Sharad Purnima शरद पूर्णिमा
Dedicated to Krishna / Lakshmi
About Sharad Purnima
Sharad Purnima, also known as Kojagari Purnima or Raas Purnima, is the full moon night of Ashwin month — considered the brightest and most beautiful full moon of the entire year. On this night, the moon is believed to be closest to earth and its rays are said to possess healing properties (amrit). The signature tradition is preparing kheer (rice pudding) and leaving it under the open sky all night to absorb the moonlight, then consuming it the next morning for health benefits. This night commemorates Lord Krishna's divine Maha Raas Lila — the celestial dance with the gopis of Vrindavan, where he multiplied himself so each gopi believed she was dancing with Krishna alone. Goddess Lakshmi is also worshipped, as she is believed to roam the earth on this night asking 'Ko Jagarti?' (Who is awake?) — blessing those who stay vigilant.
शरद पूर्णिमा, जिसे कोजागरी पूर्णिमा या रास पूर्णिमा भी कहते हैं, अश्विन माह की पूर्णिमा रात्रि है — जो पूरे वर्ष की सबसे चमकीली और सुंदर पूर्णिमा मानी जाती है। इस रात, चंद्रमा पृथ्वी के सबसे निकट माना जाता है और उसकी किरणों में उपचारात्मक गुण (अमृत) होने की मान्यता है। विशिष्ट परंपरा खीर (चावल की पायस) बनाकर रात भर खुले आसमान के नीचे रखने की है ताकि वह चाँदनी को अवशोषित कर ले, फिर अगली सुबह स्वास्थ्य लाभ के लिए सेवन की जाती है। यह रात भगवान कृष्ण की दिव्य महारास लीला — वृंदावन की गोपियों के साथ दिव्य नृत्य — की स्मृति है, जहाँ उन्होंने स्वयं को कई रूपों में प्रकट किया ताकि प्रत्येक गोपी को लगे कि वह कृष्ण के साथ नृत्य कर रही है। देवी लक्ष्मी की भी पूजा होती है, क्योंकि वे इस रात 'को जागर्ति?' (कौन जाग रहा है?) पूछते हुए पृथ्वी पर विचरण करती हैं।
Spiritual Significance
Sharad Purnima is revered in Vedic tradition as the night when the moon's rays carry amrit (nectar of immortality). The festival celebrates divine love through Krishna's Raas Lila and material prosperity through Lakshmi's blessings, making it spiritually powerful for both devotion and abundance.
शरद पूर्णिमा वैदिक परंपरा में उस रात के रूप में श्रद्धेय है जब चंद्रमा की किरणें अमृत (अमरत्व का अमृत) धारण करती हैं। यह त्योहार कृष्ण की रास लीला के माध्यम से दिव्य प्रेम और लक्ष्मी के आशीर्वाद के माध्यम से भौतिक समृद्धि का उत्सव है।
Key Rituals & Practices
- Prepare kheer and place it under the open sky overnight
- Stay awake and worship Goddess Lakshmi during the night
- Meditate under the full moonlight for spiritual benefits
- Recite Lakshmi Stotra and sing devotional songs
- Consume the moonlight-infused kheer the next morning
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is kheer kept under moonlight on Sharad Purnima?
According to Ayurvedic and Vedic tradition, the moon's rays on Sharad Purnima night possess unique healing properties — they are believed to carry amrit (divine nectar). The kheer, being a milk-based preparation, is thought to absorb these beneficial rays throughout the night. Consuming this moonlight-infused kheer the next morning is believed to cool the body, improve immunity, and balance pitta dosha. Modern science acknowledges that this is the brightest full moon due to the moon's orbital position in autumn, though the health claims remain traditional beliefs.
What is the Maha Raas Lila?
The Maha Raas Lila is the divine dance Lord Krishna performed with the gopis (cowherd women) of Vrindavan on Sharad Purnima night. When the gopis heard Krishna's enchanting flute, they left everything to join him at the banks of the Yamuna. Krishna then multiplied himself so that each gopi found him dancing beside her personally. This cosmic dance symbolizes the soul's (gopi's) longing for the divine (Krishna) and represents the highest form of devotional love (madhurya bhakti) — the complete union of the individual soul with the Supreme.
Who is Kojagari Lakshmi?
Kojagari refers to Goddess Lakshmi's visit to earth on Sharad Purnima night. The word comes from 'Ko Jagarti?' — a Sanskrit phrase meaning 'Who is awake?' Tradition holds that Lakshmi descends from Ksheer Sagar (the cosmic ocean of milk) on this brightest night and roams the earth, blessing those who are awake and engaged in worship or productive activity. This is why devotees stay up all night. In Bengal and Bihar, the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is a major household celebration with alpona (floor art), elaborate worship, and community feasts.
Festival Details
- Deity
- Krishna / Lakshmi
- Category
- Lunar Observance
- Regions
- Pan-India
- Calendar Basis
- Hindu Lunar (Panchang)
- Hindu Month
- Ashwin — Shukla Paksha, Purnima
- Importance
- normal