PAVITRA BHAVANA

 The eleventh day of the moon during the month of Shravan is observed as 'Pavitra Ekadisi'. It is the inception of Pushti Marg and on that auspicious day, vaishnavs offer a pavitra to Shri Thakurji. The following day, 'Pavitra Baras' is the twelfth day of the new moon and on that day, Goswami Acharyas place a pavitra around each other's necks, feed misri to each other and without giving any thought as to who is elder or younger, touch each other's feet and do dandvat. Following this all vaishnavs place a Pavitra around their Guru's neck, feed them misri and experience this to be the ultimate good fortune.

UNDERSTANDING PAVITRA BHAVANA

 In the year 1549, third day of the new moon in the month of Sravan, Srimad Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji began a one week discourse on Srimad Bhagavat and completed it on the night of the eleventh day.

 That night in Gokul, on Govindghat, Shri Mahaprabhuji was deeply immersed in thought, 'During the age of Kaliyuga souls are pervaded with imperfections. In what manner can they be freed entirely from these faults and realize Bhagavad swarup?'. The sacred spot of this momentous event was Govindghat. 'GO' means sense organs, 'VIND 'means attain and 'GHAT1 means beautiful form. Souls are pervaded with fault. When all their sense organs are transformed into a divine form then only Prabhu will accept their seva.

 As Shri Mahaprabhuji was pondering in this way at midnight, Shri Thakurji manifested and decreed that any soul whom would take 'Brahm sambandh' from Shri Mahaprabhuji would become freed of all faults and HE would accept them. Following this, Shri Mahaprabhuji sang Madhurashtak Stotra and placed a 360 cotton thread pavitra around Shri Thakurji's neck and fed him misri.

 The eleventh day of Shravan is called Putrada (giver of sons) Ekadashi. Shri Acharyaji worships with balbhava and therefore SriNathji manifested at mid night with the balbhava swarup of Shri Gokulchandramaji.

 The presiding devta for the month of Shravan is Bhagvan Vishnu Himself and therefore it is highly sacred. It is said that this month facilitated Bhagavad attainment. During ascension each day the moon's power and radiance increases dispelling darkness, freeing daivi souls of their adhibhautik faults. On the eleventh day upvas (fast) is kept. 'UP' means near and 'VAS' means reside.

 One is freed from worldly activities and resides in Prabhu's presence. On that day the five sense organs of action, the five sense organs of knowledge and the mind, totaling eleven are all applied and utilized in seva, thus the name 'upvas' is given in which the adhyatmik faults of daivi souls are removed.

 For the salvation of 'nisadhan' daivi souls (i.e. souls without any means or practice for salvation) Saraswat Kalp, Prabhu manifested at midnight on the eleventh day of shravan to bestow upon these souls Brahmsambandh through Shri Mahaprabhuji for removing all adhidaivic faults.

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