Adhik Maas 2018: 16th May to 13th June
Why Adhik Maas Exists: In Hindu religion, adhik Maas is considered to be very sacred. For this reason this month is also called ‘Purushottam Maas’. According to the scriptures, along with worshiping God in this month, listening to ‘Bhagwad Gita Katha’, chanting mantra, doing religious austerity and going for pilgrimage will give auspicious results.
It is said that, taking bath in holy rivers in this month leads to salvation. In astrology, the Moon month has 354 days and the solar month has 365 days. Due to the difference of 11 days every year, in every 3 years, there are 33 more days which are more than one month. To maintain this difference the religious scriptures have a provision of an adhik Maas.
Story related to Adhik Maas: Many stories are found in mythology in relation to adhik Maas. It is said that Brahma ji had made adhik Maas to solve Hiranyakashyap’s puzzled boon. According to a story described in Vishnu Purana, AdipurushKashyap and his wife Diti had two sons. Hiranyakashyapu and Hiranyaksha.
Hiranyakasyapu pleased Brahmaji with hard penance and asked for boon that he could not be killed by any person or animal, neither in the day, nor in the night, neither in the house nor outside the house, neither with any weapon, nor he should be killed in any month of the year.
After receiving the boon from Brahma Ji, Hiranyakashipu considered himself a God and started torturing people. Brahma ji created an adhik Maas for this riddled boon of Hiranyakashyapu, which cannot be counted in any month of the year. For other puzzles of Hiranyakashyapu, Vishnu embraced the form of NarasimhaBhagwan and killed Hiranyakashyapu with the nails in that adhik Maas.
Why this month is special: According to the scriptures, Brahma ji created this month for the welfare of the people. For this reason, in Hinduism adhik Maas has been considered to be very virtuous. this month is also called ‘Purushottam Mas’. In this month, listening to ‘Bhagwad Gita Katha’, chanting mantra, doing religious austerity and going for pilgrimage are also of great significance. It is said that in this month, listening to god stories, chanting and pilgrimage gives many times good results. It is believed that taking bath in holy rivers in this holy month leads to salvation. Auspicious events like marriage, house inauguration and Yagyopavitare avoided in this month.
