What is Adhik Maas?
What is Adhik Maas?
The extra lunar month in the Hindu calendar is known as Adhik Maas. This month has few other names too such as Mal Maas and Purushottam Maas. This month is important as the Vedas guide the people of this world to re-unite themselves with the spiritual unit of one’s nature, which comprises - the five elements – earth, fire, water, air and ether; mind, intellect, ego and divine soul. This month is considered as the month where mankind is fortunate to become spiritual. This is the month of self-development, self-assessment, self-revaluation, self-retrospection, self-reflection and Introspection.
This is the month to focus on one’s own soul and spirit. It is the communication between the human’s on earth and celestial planets. Time is a valuable asset that flies as seasons come and go. We pray for goodness, peace and wealth from lord. However, peace does not mean to go to a place with no noise or disturbance or trouble. Peace truly means that we can bear all the adversities with calmness and serenity. If a person is unmoved with pain or pleasure, he/she is truly at peace. To achieve this Adhik Maas is a Godsend gift, which help us to recover our losses in spiritual terms. This opportunity comes once in every three years. We must take complete advantage of this phase.
Adhik Maas dates in 2023
In the 2023 Hindu Lunar calendar, Adhik Maas is from 18 July 2023 to 16 August 2023. This additional time unit of 30 days is called Adhik Shravan Maas. So, in this year 2023 there will be 13 months in the Hindu Lunar Calendar apart from normal 12 months.
Adhik Maas is celebrated as sacred month. During this month people perform pradakshina, pilgrimage, scriptural reading and parayans. Efforts done with the intention of worldly gains are strictly prohibited during the Adhik Maas month ‘न कुर्यादधिके मासि काम्यं कर्म कदाचन.’
Do’s and Don’ts during Adhik Maas
During the month of Adhik Maas, marriages, tonsures, inaugurations of any new home or shop, buying new ornaments and vehicles are prohibited. The Holy Scripture named Purushottama Granth also called Purushottam Maas Mahatyam, the religious significance of the month can be found. In the Bhavishyottar Purana it is mentioned that fasting or eating once a day should commence on the day one. As per the ability the people should give charity and perform do good deeds like daan, jaap, vrat and pooja.
Adhik Maas is capable of washing away all the sins of people who observe the vrat. If is written in the Devi Bhagavat that charitable and meritorious act performed during the month produce fruitful results. Little charity done during this maas produce big results.
1 Year ago
