Kaishika Ekadasi - Sri U.Ve. Mahavidhwan E. S. Bhuvarahachariar Swamy

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Srimate Ramanujaya Namah

 

Srimate Baladhanvi Mahagurave Namah

 

Srimad Varvara Munaye Namah

 

SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF KAISHIKA EKADASI

(Sri U.Ve. Mahavidhwan Elayavilli Srinivasa Bhuvarahachariar Swamy)

M.A (Retd) Prof of Sanskrit, Alwar Thirunagari

 

In our Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya every Ekadasi (the 11th day of

bright & black fortnight) has a special name accordingly during this

Krittika month, the Ekadasi during the bright fortnight is called

Kaishika Ekadasi (some used to day Koushika Ekadasi). But it is

wrong. Vishwamitra has nothing to do with this Ekadasi. Kaishika is

a raga in music. How is this raga related with this Ekadasi will

become clear in the course of this article.

 

Sri Varaha Puranam has this episode in its body. Once upon a

time the earth got submerged in water. Lord Sriman Narayana assumed

the garb of a wild boar and which would never hesitate to enter

muddy water brought out the earth from the deluge. Sri Bhoomi

Piratti, who is the presiding deity, was very much upset by this

tragic event. She was consoled and comforted by Lord Sriman

Narayana, keeping Her on His lap. At that time she was very much

worried about Her children on the earth. Their sufferings gave Her

great sorrow and She very much desired to know a means (Upaya) for

their deliverance from the worldly bondage. The Lord narrated the

episode that took place in the village Thirukkurungudi near

Thirunelveli in South India and assured Her that the soul means of

salvation is singing His glory (Gana Rupa Upayam).

 

The story is as follows: Once there lived a man at

Thirukkurungudi. He was fondly called "Nampaduvan" (We do not know

his Original name). He was born in a Chandala family who were known

for their merciless nature and activities. But quite contrary to his

family behavior he was very pious and deeply devoted to Lord Sriman

Narayana. He used to fast during every Ekadasi day. Getting up very

early in the morning, the next day he used to go to the vicinity of

the temple with his veena in his hands and remaining at a distance

from the temple as per the prescription of the shastras he used to

sing songs in praise of the Lord going around the temple.

 

Once during the month of Krittika on a bright fortnight

Dwadasi i.e the 12th day he went to the temple early in the morning

as usual. On the way he was met by a Brahma Rakshasa who was very

hungry and who therefore expressed his desire to eat him up.

Nampaduvan was very happy to offer his body for the food of Brahma

Rakshasa. That was because his suffering in this world would come to

an end and he would reach the abode of the Lord. But he prayed to

the Brahma Rakshasa to spare some time so that he may go to the

temple and sing the songs and return. But the Rakshasa was not ready

to grant his request, as he would never return having made this

false excuse. But Nampaduvan made 18 oaths to the effect that he

would certainly return.

 

If I do not return as per my promise let me get the sin of a man who

is a liar.

Let me get the sin of a person who commits adultery, if I don't

return.

While eating in the company of a person if a man differentiates in

menu (i.e. serving inferior or less quantity of food to the guest),

he gets greater sin (Papam). Let me get that sin, if I don't return.

If a man donates a piece of an earth to a Brahmin and gets it back

after some time he will certainly accrue sin. Let me get that sin,

if I don't return.

If a man enjoys the company of a woman during her youthful age and

subsequently he rejects her while she became old he is sure to get

sin. Let me get that sin, if I don't return.

Having performed ablution rite (Tharpanam) on Amavasya day and has

recourse (sexual relationship) to his wife the same day, he will

entertain great sin. Let me get that sin, if I don't return.

Having dined delicious dishes in the house of a host if a person

showers heaps of abuse on him he is sure to meet with great sin. Let

me get that sin, if I don't return.

A man makes a solemn promise that he would give away his young

daughter in marriage to a youth but later on breaks his promise,

which would entertain sin. Let me get that sin, if I don't return.

A man is prohibited from eating without taking bath on Shashti (the

sixth day of both fortnight), Ashtami (the eighth day), Chaturdashi

(the fourteenth day) and Amavasya (the fifteenth day of bright

fortnight). Let me get that sin, if I don't return.

A man promises to donate something to another man but he doesn't

keep up his promise. Let me get the sin of breach of promise if I

fail to come back.

If a person tries to allure the wife of a friend who has helped him

in manifold ways, he is sure of reaching hell. I will get that sin,

if I fail to return.

A person, afflicted by lust, enjoys the company of his revered

teacher's wife who is responsible for his salvation and so also the

company of the wife of a king who endows all worldly pleasure to

him; he will be the worst sinner. I will suffer that sin by not

keeping up my promise.

A man marries two girls without being impartial to both of them. If

he evinces greater pleasure in the company of one rejecting the

other he is sure to accrue very great sin. Let me get that sin, if I

don't keep up my promise.

