The Vaishakha Month Vrata 2016 (23 April-21 May)

Mahanidhi Swami

This is Vaishakha month (aka Madhusudana, 23 April-21 May) which is one of the three best months of the year along with Karttika and Magh. Why? Because pious acts done in these months award one tremendous benefits.

Significant events in Vaishakha month: Radha-Krishna Candana Yatra, Nrsinghadeva appears, Ganga appears on earth, and Vishnu creates the barley grain (job). The rest of the article describing the “Vaishakha Vrata” is taken from Srila Sanatana Goswamipada’s Hari-bhakti Vilasa (14).

Suggested good deeds to perform daily or occasionally; pre-sunrise tirtha snana; public Harinama Sankirtana; dhama parikrama; read Bhagavatam; attend Gita class; increased Thakuraji sevas; serve saints; eat once a day; and to the worthy, donate sesame seeds, cow ghee, umbrellas, shoes, cloth, money.

SPECIAL DAYS TO OBSERVE:

MAY 9 MONDAY: AKSHAYA TRITIYA!

Even one good deed done today i.e. fasting, jagaran, holy bath, charity, and nama/mantra sankhya yields INEXHAUSTIBLE RESULTS. Treta-yuga begins today (when it comes), and Vishnu created the barely grain today.

MAY 13 FRIDAY: SHUKLA SAPTAMI

Maa Ganga Appearance; kindly remember, pray to, bathe and worship the sweet and purifying mother of all sacred rivers. Gange! Gange! Gange! Ki jai!

MAY 17 TUESDAY: EKADASHI

Stay awake all night chanting Hare Krishna and dancing in Gaura-Govinda smarana. Skanda Purana says, By doing jagaran, one becomes jivan-mukta, “a living liberated soul.”

MAY 18 WEDNESDAY: AKSHAYA DVADASHI

Good deeds today yield inexhaustible merit. Skanda Purana suggests: tirtha-snana (Radha Kunda best); bathe Thakuraji in milk or pancamrta; donate money and pots of water. But if you’re not a Vraja gopi, this means a bottle of water. In the evening, satisfy Thakuraji with sweet drinks, and give sweet scents (itra) to others.

MAY 20 FRIDAY: NRSINGHDEVA AVIRBHAVA

Watch for new article on how to observe it.

Vaishakha Month of Lord Madhusudana Sri Krishna ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!