Sharad Purnima (Kojagari Purnima)
🗓️ Ashwin Purnima (Sep–Oct)
The story behind Sharad Purnima (Kojagari Purnima)
Sharad Purnima falls on Ashwin Purnima, the one night tradition holds the moon to be full in all sixteen kalas. Kheer is left in the open through the night, since the moon's rays are said to carry amrita, and eaten at dawn as prasad. In eastern India the same night is Kojagari Lakshmi Puja — from ko jagarti, who is awake — when Maa Lakshmi is said to pass over the earth and visit those keeping vigil. In the Braj tradition it is Raas Purnima, the night of Bhagwan Krishna's raas leela.
Sharad Purnima (Kojagari Purnima) Puja Vidhi
- 1
Vrat Sankalpa & Lakshmi Puja
Take the sankalpa in the morning, and worship Maa Lakshmi in the evening with white flowers, batasha and a lit deep facing the rising moon.
- 2
Chandra Arghya
Offer arghya of water and white flowers to Chandra Dev once the moon has risen, and light an odd number of deeps in the open.
- 3
Kheer under the Moon
Prepare kheer of cow's milk and rice, cover it with a thin white cloth, and leave it under open moonlight through the night.
- 4
Ratri Jagaran & Parana
Keep vigil with bhajan or the recitation of the Lakshmi stotra, and take the moon-steeped kheer as prasad at dawn.
Sharad Purnima (Kojagari Purnima) Mantra
ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं कमले कमलालये प्रसीद प्रसीद। श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥
Meaning
O Kamala, who dwells in the lotus, be gracious, be gracious — salutations to Mahalakshmi.
How to chant
Chant 108 times during the evening puja, and again during the night vigil.