Kojagiri Purnima, also called Sharad Purnima or Kumar Purnima, is a Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Ashvin month of the Hindu calendar. It generally falls in September or October of the Gregorian calendar. The festival is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and Moon god.
The Meaning of the Word Kojagiri:
The word Kojagiri is comprised of two words Ko and Jagriti, which means “Who is awake?”.
Different Names of Kojagiri Purnima:
1. Sharad Purnima.
2. Kumar Purnima.
3. Raas Purnima.
4. Sharad Poonam.
5. Navanna Purnima.
6. Kojagrat Purnima.
7. Kaumudi Purnima.
8. Khojagiri Purnima.
9. Ashwin Purnima.
Why is Kojagiri Purnima Celebrated?
There are multiple reasons why Sharad Purnima is celebrated.
1. Sharad Purnima is a harvest festival, which signifies the end of the Monsoon. In olden times, people might have prayed to Goddess Lakshmi for good crops after the end of every monsoon, which turned into a festival afterward.
2. This day is also the birthday of Goddess Lakshmi. Therefore, people worship and pray to her for good fortune.
3. Hindus believe that Goddess Lakshmi comes to Earth on the night of Kojagiri. She visits people’s houses during the night and asks “Who is awake?” (Ko Jagriti). Those who remain awake get her blessings, and those who sleep don’t. Therefore, people remain awake throughout the night of Sharad Purnima.
Stories Related to Kojagiri Purnima:
The Story of a Brahmin and His Wife:
Once upon a time in Magadha, there lived a poor Brahmin named Valit. The Brahmin was good-hearted, but his wife was a belligerent woman. She wanted lots of money at any cost and constantly poked Valit to follow amorous ways to earn money.
Upset with her behavior, he decided to abandon the family life and went into a jungle. There he met some Nagakanyas who advised him to do the Kojagiri Vrata to appease Goddess Lakshmi. Valit followed the Vrata religiously. After that, he was blessed by Goddess Lakshmi. He returned to his home and soon became a rich person. His wife’s nature also changed, and they lived happily together.
The Story of a Bengali King:
Once upon a time, a pious king ruled the state of Bengal. One day, he promised his craftsmen that he would buy any of their creation that was not sold. Once, an idol of Goddess Alakshmi remained unsold. To keep his word, the king bought the idol and placed it in his temple.
Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Alakshmi never stay together. Hence, Goddess Lakshmi left his kingdom. Soon, the king and his subject lost their wealth and prosperity. The king prayed to the gods for assistance, who advised his wife to do Kojagiri Vrata. The queen did the Vrata religiously. As a result, Goddess Lakshmi returned to his kingdom, and Alakshmi fled from his life. Soon, the prosperity returned to his kingdom, and he ruled happily thereafter.
The Story of Two Sisters:
A long time ago, there was a moneylender in a village, who had two daughters. Both sisters used to observe Kojagiri Purnima Vrata, but the younger sister was not serious about it and used to break her fast without completing it while the elder sister used to do it sincerely.
When they grew young, they got married to good grooms. The elder sister gave birth to many healthy children, but the younger sister’s children used to die as soon as they were born. Therefore, she visited a saint who told her that it was because of her insincerity toward doing the Sharad Purnima Vrata. Therefore, the younger sister did the Vrata religiously this time, but still, her next child died after the birth.
The younger sister speculated that as her elder sister had the blessing of the Moon god, she might be able to resuscitate her dead child. Therefore, she put the dead body of her child on a small bed and covered it properly with a cloth. Then she invited her sister and asked her to sit on the same bed. When the sister tried to sit on the bed, her clothes touched the dead body of the child and it came back to life and started crying. The elder sister had no idea about the dead baby and started scolding her younger sister for being careless.
The younger sister then told the elder sister the whole story and thanked her for reviving the life of her child. They both understood that it was the grace of the Moon-god that brought the child back to life.
Why Drink Milk on Kojagiri Purnima?
1. It is believed that Sharad Purnima is the only day on which the Moon will come out with all 16 kalas. The milk exposed to the full moon on this night possesses many medicinal properties and relieves the drinker of many diseases.
2. Per the Ayurveda, Pitta increases at the end of the monsoon. Therefore, to keep it under check it is advised to drink the milk exposed to moon rays. Moon rays are believed to have a cooling effect on our bodies and reduce acidity.
3. On the Kojagiri night, all people remain awake throughout the night. Therefore, in the middle of the night, they might feel hungry. So, milk with added dry fruits and some spices provides a healthier option.
How is Kojagiri Purnima Celebrated?
Many people observe fast on this day, which is a part of Kojagiri Vrata. They worship Goddess Lakshmi and Moon god on this day. Women clean their houses and draw Rangoli in front of the houses. People remain awake throughout the night and consume Masala milk/kheer after exposing it to moonlight at midnight.
In many parts of Gujarat, the Garba dance is organized at night. Bengalis organize Lakshmi Puja on this day, known as Bengali Lakshmi Puja or Lokkhi Puja. In some areas, Lord Kartikeya and the Sun god are also worshipped on this day. Some people play indoor games like dice, etc. to stay awake all night.
Raas Purnima:
In the northern part of India, Sharad Purnima is also called Raas Purnima. It is believed that Lord Krishna used to play Raas with Radha and Gopis on this night. Lord Shiva also participated in this Raas in the form of a gopi. This form of Lord Shiva is known as Gopeshwar Mahadev.
Valmiki Jayanti is also celebrated on this day as the birth anniversary of Sage Valmiki, who wrote the epic Ramayana.
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