(6 October 2025 — The Full Moon of Beauty, Devotion, and Inner Radiance)
Sharad Purnima — also known as Kojagiri Purnima, Raas Purnima, or Sharad Poornima — is one of the most spiritually charged full-moon nights in the Hindu lunar calendar. Celebrated on the Purnima (full moon) of the Ashwin month, this year it falls on Monday, 6 October 2025.
The word “Sharad” signifies the Sharad Ritu (autumn season), marking the transition from the monsoon’s humidity to the calm and clarity of early winter. On this luminous night, the moon is said to shine in its fullest brilliance, radiating all sixteen kalas (divine aspects or perfections) — symbolizing completeness and cosmic balance.
Mythological Significance: The Night of Divine Love and Blessings
Across India, Sharad Purnima carries varied yet interconnected meanings. In North India, it is celebrated as Raas Purnima, when Lord Krishna performed the Maha-Raas with the Gopis under the full moon in Vrindavan. The divine melody of Krishna’s flute is said to have summoned the Gopis, and the Lord multiplied himself to dance with each one — an eternal symbol of divine love and spiritual unity.
In many regions, the festival is also revered as Kojagiri Purnima, dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. The term “Kojagiri” derives from “Ko Jagarti?” meaning “Who is awake?”. Devotees stay awake all night, chanting prayers for Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, believing that the Goddess visits homes that remain illuminated and spiritually alert.
In Gujarat and Maharashtra, it is fondly called Sharad Poonam, where families gather on terraces, sip warm milk, enjoy moonlit kheer, and sing devotional songs late into the night.
Sharad Purnima and Goddess Tripura (Lalita) Sundari
For practitioners of Sri Vidya and Shakta traditions, Sharad Purnima holds special significance as a night devoted to Maa Tripura Sundari — the divine embodiment of beauty, bliss, and supreme consciousness.
Known as Lalita or Śodashi (the sixteen-year-old goddess), she represents the perfection of the sixteen kalas of the moon. Her worship involves the Sri Yantra, mantra recitation, and meditative visualization under moonlight — practices said to awaken inner radiance and spiritual refinement.
Full-moon nights amplify the meditative energy in the Sri Vidya sadhana, making this Purnima an auspicious time for Sri Yantra puja, Lalita Sahasranama chanting, and moonlight meditation.
Timings for Sharad Purnima 2025
Date: Monday, 6 October 2025
Purnima Tithi Begins: 12:23 PM (Oct 6, 2025)
Purnima Tithi Ends: 09:16 AM (Oct 7, 2025)
Moonrise: 05:47 PM (local time may vary by region)
Traditionally, devotees begin rituals after moonrise when the night sky glows with silver brilliance — believed to be filled with healing and nourishing lunar rays.
What to Do on 6 October 2025 — A Devotional & Practical Guide
- Morning Rituals: Take a purifying bath, clean your altar, and wear light or saffron clothing.
- Worship of Goddess or Moon: Set up a Sri Yantra or image of Tripura Sundari or Lakshmi. Offer red flowers, sandalwood, kumkum, and light a diya.
- Mantra or Bhajan Chanting: Recite Lalita Sahasranama, Vishnu Sahasranama, or simple devotional names throughout the night.
- Kheer Under Moonlight: Prepare rice kheer using cow’s milk, place it under the open sky after moonrise, and consume it as prasad the next morning — symbolizing lunar blessing and nourishment.
- Charity & Compassion: Offer milk, food, or essentials to those in need — a gesture believed to attract divine grace.
- Night Vigil: Stay awake chanting, meditating, or reflecting — aligning body and mind with the moon’s calm vibration.
The Science Behind the Rituals — Mind, Moon & Medicine
Though steeped in spirituality, Sharad Purnima’s customs have fascinating scientific and psychological dimensions:
- Moonlight & Circadian Balance:
While moonlight is too soft to alter melatonin significantly, observing it in a peaceful natural setting helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythm and enhances calmness. - Fasting & Light Diet:
A simple milk-based meal balances Pitta dosha and supports digestion, aligning with Ayurvedic wisdom for autumn. - Chanting & Meditation:
Repetitive mantras and bhajans stimulate the vagus nerve, improving heart-rate variability, reducing cortisol, and promoting emotional balance. - Community & Compassion:
Shared rituals elevate oxytocin levels, fostering connection, empathy, and a sense of belonging — true nourishment for the heart. - Belief & the “Meaning Effect”:
Feeling spiritually aligned activates neurochemical pathways of peace and joy, showing how faith and physiology harmonize beautifully.
A Note of Wisdom
Sharad Purnima’s power lies not in superstition but in its symbolic depth — a night that blends lunar beauty, sacred sound, and human connection. There is no scientific proof that moonlight-soaked kheer gains mystical properties, but the ritual’s serenity, intention, and shared devotion rejuvenate the mind and spirit.
Those with health issues or sleep disturbances should modify rituals mindfully — the essence is connection, not exhaustion.
Final Reflection
Sharad Purnima 2025 invites you to slow down, gaze at the full moon, and experience the harmony of devotion and science. Whether you worship Lord Krishna, Goddess Lakshmi, or Maa Tripura Sundari, this divine night bridges myth and mindfulness.
In its gentle light, prayer becomes peace, silence becomes song, and the heart finds renewal.
It is truly — a night of spiritual awakening, divine grace, and lunar healing.
दधिशङ्खतुषाराभं क्षीरोदार्णवसंभवम्। नमामि शशिनं सोमं शम्भोर्मुकुटभूषणम्।।
… Amrita Pandey