Sharad Purnima 2010

The first full moon day of the month of Ashwin is known as Sharad Purnima. It is also referred to as Rasa Purnima, or Sharath Purnima. The festival is also referred as Kaumudi Festival, Kaumudi meaning moonlight. The bright light on this full moon day marks the changing season, the end of monsoon. Sharad Purnima 2010 date is October 22. Popular belief is that the divine Raas Lila of Lord Krishna with Radha and Gopis happened on the Sharad Purnima night.

Story behind the Purnima

According to the Vedic scriptures, the Divine Raas Lila of Lord Krishna with Radha and Gopis happened on the night of Sharad Poornima. Due to this importance, the day is also called Raas Lila Divas or Raas Lila day. It said that on this night there is manifestation of maximum devotion or love between Gopis and Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna favours them by dancing gracefully with them.

The significance of Sharat Purnima is mentioned in the 10th chapter of the Srimad Bhagavad Purana. Sharad Poornima is of importance in places associated with Lord Krishna like Mathura, Braj, Vrindavan and Nathdwara.Sharad Purnima is celebrated with great joy and excitement across India. This day is also considered as birthday of Goddess Laxmi in many parts of India and is believed that Goddess Laxmi comes to visit earth and bless all people, who are found awake for wealth and prosperity so, there is trend to avoid sleep at Sharad Purnima night.

In Swaminarayan Sampraday history the famous ras lila happaned on the same day between the Lord Swaminarayan and his saints at Panchala (near Junagadh) at darbar Jinabhai's home.After that event many rasotsav (festival of ras) happaned at different places by saints and shreeji maharaj.In Gujarat, the night of Sharad Purnima is celebrated by performing Garba and Raas .

It is tradition to take milk and rice flakes on this night.It is considered that the moon and Earth are at the closer distance on Sharad Purnima night due to this the rays of the moon have several curative properties. It is believed that keeping food under the moonlight nourishes the body and soul. Thus, A bowl of milk is kept in moonlight for sometime and sweet rice or ‘doodh-pauva (kheer)’ is made of it.