Who is Purushottama?

Srila Gurudev explains who Purushottam is. Krishna Himself instructed us in Srimad Bhagavad Gita, "I am beyond the comprehension of the mind, intelligence and senses of the conditioned souls of this world. I am the Supremely superior to the formless impersonal brahman and also Paramatma, the object of worship of gyānis and yogis, so I am called Purushottam." So Purushottama is the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Himself. Also, the fountainhead of all incarnations, the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna appeared in this special Kaliyuga, taking the mood and complexion of His internal potency Srimati Radharani, as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He is also Purushottam. He is identical with Krishna. Lord Jagannath, who resides in Puri Dham is also Purushottam, He is Krishna Himself. So we have to serve Sri Krishna, Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Jagannathdev in this holiest month.

Glories of Purushottam Month

Krishna Himself sings the glories of Purushottam month: "This additional month is like Me. I cannot be comprehended by the conditioned souls of this world and I am supremely superior to Brahman and Paramatma so I am designated as 'Purushottama.' It is the holiest month and identical with Me. If, by following the scriptural injunctions, one observes vrata (vow of austerity) during this month, it is even more auspicious than observing Kartika-vrata; he can get everything. So this month will be known by the name 'Purusottama'."

Instructions for Purushottam Maas

This is a summary of a discourse on the significance of Purushottam-month, by Srila Gurudev.

Glories of Purushottama Month

Valmiki said, "O Dridhadhanva! Puruṣottama Śrī Krishna is the presiding deity of the Puruṣottama month." Therefore, being filled with bhakti-śraddhā, you should worship Puruṣottama Śrī Krishna with sixteen types of paraphernalia every day of this month.

Govardhana Dharam Vande

What is the meaning of the mantra that we should chant during Purushottam month Govardhana dharam vande. Will Gurudeva give his divine answer? Question sent by Triloknath Das of London through e-mail.

Sri Jagannathastakam

The Lord of the Universe—Sri Jagannath Deva is also known as Purushottam. Puri is known as Purushottam Dhama. Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to sing Sri Jagannath-ashtakam, eight verses of the glory of Jagannatha in Puri. It is written by Sri Adi Sankaracharya, and is still being sung daily before the Deity of Lord Jagannatha for His pleasure. It is respected everywhere in India.

Sri Cauragraganya Ashtakam

This prayer has been written by Vallabhacharya describing the sweet stealing pastimes of Sri Krishna in Vrindavana. This ashtakam is daily sung by the devotees during Purushottama-month praying at the lotus feet of the chief among the thieves, Sri Nandanandan, who can steal the myriad mountains of our sins.

Srimad Bhagavatam: Brahma Stava

The fourty shlokas are the prayers offered by Brahma to Lord Krishna. Here Brahma praises the beauty of the Lord and accepts that the transcendental opulence of the lord is difficult to comprehend. He says that only by devotional process of hearing and chanting we can try to realize the Supreme. These shlokas are recited daily during the purushottama masa.