A man divorces his wife who is very chaste and has no one to care

for her. He will become a sinner. Let me be equated to him for not

returning.

If a man causes obstruction to the cattle that are afflicted by very

much thirst to drink water he will get a sin. Let me also get that

sin by breaking your faith in me.

Brahminicide, addiction to liquor, stealing gold, breaking a vow are

all considered to be heinous crimes. Severe punishments are

prescribed for a sinner, who commits all these crimes. Let me suffer

all these punishments in case I fail to get back to you.

If some people worship only other deities and Sri Vasudeva who is

easily accessible to His votaries and is Omnipresent.

Sriman Narayana is the supreme deity. He is the inner soul for all

created beings, both sentient and insentient. He is worshipped by

all karmas (i.e. by all holy rites prescribed by the Shastras). He

is to be meditated by all who are desirous of liberation. He alone

has the ability to grant salvation. He is to be reached by all the

liberated souls. Having understood the supreme qualities of the

Lord, if a man equates Him to all other angels who are bound by

karma, He will be born in this world again and again. Let me get

that sin by breach of promise.

(Note: All these promises did not convince or satisfy the Brahma

Rakshasa), but the 18th one totally convinced him about the

certainty of Nampaduvan's return. We therefore have to understand

that the last sin is the greatest sin of all sins. Hence it is to be

meticulously avoided).

 

The Brahma Rakshas became pleased by all these promises and

saluted Nampaduvan and bade him farewell so that he may fulfill his

vow and come back to him.

 

Accordingly Nampaduvan went to the neighborhood of the temple

and sang the songs as usual.

 

Afterwards the day dawned having completed the vow pertaining

to Ekadasi (i.e. spending sleepless night) Nampaduvan surrendered to

the Lord. With great speed, he returned to the Rakshas as his heart

was filled up with pleasure owing to his desertion of his body,

which was inimical to his attaining salvation.

 

On his way a person met him. That man questioned him "Hello,

where are you going with double speed?" Nampaduvan replied him in a

sweet manner – "I am going to Brahma Rakshas. If I don't find him

there, where I met him before and departed having made several

promises, I will go in search of him and offer my body as food for

him."

 

That man desired to test his mind on hearing his steadfast resolve.

He said there stands a Rakshasa by birth. He is not righteous minded

like Vibeeshana but a worst criminal. He cannot escape from his

cruel clutches, as he is a cannibal. "Don't go to that strong devil."

 

Though exhorted by that man, Nampaduvan refused to listen to

him and was very adamant in keeping up his promise. That stranger,

who obstructed him and advised him, was none other than Sri Varaha

(God Himself). Nampaduvan found Brahma Rakshas at the same place and

offered his body as a carcass (meat) for him, but the Rakshas,

remembering his previous birth did not accept it. He narrated his

previous life history. He was a Brahmin by name Somasarma in his

former birth. While performing a sacrifice, he committed all sorts

of blunder, as he was a niggardly magnet. Moreover a fatal disease

in the course of performing sacrifice afflicted him. The result was

his birth as Brahma Rakshasa.

 

Having given a detailed account of his previous life the

Rakshasa knelt before Nampaduvan to grant him the merit of all these

songs that he sang in praise of the Lord for a long time but the

songster refused sternly. Finally being moved by pity he granted him

the merit (Punya) of one song, which he sang that day morning which

was in the raga named "Kaishika". The Brahma Rakshas was relieved of

his bond. Later he was born in a family of Vaishnava and at the end

of the birth he reached Vaikunta.

 

This is the story narrated by Sri Varaha Perumal to Sri Bhoomi

Devi. The whole episode as found in "Sri Varaha Puranam", is taken

up by Sri Parasara Bhattar for an elaborate commentary in Tamil.

Every year the whole episode with all Sanskrit shlokas and

commentary of Sri Bhattar is read out in all the Vishnu temples

especially at Thirukkurungudi where the event actually took place.

This is enacted on the stage even today. Those who take part in the

festival or who hear the episode will be rid of their sins. Hence I

gave this story in an abridged version.

 

What do we understand from this episode? Somasarma though a

Brahmin became a Rakshasa, but Nampaduvan though a Chandala was able

to expiate him of all his sins. Hence caste is not a criterion for

us to worship a man. His deep devotion to the Lord, knowledge of the

Lord etc and a total renunciation of all worldly pleasures are very

important criteria. The caste is physical. It does not belong to the

soul. Hence Nampaduvan was elevated to the highest order. In case of

such holy men of that high order, consideration of the caste is an

offence. They are equal to Nityasooris. Hence our Acharyas equate

Nampaduvan with Vishwamitra, Sri Vishnuchitta and ThondarAdiPodi

Azhwar , who sang divine songs in order to wake up the Lord

(Tiruppalliezhuchi). The Lord (Sri Varaha) also showered on him love

and affection and called him Nampaduvan (My Singer). Let us

therefore be very careful in not committing Bhagavata Apachara. This

is what we learn from Kaishika Puranam.