Chapter 60 - The Importance of the Intercalary Month

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Verse 21 explains the title. It is also called Malamāsa.

Vyāsa said:

1. O sinless one, earlier it was said by you that Puruṣottama

Tīrtha is a great sacred place. O holy Sir, narrate to me in detail the greatness of that Tīrhta. I wish to hear this from you, O most excellent one among those who know Brahman.

Sanatkumāra said:

2-8. Listen, O most excellent one among Brāhmaṇas, to the great story that removes sins. Merely by listening to it great sins will be destroyed.

O holy Sir, during the earlier Kalpas, in the splendid and pure Vaikuṇṭha, the Lord of Ramā was seated along with Sanaka and others as well as his attendants. There were great sages of excellent conduct and also the creator, the Grandfather, who were endowed with Ṛddhis, Siddhis and other good qualities. He was served by Mahat and other principles. He was served by Gaṇas, Gandharva groups etc. who were singing aloud all round. Groups of celestial damsels were dancing in the charming yards beautified with Cintāmaṇi jewels.

The Slayer of Mura was seated in the shade of Kalpa trees. All of them were engaged in the discussion of religious topics. They were fully conversant with the paths of Brahman. From their midst the Parābhāṣā (Great Speech, Parāvāṇī) asked Kamalāpati:

Lakṣmī said:

9. O Lord, I wish to hear the injunction regarding the meritorious rites exactly. O highly intelligent one, you are omniscient. Let it be narrated if it pleases you.

Śrī Bhagavān said:

10-15. O fair lady, Dāna (charity), Snāna (bath), Tapas and Śrāddha are always praise-worthy indeed. But (if) performed according to the injunctions all these shall be of unending benefit.

Dāna, Snāna, Tapas and Śrāddha have been glorified by the sages (as having everlasting benefit) when performed at the proper place, time, Parva (special occasion) in a Tīrtha, shrine or region.

The increase of (the benefit of) Dāna is proclaimed when performed on a full-moon day, new-moon day, on Saṃkrānti (transit of the Sun), on a day of eclipse and in the Vaidhṛti and Vyatīpāta Yogas.

What is consecrated to the sacred fire and what is given as (religious) gift on Gaṅgā, in the holy places of Bhāskarakṣetra, Kurukṣetra, Puṣkara, Godāvarī, Gayā, Amarakaṇṭaka Tīrtha and Avantī shall be everlasting in benefit. Hence during festive occasion, one should visit a Tīrtha. Certainly a man who is unmindful of Tīrthas and Parvas becomes one clad in dirty rags, unlucky, foolish, sluggish and afflicted with sickness.

Śrī Rukmiṇī said:

16. What are the Yogas which are particularly to be observed by meritorious persons?

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said:

17. O sinless lady, a pertinent question has been put by you regarding Puṇyakas. When a Malamāsa (intercalary month) arrives, if men do not observe Vratas, O splendid lady, they will be pestered by poverty in the course of every birth.

Śrī Rukmiṇī said:

18. Of what nature is Malamāsa? On what Yoga (combination of stars) does it come? At what time does it arrive. Describe this to me in detail.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said:

19-25. O fair lady, what is relevant has been mentioned by you. A question like this is proper to the occasion. All rites regarding Devatās and Pitṛs should be performed in accordance with the injunctions in a Malamāsa.

Shaving, wearing of Mauñjī (sacred thread ceremony), marriage, Vratas and fastings should be particularly avoided by householders.

At the end of three years this month appears when there is no transit of the Sun. Hence it is called Adhikamāsa (‘additional month’)^[1].

(In the form of) Puruṣottama I always have the presiding lordship of Adhimāsa. The Tīrtha in Mahākālavana named after me is very splendid.

My abode called Puruṣottama is established here always. Hence by all means I must go there along with you to Mahākālavana where the Tīrtha named after me is situated.

Never can there be anything that cannot be given by me, O dear one, to the living beings who come there for the holy bath. Wealth, food-grains, sons, wives etc., and perpetual happiness is awarded.

26-30. Even when there is no solar transit one should perform the holy vow with me in view. (In the form of) Puruṣottama, I have the presiding lordship of Adhimāsa always.

If excellent men perform Snāna, Dāna, Japa, Homa, study of Vedas, libations to the Pitṛs and adoration of deities at midday, everything will certainly be of everlasting benefit to them, O Kamalā.

O goddess, if out of negligence Malamāsa becomes void (without sacred acts) in regard to them, they will be afflicted with poverty always. Their grief and illness become increased.

When the Adhimāsa arrives, one should observe Vrata in Avantī. Undoubtedly I will offer even you (i.e. prosperity, wealth etc.) unto them out of love.

Even a small gift is enough. What they do (by way of service) may be very little. With my favour, O lady of pleasing sight, everything shall be infinite (in its benefit).

