- Shayani Ekadashi
Shayani Ekadashi (lit. "sleeping eleventh") or Maha-ekadashi (lit. "The great eleventh") or Padma Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day (
Ekadashi ) of the bright fortnight (Shukla paksha) of theHindu month ofAshadha (June - July). Thus it is also known as Ashadhi Ekadashi or Ashadhi. This holy day is of special significance toVaishnava s, followers of Hindu preserver godVishnu .It is believed that Vishnu falls asleep in
Ksheersagar - cosmic ocean of milk - onShesha nāga , the cosmic serpent. ["Fasts and Festivals of India" (2002) By Manish Verma, p.33. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. ISBN 817182076X ] Thus the day is also called "Dev-Shayani Ekadashi" (lit. "god-sleeping eleventh") or "Hari -shayani Ekadashi" (lit. "Vishnu-sleeping eleventh") or "Shayana Ekadashi". Vishnu finally awakens from his slumber four months later on "Prabodhini Ekadashi" - eleventh day of bright fortnight in the Hindu monthKartik (October-November). This period is known as "Chaturmas " (lit. "four months") and coincides with the rainy season. Thus, Shayani Ekadashi is the beginning of Chaturmas. Devotees start observing the "Chaturmasvrata (vow)" to please Vishnu on this day. [ [http://www.iskconchowpatty.com/manuals/08_Shayana_Ekadashi.doc] ISKCON]A fast is observed on Shayani Ekadashi. The fast demands abstainance from all grains, beans, cereals, certain vegetables like onions and certain spices and all kinds of meat and eggs.
ignificance
In the text Bhavishyottara Purana,
Krishna narrates significance of Shayani Ekadashi toYudhistira , asBrahma narrated the significance toNarada once. The story of king Mandata is narrated in this context. The pious king's country had faced droughtfor three years, but the king was unable to find a solution to please the rain gods. Finally, sageAngiras advised the king to observe thevrata (vow) of Dev-shayani ekadashi. On doing so by the grace ofVishnu , there was rain in the kingdom. [ [http://www.iskconchowpatty.com/manuals/08_Shayana_Ekadashi.doc] ISKCON]Pandharpur Yatra
This day, a huge
yatra or religious procession of pilgrims culminates atPandharpur , a town in southMaharashtra , situated on the banks of theBhima River . Pandharpur is main center of worship of the deityVithoba , a local form of Vishnu. Thousands of pilgrims come to Pandharpur on this day from different parts of Maharashtra. Some of them carryPalkhi s (palanquins) with the images of the saints of Maharashtra.Dnyaneshwar 's image is carried fromAlandi ,Tukaram 's fromDehu ,Eknath 's fromPaithan ,Nivruttinath 's fromTrimbakeshwar ,Muktabai 's fromEdlabad , andSopan 's fromSasvad . These pilgrims are referred to asWarkari s. They singAbhanga s (chanting hymns) of Saint Tukaram and Saint Dnyaneshwar, dedicated to Vithoba.References
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