Fasting on Sharad Purnima! Know the significance, rituals involved and the reason behind observing a fast.
Sharda purnima is celebrated for centuries in India. The festival holds great significance in Hindu mythology and is believed to be the birthday of Maa Lakshmi. Lord Krishna along with the Gopis enjoyed Raas in Nidhivan on this day. This day is hence called Kojagiri purnima, Raas purnima or Komudi vrat. Sharad purnima falls in the month of Ashvin in the Shukl phase. Worshipping goddess Lakshmi is considered auspicious on this day. It is believed that the rays of moon work as a nectar on this day and are beneficial for all the living beings.
| Sharad Purnima Shubh Muhurat 2018 | |
| Commences at 22:38:01 October 23, 2018 | |
| Ends at 22:16:44 on October 24, 2018 |
Note: The above timings are mentioned as per Indian time zone. Click to know the muhurat of Sharad purnima in your city.
Shubh Muhurat for Sharad Purnima 2018
- From the night of 23rd October, full moon can be seen and this means that although the day of festival is 24th, the rituals will begin on the night of 23rd.
- People cook kheer (a sweet dish made of rice and milk) on this day and put in in moonlight for the whole night or at least till 12 am.
- Astrological perspective suggests that the time for purnima will be from 10:38 pm on October 23, 2018 and continue till 10:14 am on October 24, 2018.
Vrat katha for Sharad Purnima
In old times, two daughters of a sahukar used to observe fast on full moon day of every month to please Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. The elder daughter accepted the norms of fasting and took great care to follow them. On the contrary, the younger one, though kept the fast, did not follow the rules for fasting as for her they were not significant. When they were of appropriate age, their father arranged their marriage with suitable matches. They both conceived and the elder one gave birth to a healthy child. While, the child born of the younger sister could not survive. This happened a couple of times before the younger sister decided to seek the advice of a brahmin.
She asked the spiritual guru for a solution to her problem. The religious brahmin in no time could understand that since she never completed the fast of purnima with all its rules, she is suffering from dosha. After listening to this, she decided to complete the fast with all the rules. Soon after she decided so, a son was born of her, but just like the previous children, he too died. She took the body of her son, wrapped it in a piece of cloth and kept it on a wooden platform so nobody doubts it.
The younger sister invited her elder sister to her home. She then offered the same wooden platform to her, to sit upon, on which the dead baby boy was kept by her. When the elder sister was about to sit, her saree touched the baby and it started crying. Seeing this, the elder sister was angry as she believed that the baby could have died if she accidentally sat on him.
Her sister also started weeping and told the whole story to her sister. She revealed the secret of the baby being dead along with what the brahmin had told her. Also, she thanked the elder one as her touch revived a dead child. The fast she kept on every full moon blessed her with god’s grace and she could turn an impossible into possible. The younger sister then decided to complete the purnima fast with utmost care from the very day. Just like her elder sister, she also got results for her fast and started singing praises of purnima fast in the whole city.
Significance of Purnima vrat
- Individuals who hold a fast on purnima with complete dedication are granted all their wishes as per Hindu belief.
- The day is also celebrated as Kumudri vrat as married women who are aspiring to beget a child fast on this day.
- Mothers also fast on this day for praying to god to grant a long life to her children.
- Unmarried girls keep a fast to get a suitable match.
- The moon is believed to be brightest on Sharad Purnima. And people say that nectar flows from the moon to earth.
- During Sharad Purnima, the rays of moon are beneficial for your spiritual as well as physical being.
- Even the incurable diseases can be cured, such is the magnificence of the moon rays on this night.
Vrat Vidhi for Sharad Purnima
- Start the day with worshipping your Isht dev.
- Worship Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi by lighting a lamp filled with ghee.
- Donate food and gifts to brahmins on this day.
- A fast should be observed with complete dedication.
- Offer water to moon at night and then consume food.
- Donate kheer in temple to seek the blessings of Maa Lakshmi
- Some people also take a holy dip on this day. Offerings made after such a holy bath is considered auspicious on this day.
We wish you a Happy Sharad Purnima!
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