(April 16, 2022)
Vaishakh month bathing starts from Chaitra Shukla Purnima. This Vaishakh lasts throughout the month. In the Skanda Purana, Vaishakh has been called the best month. Lord Brahma has called the month of Vaishakh the best of all the months. It is said in the Puranas that a person who takes a bath and observes a fast before sunrise in the month of Vaishakh, is the beneficiary of Lord Vishnu. It is mentioned in Skanda Purana that a king named Mahiratha had attained Vaikunth Dham only by bathing in Vaishakh. In this, the devotee should take bath every morning before sunrise by visiting a pilgrimage place, lake, river or well or at home. After taking bath, chant the following mantra while offering Arghya at sunrise:
वैशाखे मेषगे भानौ प्रातःस्नानपरायणः।
अर्घ्यं तेऽहं प्रदास्यामि गृहाण मधुसूदन।।
One should listen to the story of Vaishakh Vrat Mahatmya and chant the mantra 'Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaya' as far as possible. The fasting should take one meal at a time.
Water donation has special significance in the month of Vaishakh. The establishment of a pyau (waterhouse) should be done in this month. Fan, melon and other fruits, new food etc. should be donated.
It is said in the Skanda Purana that in the month of Vaishakh, applying oil, sleeping during the day, eating in a bronze vessel, eating twice, eating at night, eating prohibited substances etc. is considered taboo. The deity of Vaishakh month is Lord Madhusudan.