Śrī said:

31-38. O Lord of holy Vratas, such is the greatness of Adhimāsa mentioned by you. It bestows all desires as boons. Be pleased to narrate the details of the meritorious Vrata pertaining to Adhimāsa.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said:

O beloved, when the month without solar transit arrives, great festivities should be organized by men desirous of their own welfare. The Vrata that destroys grief should be observed, O goddess of the Suras, on the eighth, ninth or fourteenth lunar day of the dark half in the Malimluca month. Charitable gifts include whatever there is in one’s possession.

On the meritorious day, he should get up early in the morning and perform the customary rites of the forenoon. He then formally proclaims that he has taken up the vow. Thereafter he should remember Vāsudeva in his heart. He should either fast or take a single meal or take only nocturnal meal, O proud lady.

After deciding on the observance of the vow, he should invite Brāhmaṇas along with their wives. They should be of good conduct and noble family, preferably kinsmen. Then at midday he should ritually establish the Eternal Lord in union with Lakṣmī. The deity is to be installed by the Brāhmaṇas through the utterance of Vedic Mantras, in a pot without any crack or fissure.

39-43. He should worship the Lord and Pitāmaha (Creator Brahmā) with great devotion along with Gotrins (persons of the same Gotra). The deity should be installed with scented water and Pañcāmṛta. The Naivedya should consist of nine types of sweets. Incense, light, garments, covering cloth of yellow silk etc., should be offered. The observer of the Vrata should perform Ārārtika (waving of lights) with camphor, agallochum and sandal to the accompaniment of bells, Mṛdaṅgas etc. sounded loudly. For the sake of the infinite benefit he may use firebrands too (instead of camphor etc.) if they are not available. He should then put sandal, raw rice-grains and flowers in water held in a copper pot. The devotee along with his wife should offer the Arghya with a delighted mind. He should add five different types of gems to the things placed in the water. He should join the palms together with great devotion and knees down keeping the knees on the ground.

The Mantra for offering Arghya

44. “O lord, merciful unto all living beings, O cause of the delight of the universe, accept this Arghya and be the bestower of full benefit.”

The Mantra for Prayer (Prārthanā)

45. “O self-born Brahmā, obeisance to you of unmeasured splendour. Obeisance to you, the delighter of Śrī, the Bliss of Brahman, the cause of compassion.”

46. After praying thus to Govinda himself and even as he remembers Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa, he should adore the pure Brāhmaṇas and their wives after they have had their baths.

47-52. After adoring them in accordance with the injunctions he should feed them with ghee and milk pudding.

After feeding the Brāhmaṇas endowed with learning and humility along with his wife in accordance with the injunctions, in a suitable manner, he should adore them with clothes, ornaments and saffron according to his capacity.

The following shall be served while feeding: Grapes, mangoes, wood apples, dates, bananas, jack fruits, coconuts, oranges, pomegranates, rice and wheat cooked in ghee, soft Vaḍas (pies), sweetmeats such as Karṇikas and Khaṇḍamaṇḍakas filled with ghee and sugar, varieties of cucumber, Śṛṅgaberas (ginger) with radish, and various kinds of vegetables, ripe and unripe mangoes separately etc. All the four types of foodstuffs such as Bhakṣya, Bhojya, Lehya and Peya should be served. Particularly bulbous roots should be served.

53-62. After serving sweet-smelling milk products he should speak slowly and gently: “This tasty juice and foodstuffs have been prepared for you all. Whatever appeals to your taste may be asked for. O Lord, what has been caused to be cooked by me is for you all. I am blessed. I have been favoured. My house has been rendered purposeful.” Then he should send off those Brāhmaṇas after offering betel-leaves and monetary gifts. O goddess, Tāṃbūla (betel-leaves) mixed with four things is dear to me. A man who offers it to an excellent Brāhmaṇa shall become prosperous. O beloved, through Tāṃbūla, his wife becomes fortunate, well-behaved and endearing to his people as well as blessed with sons. Keśava is pleased with the leaves. Iśa with Umā is pleased with the arecanuts. Fire-god is pleased with the lime. Manmatha is pleased with Khadira (Accacia catechu). With all the four, this Viśvarūpa who nourishes the three worlds, is pleased.

He should thus make the Brāhmaṇas with their wives well-satisfied, offer sweetmeats in their hands and follow them till the limit (of the village etc.). Thereafter, he should take food himself along with his kinsmen.

O my beloved, a woman who performs this Vrata at the time when there is no solar transit (i.e. Malamāsa) shall not be afflicted with poverty, grief due to the absence or death of sons and widowhood.

There is no doubt in this that whoever, whether man or woman, performs Vrata in Malamāsa shall enjoy all happiness.

If I, Nārāyaṇa, am not adored with great devotion when Malamāsa arrives, how can people have good qualities? How can they be endowed with happiness, sons, wealth, friends and excellent wives?

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

It is also called ‘Puruṣottama Māsa,’ ‘Malimluca’ or simply ‘Adhi-Māsa.’