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Sharad Purnima (Shrinathji Maha Ras Utsav)

Shri Shrinathji as Ras-Vihari (the Ras-leela Krishna of Vrindavan)

Pushti Marg

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Sharad Purnima — the autumn full moon night of the Maha Ras-leela, observed in Pushti Marg as the supreme rasa-utsav of the year at the Nathdwara haveli. The haveli is decorated as the Vrindavan kunja-mandap, the Shrinathji-svarup is in Ras-Vihari shringar, the kheer-bhog is offered at midnight under the moonlight courtyard (the moon's rays are held to infuse the kheer with amrit-property), and the Ras Panchadhyayi padas are sung through the night by the Ashtachhap kirtan-mandali tradition.

Dates 2026–2027

October 25, 2026October 15, 2027

Mantra

श्री रास-विहारिणे नमः

Shri Raasa-Vihaarine Namah

Salutations to the One who sports in the Ras-leela — Shrinathji as Ras-Vihari, dancing the Maha Ras with the Gopis under the autumn full moon.

How to recite

Prepare kheer in the evening and place it in the open courtyard under the Sharad Purnima moonlight (the moon's rays are held to infuse the kheer with amrit-property — the kheer is offered as midnight bhog and then taken as prasad). Sing the Ras-leela padas of Surdas, Govindswami, and Nanddas — especially Govindswami's 'Aaj rasiya rasa rachayo' and Surdas's 'Sakhi he chalo Vraja-vana mein'. Read the Ras Panchadhyayi (chapters 29-33 of the 10th Skanda of the Bhagavata) — the foundational Ras-leela text.

Benefits

Sharad Purnima is the night Krishna danced the Maha Ras with the Gopis on the Yamuna sands at Vrindavan — the supreme leela of the entire Bhagavata, in which Krishna multiplied himself to be with each Gopi simultaneously. For Pushti Marg this is the supreme rasa-utsav of the year — the Shrinathji haveli is decorated as the Vrindavan kunja, the kheer-bhog is offered at midnight under the moonlight, and the Ras-leela is sung through the night. Receiving the Sharad-Purnima moonlight-kheer prasad is held to confer the merit of one Ras-leela darshan.

✦ Special Note

Sharad Purnima is also the start of the Sharad season seva-rasa transition — from monsoon Hindola-rasa to autumn Sharad-rasa. The Damodar Maas (Kartik) seva begins from the next day with the daily diya-seva for Shrinathji. Dates per the Utsav Tippani published by Nathdwara Mandir Seva Mandal on pushtimarg.net (pushtimarg.net/new-updates/utsav-tippani/).

Foods Allowed

Sharad Purnima bhog — kheer (rice with milk, mishri, almonds, saffron) — left under moonlight overnight per the Pushti Marg seva-vidhiPedha, peda, and ghevar — the Vraja autumn sweetsSakhdi with morad and shrikhand-puriPohe with shengdana, coconut and curry leavesNaralachi vadi and rasgullaFresh autumn fruits — pomegranate, sitafal, banana, mango (late season)Tulsi-charanamrita from the Yamuna at MathuraMilk, mishri, ghee in abundanceSendha namak for fasting members

Foods to Avoid

Onion, garlic — neverBrinjal — restrictedMeat, fish, eggs, alcoholFood not first offered to Shrinathji

Meal Idea

Sharad-Purnima moonlight-kheer (prepared in the evening, placed in the courtyard moonlight, offered as midnight bhog) is the principal naivedya. Pedha, peda, and ghevar accompany. Sakhdi with shrikhand for the family bhojan.

🪔 Aarti

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki

आरती कुंज बिहारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥ गले में बैजंती माला, बजावे मुरली मधुर बाला । श्रवण में कुण्डल झलकाला, नंद के आनंद नंदलाला ॥ गगन सम अंग कांति काली, राधिका चमक रही आली । लतन में ठाढ़े बनमाली, भ्रमर सी अलक, कस्तूरी तिलक, चंद्र सी झलक, ललित छवि श्यामा प्यारी की ॥ कनकमय मोर मुकुट बिलसे, देवता दरसन को तरसे । गगन सों सुमन राशि बरसे, बाजे मुरचंग, मधुर मृदंग, ग्वालिन संग, अतुल रति गोप कुमारी की ॥ जहां ते प्रगट भई गंगा, कलुष कली हारिणि श्री गंगा । स्मरण ते होत मोह भंगा, बसी शिव सीस, जटा के बीच, हरे अघ कीच, चरण छवि श्री बनवारी की ॥ चमकती उज्ज्वल तट रेणु, बज रही वृंदावन बेणु । चहुं दिसि गोपी ग्वाल धेनु, हंसत मृदु मंद, चांदनी चंद, कटत भव फंद, टेर सुन दीन भिखारी की ॥

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