Ashadi Ekadashi 2024: Wednesday, 17 July 2024

Shayani Ekadashi is a revered day in Hinduism, especially for Vaishnava Hindus who consider Lord Vishnu as the ultimate deity. Devshayani Ekadashi is one of the auspicious occasions that marks the beginning of Lord Vishnu's sleep cycle. It is a time to celebrate Vishnu's presence and to give thanks for his blessings. Devshayani Ekadashi will be on July 10 this year. People in order to celebrate the occasion offer prayers to Lord Vishnu, keep a fast, make rangoli, sing bhajans and chant mantras to impress the deity.

Ekadashi fasting is the ascetic practice of Chaturmas. It starts on the day of Ekadashi. It is accepted that on the event of Devshayani Ekadashi, Lord Vishnu enters his rest cycle, which endures up to 4 months. Devshayani Ekadashi is the eleventh day of the month of Ashadha in the Hindu calendar. It falls between June and July and is highly significant for followers of Lord Vishnu. On Shayani Ekadashi, a fast is observed, and people do prayers to the goddess, god paintings & idols. Also known by various other names like Maha Ekadashi, Toli Ekadashi, Ashadhi Ekadashi, Harishayani Ekadashi etc. This date in the Hindu calendar is marked by the entry of the sun into Gemini.This is the time of the Chaturmasa, a period of four months between the two lunar months of Ashadha and Kartik.

Ashadhi Ekadashi

What is the history of Shayani Ekadashi?

Pandharpur is located in the Solapur district of Maharashtra, one of the most beautiful and culturally rich districts in India. The main religious center in the city is the Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple, also known as the lord Vithoba Temple. This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Rukhmani or Rakhubai, and has an interesting legend associated with it. According to an ancient sacred Hindu mythological text, it was Lord Krishna who explained the importance of Devshayani Ekadashi to yudhisthira. Mandhata was a famous former king who decided to create the right conditions for the severe drought that plagued his kingdom. The residents often face challenges. He set out on a journey to find an answer for the people's plight. The king met Rishi Angiras to see if he could provide a solution.

As per the Rishi's advice, the king and his subjects fasted on the Devashayani Ekadashi according to tradition. Soon, the rain gods were appeased, and his entire kingdom was drenched in heavy rain. Following this occurrence, people gradually began to observe the Ekadashi as it had an immediate result for King Mandhata. It is believed that Fasting on Devshayani Ekadashi helps you avoid any sin and maintain emotional stability. It is believed that fasting on the second day is beneficial for widowed women who want to seek moksha in this lifetime.

What is the significance of Ashadhi Ekadashi?

Ashadhi Ekadashi is also known as Dev Shayani Kadashi or Shayani Ekadashi because it is believed that Lord Vishnu fell asleep in Ksheera Sagara, the milky sea of ​​the cosmic snake Sheshanaga. Vishnu finally wakes up from his nap four months later on Prabodhini Ekadashi - the eleventh day of the bright fortnight in the Hindu month Kartik. Chaturmas is the fall harvest season, which happens during the rainy season. The special day known as Ashadhi Ekadashi marks the beginning of Chaturmas. The Ashadhi Ekadashi is a very important festival for the Varkari community. They believe that Lord Vitthal, the presiding deity of Pandharpur, is an incarnation of Lord Krishna.

Most of the Warkaris settled in Maharashtra, and today marks the culmination of the pilgrimage called 'wari' undertaken by devotees from all over Maharashtra on foot to reach Pandharpur in the Solapur district, which houses a famous temple dedicated to Lord Vitthal Rukmini. People from other regions pray to lord vitthal rukmini paintings to get blessed with health and prosperity. During this period, all auspicious actions, including buying a house, janae (sacred thread), naming things, and others are not performed by staunch believers. It is believed that fasting on this day with devotion will lead to a happy, successful, and peaceful life. This day is of great importance, as was recounted to me by Lord Brahma and Lord Krishna. King Yudhisthira, the eldest of the Pandavas, was told of its importance by them.

What are the rituals for Shayani Ekadashi?

Believers wake up early, perform their usual routines, and prepare to wear fresh clothes to pray to Lord Vishnu. Devotees take holy baths in the rivers, including the Ganges, and if they can't either, people make a Gangajal and bathe in their homes. Devotees worship with puja thali by keeping the ideals of Lord Vishnu in their home, Temples. Women make Rangoli at home entrance and decorate their temple with brass diyas to please god. On Fast Monday, devotees also observe fasting and chant mantras to please Lord Vishnu for his blessings. In the evening, devotees offer prayers, and provide food to those in need. On Ashadhi Ekadashi, devotees abstain from specific foods in order to fast.

People buy God idols online to worship at home. Idols were placed on a red cloth at a specific place in the house as per vastu. This allows them to connect more deeply with the energy of the day. By continuing to fast on this day, the observer can resolve all the problems and tensions of life. Break the fast by eating only Sattvic foods, vegetarian foods that do not contain onions, garlic or any other strong flavor or heat-generating ingredients. Devotees also take a holy bath, meditate and recite the "OM Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" mantra to seek the blessings of Lord Vishnu. The idol of Lord Vishnu wears bright yellow clothes and offers flowers, betel nut, betel nut, fruit, sweets or any other satthic food. The ceremony is complete with the distribution of prasad. Some devotees stay up all night to sing bhajans.

Conclusion

Shayani Ekadashi is a revered day in Hinduism, especially for Vaishnava Hindus who consider Lord Vishnu as the ultimate deity. Devshayani Ekadashi is one of the auspicious occasions that marks the beginning of Lord Vishnu's sleep cycle. On Shayani Ekadashi, a fast is observed, and people do prayers to the goddess, god painting. People buy God idols online to worship at home. Idols were placed on a red cloth at a specific place in the house as per vastu. People do worship to their idols with brass diyas and puja thali to please god. Mandhata was a famous former king who decided to create the right conditions for the severe drought that plagued his kingdom. He set out on a journey to find an answer for the people's plight. The king met Rishi Angiras to see if he could provide a solution.

It is believed that Fasting on Devshayani Ekadashi helps you avoid any sin and maintain emotional stability. Devotees take holy baths in the rivers, including the Ganges, and if they can't either, people buy Gangajal and bathe in their homes. On Fast Monday, devotees also observe fasting and chant mantras to please Lord vitthal for his blessings. The special day known as Ashadi Ekadashi marks the beginning of Chaturmas. People from other regions pray to lord vitthal and rukmini. The Ashadhi Ekadashi is a very important festival for the Varkari community. It is said that there is no guarantee that any auspicious actions will be successful during this period, including purchasing a house, wearing a janae, and others. There is evidence that fasting on this day with devotion will lead to a happy, successful, and peaceful life. This day is very important, as Lord Brahma and Lord Krishna have said. King Yudhisthira, the eldest of the Pandavas, was told of its importance by them.