EkAdasi --DvAdasi Vrathams & their significance

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Martin Gansten :

 

EkAdasi Vratham observance is very important to

the bhakthAs of Sriman NaarAyaNA . The Madhva darsanam

followers are very strict on the observance of EkAdasi .

One is fortunate to be in the Udippi Sri KrishNA temple

on a EkAdasi day . The observance of EkAdasi by

VaishNavites and Saivites is age old. In Bengal ,

some of the Muslims converted to Hinduism from

the days of Muslim conquest observe fasting on

Ekadasi days even today. The guru of Sitar genius

Ravi Sankar was an EkAdasi observing Muslim .

 

Ekadasi vratham observance however is different from

the observance of the DvAdasi vratham .

 

The significance of EkAdasi and DvAdasi vrathams are

covered in Srimadh Bhagavatham in Canto 9 , chapters 4&5 .

These chapters of Srimadh Bhagavatham are brilliantly

summarized by Sri NaarAyaNa Bhattadhiri in his NaarAyaneeyam

( 33rd dasakam ) . The significance of Vaiknuta Ekadasi

and the splendour of the observance of that special Ekadasi

at Srirangam has been posted earlier and can be accessed

from the archives of Bhakthi list .Hence , I will focus only on

the Ekadasi and Dvaadasi vratham in this posting .

 

EkAdasi Vratham is the observance of suddha UpavAsam

(total fast ) on Ekaadasi tithi . DvAdasi vratham is the start of the fast on

the night of Dasami tithi on both sukla and KrishNa paksham

( waxing and waning moon fortnights ) , observance of the full

fast on EkAdasi day and breaking of the fast on DvAdasi day

BEFORE the end of the Dvadasi tithi . Ekadasi vratham however

does NOT require the breaking of fast before the conclusion of the

Dvadasi tithi . Even on Ekadasi Vratham days , the elderly and

the children are exempted from fasting .It is also permissible to

observe EkAdasi vratham with partaking of fruits and milk for those

who can not observe a complete fast . The day of EkAdasi is to be

spent in meditation and DhyAnam of Sriman NaarAyaNA ,

Aaraadhanam , Japam et al . For those , who are unable to perform

all of these , a recitation of VishNu Sahasra Naamam once is

recommended .

 

Breaking of the fast (PaaraNai ) on DvAdasi days is done after feeding

first guests , if available . Special food like ahatthi keerai ( a type of

broad-leaved spinach ) and Nellikkai pacchadi ( jam of a citrus type

of fruit ) have to be taken in first to serve as a restorer of the equalibrium

in the stomach after extended fasting. The physological effect of biweekly

fasting is terrific on the body.One gives a break to the digestive system

and let it rest & recover for two days in a month . People live longer . In the

 

beginning , it may be difficult to observe the fast , but one gets used to it

afterwards. If one has low blood sugar or other symptoms , one should

moderate the severity of the fasting . Even intake of meals in moderation

is recommended for them . Prayers , meditations and reflections

on the divine attributes of the Lord are recommended accompaniments

to EkAdasi and DvAdasi Vrathams. The day of EkAdasi is to be spent in

prayers and japam and , visits to the temple .

 

In MahA Bharatham , Lord KrishNA answers DuryodhanA's query

on why He did not eat at his palace and instead ate at VidhurA's

house . The Lord explained :

 

sudhdam BhagavathAsyaannam suddham Bhageerathi jalam I

suddham VishNupadha dhyAnam suddham EKAADASI VRATHAM II

 

(MEANING) : The food partaken at a BhakthA's house is superior

and pure . At he same level of holiness are the intake of GangA

theertham , VishNu DhyAnam and the observance of EkAdasi

vratham .

 

SaasthrAs state that those , who fail to eat on Ekadasi days

due to anger , desire (kaamam) or stinginess (lobham ) get

the full fruits of the observance of EkAdasi Vratham , even if

their intent was not on observing EkAdasi vratham .

 

The greatness of DvAdasi vratham that incorporates inside it the

EkAdasi vratham is illustrated by the story of the king Ambarisha ,

a predecessor of Sri Ramachandra . He observed DvAdasi Vratham

for an year on the banks of the river YamunA . Ambarisha was a great

devotee of Sriman NaarAyaNA and a Nishkaama Karmi . BhagavAn's archanA

and Bhagavatha SevA were his goals in life ( KarmaNyEvaadhikArasthE

maa palEshu kadAchana ) .

 

At the conclusion of the year's observance of DvAdasi vratham ,

a sage by the name of DurvAsa came to visit AmbarishA on

the day of the final paaraNai . The king was happy to have the

visit of the well known sage and invited him to be his honored guest

before his paaraNai . DurvAsa was known for his habit of flying

into rage over any intended or unintended discourtesy to him .

 

The sage was an observer of EkAdasi vratham , but not DvAdasi vratham .

He showed up in the court of king AmabarishA , while there was

one and half hour alone left for the completion of the DvAdasi

tithi . The sage accepted the invitation for the partaking of the food

at the royal household as an athithi (guest ) of the king on that

dvAdasi day . He mentioned to the king that he would go to the river

to perform his snAnam and rituals and return to the palace for the

meals .

