January Full Moon Story: Charity Bath Merit and Importance 🪔

Rishi Vashishtha and King Dilip Dialogue 🙏🏿

King Dilip asked = Muniji, you are the guru and saint of the Ikshvaku dynasty! I bow to you! Gurudev,

 please explain in detail the significance of the month of january, I wish to listen!

Rishi Vashishtha said = Listen, O King 🌹

Charity 🌺

In the month of january, donate berries, bananas, amla, sesame seeds, betel leaves, ghee, khichdi,

 pumpkin, rice, bedding to keep warm, cotton, blankets, firewood for burning, shoes, socks, sacred

 threads, body scrubs, nutmeg, warm clothes, perfumes – give these to a poor Brahmin. Worship Lord

 Vishnu and please Him!

Story 💥

O King, now listen to the story of the month of january 🙏🏿

In ancient times, on the beautiful banks of the Narmada River, there was a large village inhabited by

 Brahmins. In that village lived learned Brahmins, experts in the Vedas and righteous in conduct. That

 village was full of wealth and grain. Among them was a distinguished Brahmin named Suvrat. He was

 a master of all the Vedas, well-versed in religious scriptures, skilled in the Puranas, knew multiple

 languages of various lands, and mastered sixty-four arts. All this he had learned only to earn wealth!

Suvrat’s Greed 🧞

Due to greed, he earned wealth unjustly, received donations from outcasts, sold girls – in this way he

 collected one lakh gold coins. When he grew old, his body weakened, teeth broke, hair turned grey,

 senses became feeble, he could not move around, and he stopped earning. The Brahmins were greatly

 saddened, worried, and lamented in distress!

Suvrat’s Awakening 🪔

Suddenly, wisdom awakened in his mind, and he said to himself = Alas, my mind is full of suffering. I

 am the cause of all pain. Though learned, I am ignorant, restless, angry, and foolish. The desires of life

 are the most painful. From now on, I will strive to improve my afterlife. He resolved this!

That very night = thieves came and tied him with ropes and stole all his wealth. With the loss of his

 riches, the Brahmin lamented!

Suvrat’s Remorse 💥

Alas, the wealth I earned with effort, alas, what use is it now? I deceived my own soul! In the pursuit of

 wealth, I never pleased the Lord, never satisfied Him, never fed the sacred cow, never performed

 worship, never observed fasts, never worshipped Lord Shiva’s lingam, never adored Lord Vishnu,

 never recited mantras. Alas, what shall I do now, alas, what shall I do!

Suvrat’s Inner Purification 💥

Thus, he reflected that once, while traveling to Kashmir, on the banks of the Ganges at Bhagirathi, he

 saw some Brahmins well-versed in the Vedas performing morning Magh bath. A learned scholar recited

 half a verse –

Maghe nimagna: salile sushite | 🎉

Vimukta papastra divam prayanti || 🎉

Meaning: Those who immerse themselves in cold waters during the month of january go to the divine

 realms. He had heard this in the Puranas, it was highly authentic. Therefore, he resolved to take the

 january bath without fail!

Divine Result of January Bath 💥

With this thought, Brahmin Suvrat bathed in the waters of the Narmada for nine consecutive days

 during the month of january. On the tenth day, exhausted, he somehow entered the river, performed the

 ritual bath, and came ashore. Overcome by cold, he left his mortal body. At that moment, a radiant

 celestial plane arrived, Suvrat ascended it, and went to the divine realms! 🪷

There he stayed for one Manvantara and then returned to the earth as a Brahmin. After bathing in

 Prayag, he attained the realm of Brahma!