Sharad Purnima (Kojagiri): Puja vidhi timing and significance

Kojagiri Purnima is the harvesting festival celebrated in different parts of India and is known as Sharad Purnima or Kumar Purnima. It marks the end of monsoon season. On this day, the moon rises on 5:34 PM.

Kojagari Lakshmi puja is the day when Goddess Mahalakshmi is worshipped. She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. On the day of Kojagari Laxmi puja, worshippers offer special offerings to Goddess Lakshmi and the Nine Planets to seek blessings for good fortune. Goddess Lakshmi is also known as goddess of light, good fortune and beauty.

Although Lakshmi is worshiped for success blessing, she does not reside with the person who does not obey with the work or is not disciplined towards it. A person, who is observing this festival, stays awake all night.

As per the legends, a King was once in deep financial crisis and had difficult times. Looking at his condition, his queen observed a fast and jagran to worship goddess Laxmi. Pleased by her devotion the Goddess blessed both the queen and the king with prosperity and happiness.

On the same day, Kaumudi celebrations are also celebrated. Kaumudi means moonlight and on this, day people worship moon in a traditional. This celebration is to represent the divine power between Lord Krishna with Gopis. According to the legend, it was on Sharad Purnima, when Lord Krishna performed the Maha Raas (the dance of divine love).

During the night of Sharad Purnima, Lord Krishna with his divine flute woke up Gopis who ran away from their homes to the forest and danced with Krishna throughout the night. Lord Krishna through his divine power created several Krishnas who danced along with each Gopi. It is also believed that Lord Krishna stretched this night, which is one night of Lord Brahma, and almost a billion years in Earth.

On this day, both the Moon and the Earth are very close to each other, and the distance of the Moon, rays carry medical benefits to our body and soul. Sages and purana experts believe that on this night, the moon rays are like drip of a nectar. Hence, delicacies like rice kheer prepared is left under the moonlight and distributed as Prasad to the whole family next day. People believe that, Prasad is blessed with divinity. Worshipping God Chandra on the night of Sharad Purnima is considered as very prosperous.

Fasting on this day is also a blessing for newlywed women. In the state of Gujarat, Sharad Purnima is known as Sharad Poonam, and is known as Raas Purnima in the Brij regions. In some parts of India, especially in Maharashtra, Sharad Purnima is called Kojagiri Purnima. On this day, people observe Kojagara Vrat or Kaumudi Vrat throughout the day.

Kojagiri Puja: The night of wealth and prosperity

On Kojagiri Purnima night, people worship Goddess Mahalakshmi along with Lord Indra, riding on his vahana (vehicle) Erawat elephant. People also perform Shodashopachara Puja. After fasting for the whole day, puja is carried out throughout the night by lighting 108 lamps, along with incense sticks and offering of flowers. To appease Goddess Laxmi, it is vital to offer a Bhog of kheer made of makhana and milk. On the night, Kheer is prepared to keep under the moonlight, and then on the next day, entire family consumes the kheer.

Auspicious activities:

Installing of Shree Yantra: Shri yantra or Shree Yantra carries divine power of Goddess Lakshmi herself and is the purest and powerful Yantra. It carries mystical diagram related to geographically to the five elements of nature. Shree Yantra is mystical route to attain siddhi and gain desires and ambitions. Shri yantras are prepared by using vamtantra carrying different colours. These colours are obtained from Ashthagandha, Keshar, Gorochan, and other mystic Herbs.

To make the Shri Yantra fully energized, it is prepared at a particular auspicious time on Ashwin Purnima night. It is believed that, the yantra can attain maximum power on this night. Once the Yantra is fully energized, it will help in warding off evil effects of planets and spirits.

Donation or Charity:

Daan/donation is a part of activity to show apathy and help towards the society. In this, giving away the most precious possessions is a way to find blissful solace. Daan is one of the ways to clean the sin the person committed knowingly or unknowingly. Daan is fruitful when you offer your precious possessions without expecting anything in return. When the person does pure daan, he/she will earn pure punya. This punya will be carried out to the next life. Donation is way to earn more virtue. There are two common forms of daan/donation- Ann daan (donation of food) and Vastra daan (clothes of donations). People on this festival perform donation activities.

Mahalaksmi also appears in the form of Goddess Saraswati granting wisdom to sages. She is also known as Mother Amba who accompanied, Lord Vishnu as the female energy, when the lord took Narisimha avatar to save Maharaja Prahlaad from Demon Hiranyakashyap who attained liberation after getting killed from Lord Vishnu and Goddess Durga.

Jagaran (Night Vigil)

It is said that, Kojagari Purnima jagran is auspicious to awaken spirituality. Moreover, Goddess Laxmi and Lord Indra to attain prosperity bless people who are awake on this Purnima night and performing religious activities.

Astrological Significance of Khojagiri Purnima:

By performing Kojagiri Purnima puja and daan, the individual will attain prosperity and reduce the effect of Brihaspati and Chandra largely. Person who is facing mahadasa (main-period) or antardardasa (sub-period) of Jupiter and Moon will see positive difference after performing puja and daan.