Sharada Poornimaa will be observed on 26th October this year. The significance of this day and the special practices to be done have been expounded in Pujya Bapuji’s satsang discourses as below:
On Sharada Poonam, the moon is comparatively closer to the Earth than on other nights. On this night, Goddess Lakshmee Ji is worshipped, and a night vigil is observed.
At midnight (on Sharad Poonam), the Goddess of wealth, Lakshmee, is said to move around on the Earth, wondering – ‘Who is awake?’, and bestows wealth, and showers love with grace upon those who remain awake. Because
of Lakshmee Ji’s inquisitive words – ‘ko jaagarti ’ (Sanskrit phrase implying – ‘Who is awake?’), this observance is called ‘Kojaagar’.
You should lovingly adore Lakshmeepati (Lord Vishnu, the consort of Goddess Lakshmee). Keep vigil until midnight. The moon owes its coolness and beauty to the beautiful Supreme Self. Let His coolness and beauty manifest in your heart.
It is good to be cheerful, to dance, jump and sing on this day but this should be based on good conduct and a beautiful synthesis of devotional singing, meditation, and hearing of satsang-discourses. It purifies our mind. Even a restless person can lessen restlessness by seeing the moon in the full moon night and walking in the moonlight. The sun is the presiding deity of the intellect, and the moon is that of
the mind.
The moon carries a special divine aura. The Lord says:
पुष्णामि चौषधीः सर्वाः सोमो भूत्वा रसात्मकः ।।
Becoming the sapful moon, I nourish all herbs (plants).’ (The Geetaa: 15.13)
On Sharada Poornimaa night, do not cook any food. Simply cook rice and add milk to it. After it has come to the boil once or twice, it becomes kheer (sweet rice pudding). For one person, add two black pepper seeds; thus, for eight people, add sixteen while cooking. By 9 p.m., the kheer should be ready. From 9 p.m. to midnight, the moon showers nectar through its rays that are full of particles giving joy and health. Cover the kheer-vessel with a muslin cloth (not synthetic) and place it in the moonlight. Stir it every half an hour, preferably with a silver spoon. If you put a gold ornament (without any gemstones) into the kheer while cooking, it is even more beneficial.
Cooking kheer in an iron saucepan or pot adds iron to it. You may add cardamom, dates, or dried dates, but avoid almonds, cashews, pistachios, or chaaroli (Buchanania lanzan) seeds, as they are heavy to digest at night. After midnight, offer the kheer to the Lord, and then eat it as prasaada, but since it is late at night, eat in moderation.
The moonlight, milk, rice, sugar, and silver spoon are white. Their whiteness augments your sattva (purity), joy, and health.
Nutritious items such as dates, ghee*, apples, maamaraa-almonds’ preparation*, or Saubhaagya Shunthee Paaka* can also be placed in the moonlight of Sharad Poornimaa. You should also sit or lie down in such a way that the moonlight falls directly on your navel and body.
For Asthma Patients
Patients suffering from asthma should obtain the special damaa bootee (asthma herb) from the nearest ashram. It is given free as prasaada along with an instruction leaflet. On the night of Sharada Poornimaa, mix the herb with the kheer and feed it to the patient. Do not let the patient sleep afterwards; have them walk a little and chant the Divine name. Besides taking this herb, if one chants the following mantra, it will help a great deal in asthma and also in about 80 other vaata-related diseases, including joint pain. Mantra:
ॐ वज्रहस्ताभ्यां नमः ।
Om Vajrahastaabhyaam Namah|
If the meter, Rishi and other components of this mantra are unknown to you, consider Brahman, the Supreme Self, as the same. While beginning the chanting, make the following viniyoga: ‘Om Vajrahastaabhyaam Namah is the mantra. Its meter is Brahman, Supreme Self. Its Rishi is Brahman, Supreme Self. Its presiding deity is Brahman, Supreme Self. I chant this mantra so that my asthma, joint pain, or any other vaata-related disease (you may name the disease along) may be cured.’ This brings immense benefits. I know the glory and greatness of this mantra.