 

DurvAsa muni was not an observer of the DvAdasi vratham .He only

observed the EkAdasi vratham and had no sensitivity about completing

his meals before the conclusion of the DvAdasi tithi . Hence , he tarried at

the

river as the clock was ticking away towards the conclusion of the tithi .

The king was on pins and needles . On one hand he could not

start his paaraNai before feasting DurvasA , his surprise guest ; on

the other hand , he will lose the fruits of the obsevance of the whole year's

DvAdasi vratham , if he did not break his fast before the conclusion of

the Dvadasi tithi . He consulted his AchAryAs on what to do with respect

to this dilemma , while waiting for DurvAsar to return from the river bank .

 

The assembled Vedic scholars ruled that the king can take a sip of

the theertham used in the abolution of the SaaLagrAmams prior to

the conclusion of the DvAdasi tithi to fulfill the requirements of

the timely pAraNai . This way , he can gain the fruits of the observance

of the DvAdasi vratham , while waiting for the return of the Sage DurvAsaa.

The king took one spoonful of SaaLagrAma theertham . Minutes after,

the sage came back to the palace and flew into a rage, when he learned

that the king had broken his fast with sacred water , prior to feeding him .

 

The angry sage pulled a hair from his matted locks and threw it on

ground .A fierce demon came out and began to run towards the king

to destroy him . The king did not move. At the same time , the divine

Sudarsanam( the powerful Disc resting on the right hand of Sriman

NaarAyaNA ) appeared and killed the demon . Next it began to chase the

angry DurvAsa . The heat from the Sudarsanam was equivalent to

thousands of Suns and DurvAsa ran to escape from it. He ran in all

directions and could not escape from the chasing disc of the Lord.

He went to BrahmA and appealed for rescue .He was turned down by

BrahmA , who acknowledged his powerlessness. Next he went to

SivA in KailAsam . Lord SivA admitted that he has no power to stop

the powerful Sudarsanam either . Finally , DurvAsa went to Sri VaikuNtam

and prayed to Sriman NArAyaNA to save him from the chasing disc

of His. The Lord replied :

 

aham Bhaktha parAdheena: hyasvatantra iva dhvija I

sadhubhi: grastha hrudhaya: bahkthairbhaktha jaanpriya: II

 

naahamAthmAnam aasAsE madhbhakthai: saadhubhirvinaaI

Sriyam chAthyanthakeem brahmanyEshAm gathiraham paraaII

 

(Meaning ) : O Great Sage ! I am deeply attached to my devotees. Infact ,

I am controlled by them . Therefore I am incapable of doing anything

out of my own volition in such cases involving aparAdham to my devotees .

My love for my bhakthAs is greater than that for Myself or My consort ,

MahA Lakshmi .

 

SaadhavO hrudhayam mahyam Saadhunaam hrudhyam tvaham I

madanyatthE n ajaananthi naaham tEbhyO managapi II

 

(Meaning ) : My bhakthAs are like my heart to me. I am their hearts.

Our understanding of each other is total and complete.

 

Then , Sriman NaarAyaNA reminded Sage DurvAsA that

the Tapas (penance ) and the JnAnam are fruitless as long as

there is no modesty /humility (Vinayam ) that accompanies them .

 

Sriman NaarAyaNA suggested that the Sage return to the side

of His BhakthA AmbareeshA and seek his forgivance for the

ApachAram . Sage DurvAsa ran to the side of AmbarishA as

Sudarsanam followed him and fell at the feet of the parama

BhakthA of the Lord. The sage returned to the king's side

after an year of runnning hither and thither to escape form

the Lord's disc and to seek relief with the help of Gods .

Meanwhile , King AmabarishA was waiting patiently

for the return of the Sage to complete his Dvaadasi

PaaraNai . The king was taking water only as his

intake dutring that whole period of waiting .

 

AmbarishA saw the fierce Sudarsanam with its flames

and sixteen kinds of weapons chasing the Sage rushing

towards him . He was awe struck and began to pray to

Sudarsana BhagavAn to spare the sage :

 

Sudarsana namasthubhyam sahasrArAchyutha Priya I

sarvAsthraghAthinviprAya svasthibhooyA itaspathE II

 

(meaning) : O BhagavAn Sudarsana with thousand points

of flame ! O Sudarsana dear to Sriman NaarAyaNA !

O powerful SudarsanA , who can destroy all kinds of

weapons ! My salutaitons to You ! Please confer auspiciousness

on Sage DurvAsA and spare him from Your wrath .

 

The Lord's Weapon , Sudarsanam acceded to the request of

the parama BhakthA and returned to the hand of the Lord.

DurvAsA saluted the King and blessed him as well .

 

That is the legend behind the power of DvAdas/EkAdasi

UpavAsam .

 

The upcoming EkAdasi days for this year are :

 

June 1 , 16 , July 1 , 16 (Sayana EkAdasi , where the Lord

rests is the beginning of the Chathurmaasyam for the sanyAsis,

when they stay at one place for extended period of time ) , July 30 ,

August 14 ( Sudarsana -Narasimha Jayanthi ) , August 28,

September 13 ( Combination of SravaNam and EkAdasi ) ,

September 27 , October 12 , October 27 , November 11

( Hari UttAna EkAdasi ) , November 25 , December 10

(Bheeshma Ekadasi ) , December 25 and January 2

(Vaikunta Ekadasi ) .

 

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan