Adhikmaas Vrat Sadhana
Adhik Mas, also known as Mal Maas or Purushottam Maas, is an extra month in the Hindu calendar. It is inserted every three years to keep the lunar and solar calendars aligned. The lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, while the solar calendar is based on the cycles of the sun. As the lunar year is slightly shorter than the solar year, an extra month is added every three years to keep the two calendars in sync.
Adhik Mas is not considered to be a regular month, and it is often seen as a period of spiritual introspection and renewal. Many Hindus choose to fast, meditate, and perform religious rituals during this month. Adhik Mas is also a time for pilgrimages, as many holy sites are said to be more auspicious during this time.
The name Adhik Mas means "extra month" in Sanskrit. The name Mal Maas is derived from the word "mala," which means "impure" or "unclean." This is because Adhik Mas is not considered to be a propitious time for weddings, housewarmings, or other auspicious events.
However, Adhik Mas is also seen as a time of great opportunity. It is a time to make amends for past mistakes, to focus on spiritual growth, and to prepare for the coming year. For many Hindus, Adhik Mas is a sacred month that is filled with both spiritual and practical significance.
Here are some of the religious practices that are associated with Adhik Mas:
- Fasting
- Meditation
- Pilgrimage
- Recitation of religious scriptures
- Performance of religious rituals
- Vratas (fasts) of various durations
Adhik Mas is a time for Hindus to focus on their spiritual lives and to connect with the divine. It is a time to reflect on the past year and to make resolutions for the coming year. It is also a time to give back to the community and to help those in need.
Sadhana
Every morning bathe with cold water and chant following mantra.
गोवर्धनधरं वंदे गोपालं गोपरूपिणम् । गोकुलोत्सवमीशानं गोविंदं गोपिकाप्रियम् ॥ भक्तिर्भवति गोविंदे पुत्रपौत्रविवर्धिनी । अकीर्तिक्षयमाप्नोति सत्कीर्तिर्वधते चिरम् ॥
(Govardhandharam vande gopalam goparupinam, gokulostavmishanam govindam gopikapriyam)
(bhaktirbhavati govinde putrapautravivardhini, akritikshaymapnoti sakritrivardhate chiram)
Then try to eat only one meal per day. In the evening light an oil lamp. This lamp must be donated to a Brahmin at the end of the month.
If you are interested there is another complex sadhana too. Read the following mantra every day after bath. Print it on a piece of paper and at the end of the month, donate it to a Brahmin. Feed a cow something sweet every day.
ममत्रयस्त्रिंशद्देवतात्मकविष्णुरूपी सहस्त्रांशु श्रीपुरुषोत्तम प्रीतिद्वारा निखिलपापप्रशमपूर्वं पुत्रपौत्रयुत धनधान्यक्षेमसमृद्धि लोकद्वय सुख हेतु पृथ्वीदान फलप्राप्त्यापूपच्छिद्रसमसंख्यवर्षसहस्त्रवधी स्वर्लोकनिवासादिकल्पोक्तफलसिद्ध्यर्थं मलमासप्रयुक्तं अपूपदानं करिष्ये । याप्रमाणे संकल्प करून दानवस्तूचे पूजन करावे. नंतर ब्राह्मणाचे पूजन करून पुढील श्लोकांनी त्यांची प्रार्थना करावी, विष्णुरुपी सहस्त्रांशु: सर्वपापप्रणाशन: । अपूपान्न प्रदानेन मम पापं व्यपोहतु ॥ नारायण जगद्वीज भास्कर प्रतिरूपक । व्रतेनानेन पुत्रांश्च संपदं चापि वर्धय ॥ यस्य हस्ते गदाचक्रे गरुडो यस्य वाहनं । शंख: करतले यस्य स मे विष्णु: प्रसीदतु ॥ कलाकाष्ठादिरूपेण निमेषघटिकादिना । यो वंचयति भूतानि तस्मै कालात्मने नम: ॥ कुरुक्षेत्रमयं देश: काल: पर्वद्विजो हरि: । पृथ्वीसममिमं दानं गृहाण पुरुषोत्तम ॥ मलानांच विशुद्ध्द्यर्ह्तं तव दास्यामि भास्कर । इदं सोपस्करं त्रयस्त्रिंशदपूपदानं सदक्षिणाकं सतांबूलं