana, Matsya, Kurma, Ananta, Lakshminarayana.

Additionally, Shalagraama Daana Yojana is available for Devotees to contribute and get the merits of this great daana in Adhika maasa. Whoever wants to donate can come to Priest House  and give the donation with sankalpa .

May Lord Aananda Purushottama shower blessings on everyone for Adhika Shraavana Maasa!

| sarvaṃ śrī kṛṣṇārpaṇaṃ astu  |  सर्वं श्री कृष्णार्पणं अस्तु |