1201. Sharad Chandra.....!

Mangalyam Tantu Naanena Mama Jeevan Hetuna !
Kante Badhnaami Subhage Tvam Jeeva Sharadah Shatam !!

(Oh! The auspicious Bride, you live a hundred Autumn. I am tying this thread which is a symbol of my life). This is the mantra the Bride Groom utters while he is tying the knot of togetherness. He wants the love of his life to live with him and be a witness for one hundred Autumn. Sharad Ritu is given such great importance as it is the period of romance.

In the month of Ashvija the full moon day is called Sharad Purnima also known as Kojagari Purnima or Rasa Purnima. According to astronomy this falls on October 23 (Tonight) and the Tithi timing begins from 10:36 pm and ends on October 24 at 10:14 pm. The time for Moon rise on Sharad Purnima is anticipated to be around 05:20 pm. Moon through its beam showers Amrita or nectar of life on to this earth plane. The glow in the brightness of the full moon brings joy especially after the gloomy monsoon. Sharad Purnima and Sri Krishna have an Avinabhava Sambhanda (necessary connection between each other).

Philosophically the most important dance of Sri Krishna is the Raasmandala (Raas Lila) meaning circle of delight or ecstasy. The love of Sri Krishna and the Gopikas takes place in a circle which has no beginning or neither has an end and goes on and on for eternity. In the Vaishnava tradition this mystic dance has a special ritualistic significance.

The Dashama Skandha of Srimad Bhagavata describes the Raas Leela of Sri Krishna. With a desire to sport with Gopikas on a full moon night of Sharada Ritu (Autumn Season), Sri Krishna invites Gopikas by playing melodious music on His flute. Enchanted by the music, Gopikas rush to Him and He starts dancing and sporting with them amorously. On receiving Sri Krishna’s favour Gopikas feel immense pride. Realising this, Sri Krishna disappears from there and comes back only on repeated pleading by the Gopikas and plays Maharaasa with them. With His divine power He manifests Himself in numerous forms and dances with all the Gopikas simultaneously. He thus convinces them that He participates in their lives, giving Himself freely to each and every one of them. He ensures that He is lovingly and completely available to one who has Him within. The dance leads the Gopikas to the path of liberation where the Jeevatma (Individual Consciousness) merges with Paramatma (Absolute Consciousness). There is a long tradition of circular dance in my country, Bharat. The earliest reference of a circular dance is in the Harivamsha Purana. The dance is referred here as “Hallisaka” where many women dance in a circle around one man. In Indian Philosophy a circle has many symbolic connotations.

The splendid cloudless Purnima night of Sharad Ritu is an idiom of glory, peace and joy in the Indian Literature. It is the delight of eager young lovers that long to be with their beloved. The ecstatic beauty of Sharad Purnima is etched in Indian psyche. Its glory, tenderness and joy are celebrated in songs, legends and poems of love. Our classical poets and epics sing lovingly the beauty and joy of the delightful moonlit nights of Sharad Ritu. Sri Sri Shankara in his work Soundaryalahari (Waves of Beauty) refers Devi as Sharadchandra Vadana, one with a face as radiant and blissful as the moon of Sharad Ritu.

This Sharad Chandra has tickled the veins of Kaviratna Kalidasa too. He has described Sharad Ritu to be the bride decked with the jewel called “Sharad Chandrika” (Chandrika is the moonshine).