Keshava Purnima is a festival of faith, love, and transformation. The devotees fast and pray to honor his divine qualities transformed as charity. The full moon pours down its eternal beauty of his divine mercy and increases the faith and compassion on Keshava Purnima. Celebration of the Keshava Purnima makes a person feel calmness, happiness, blessed by Shri Krishna.
ISKCON celebrates this day with immense faith and devotion for their beloved deity. Let us understand more about its significance, story, and rituals which make it a memorable day for every devotee.
When is Keshava Purnima 2024 Date?
In 2024, Keshava Purnima will be observed on Sunday, December 15. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Keshava Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) of Magha month or Magh Krishna Paksha. The bright moonlight of Keshava Purnima signifies the divine presence of Lord Shri Krishna in our life.
Lord Krishna is also known as Keshava; one who has beautiful hair and great personality. Devotees start preparing themselves days before for attaining the maximum benefit of this holy day.
Significance of Keshava Purnima
The significance of Keshava Purnima is related to Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This day reminds us about his divine attributes like compassion, truth, and universal love. In ISKCON devotees meditate on Shri Krishna being a preserver of dharma and his supreme teachings in Bhagavad Gita.
On this day, reciting the 16 rounds of Shri Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra has great spiritual power. It is said that each chant dedicated to Shri Krishna on Keshava Purnima takes one step closer to moksha (liberation). This day also motivates people to engage in acts of goodness and charity as preached by Lord Krishna.
Story of Keshava Purnima
The story of Keshava Purnima narrates an incident from ancient scriptures. When Shri Krishna revealed his form of the ultimate protector of devotees. In Dwapara Yuga, a sage by the name Kesari had performed a sincere penance to attain Lord Vishnu as his son. Appeased by his intense devotion, Lord Vishnu appeared in front of him as Shri Krishna and blessed him.
Kesari once prayed to Shri Krishna to give humanity a day associated with love and dharma, hence Keshava Purnima was formed as a day of worship for Shri Krishna and Humanity. The moral of the story is that faith can do wonders, and true devotion certainly pays off.
What to Do on Keshava Purnima
Take holy bath in the sacred water or in River Yamuna and then offer prayers in any Lord Krishna temple.
1) Fasting and Prayer: Start the day with a vrat (fast), do puja of Shri Krishna.
2) Temple Visits: Visit to your nearest ISKCON temple, join bhajans, kirtans and pujas.
3) Reading Scriptures: Read or recite verses from the Bhagavad Gita and meditate upon the teachings of Lord Krishna.
4) Chanting Maha-Mantra: Chant the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra with all your heart to cleanse your heart.
Offering prayers and worshipping the God’s idol in a temple or at home is common Indian as well as Hindu culture.
This helps in purification of soul and relief of mind, body, and soul.
Other spiritual activities that people can perform to celebrate this festival are:
1) Chanting Hare Krishna mantra.
2) Visiting Krishna temple.
3) Bhajan, Kirtan, Satsang, and listening to life stories of Shri Radha Krishna.
4) Offering Kalash and lighting diya with grains.
5) Offering Bhogs: Cook veg dishes and offer it as bhoog to Shri Krishna.
These activities help us get closer with supreme power and become a good human being.
Importance of Donations on Keshava Purnima
Donations on Keshava Purnima are of high significance from a religious point of view. It states that any kind of donation made on this special day reaps benefits equal to the donation of billions.
Grocery donation to the needy on Keshava Purnima matches with the teachings of Lord Krishna who always advocated selflessness. Charity can be in the form of food donation, woollen clothes, or money etc. The Bhagavad Gita states that helping others is a kind of worship which pleases the Supreme Lord.
In the Bhagavad Gita (9.26)
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति।
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतम् अश्नामि प्रयतात्मन:।।
Lord Krishna says that he accepts an offering if made with devotion, of a leaf, flower, fruit or water. Hence, whatever is donated on this day becomes an offering to him and thus purifies the heart of the donor.
Popular donation items include:
1) Food Grains: Giving food to the hungry is considered the highest form of charity.
2) Clothes: Donating warm clothes to the poor shields them from the cold.
3) Books: Distribution of spiritual books like the Bhagavad Gita, promotes knowledge of Shri Krishna’s teachings.
ISKCON devotees on this day conduct drives to donate and share with others for the spiritual and material welfare. As per Shri Krishna all beings are equal and so should be compassionate to every being in this world.
How to Celebrate Keshava Purnima
Keshava Purnima is a day of divine love for Shri Krishna. On this holy day, devotional, charitable, and disciplined practices are followed. Here is how the day is celebrated as per ISKCON.
1) Perform Puja with Love and Devotion
Begin your day by taking a holy bath and wearing clean clothes. Create a puja altar and place a picture or idol of Shri Krishna on it. Decorate the altar with flowers, incense, and lamps. Offer fruits, sweets, and tulsi leaves to Lord Krishna as tulsi is also very dear to Him. Chant 16 rounds of Shri Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra and recite Shri Krishna Ashtakam for seeking his divine blessings.
2) Participate in Temple Festivities
Visit the closest ISKCON temple, known for its grand Keshava Purnima celebrations. Take part in lively kirtans, melodious bhajans and enlightening discourses on the life of Shri Krishna that will charge the spiritual atmosphere around you and deepen your connection with the Supreme Lord.
3) Observe a Fasting Ritual
Some people also observe fast on Keshava Purnima. They do not eat grains during fasting and have only sattvic food. The concept of the fast is based on self-purification and devotion. The fast is broken in the evening by eating prasad of Shri Krishna.
4) Do Charity
Donations on Keshava Purnima day are of highest religious importance.
Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 17, Verse 20)
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्।।
Transliteration:
Datavyam iti yad danaṁ diyate nupakariṇe,
Dese kale ca patre ca tad danaṁ sattvikaṁ smṛtam.
It says that charity given with no expectation of return in the right manner at the appropriate place and time to a deserving person is sattvic and dear to God. Distribute food, clothes, or money among poor people. You can also make online donation for social causes run by temples or distribute books on teachings of Shri Krishna.
5) Meditate on Shri Krishna’s Pastimes
Think about the divine pastimes of Shri Krishna, for example his childhood Leelas in Vrindavan, or his teachings in the Mahabharata. These stories will increase your faith and devotion, and teach you how to live.
Conclusion: Surrendering to Shri Krishna’s Grace
Keshava Purnima is more than just a festival. It is a transformational journey of divine love in the heart. Fasting, prayer, and charity are meant to awake our consciousness to the spirit on this auspicious day.
The celebration matches deeply within the ISKCON philosophy. It reminds us of the ultimate goal to serve the Supreme personality of godhead with humility and devotion.
May this Keshava Purnima give blessings, happiness, and spiritual awakening for all!
