Ashada Ekadashi fesival - meaning and story related to it

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Ashadhi Ekadashi

Maha Ekadashi

    Some people consider the two eleventh days, "Ekadashi", of every month to be

of special importance. But the eleventh day (bright) of Ashada is known as the

great Ekadashi or Maha Ekadashi. It is a day of fast. This is the day of the

huge "Yatra" or pilgrimages to the god Vithoba of Pandharpur, a town in south

Maharashtra, situated on the banks of the Bhima River, a tributary of the

Krishna River.

    This Maha Ekadashi is also known as Shayani Ekadashi, because on this day

Vishnu falls asleep to wake up four months later on Prabodhini Ekadashi in the

Kartik month. This period is known as Chaturmas and coincides with the rainy

season.

Mrudumanya

    There was a demon called Mrudumanya. He performed austere penance to obtain

the blessings of Shankar. At the end Shankar was pleased and offered a boon to

Mrudumanya. The demon asked for the gift of immortality. Shankar replied, "You

will not die by the hands of anyone, except of a woman."

 Mrudumanya's goal was to defeat all the gods and conquer heaven. Shankar agreed

to everything, "Neither Brahma, nor Vishnu, nor myself shall ever be able to

defeat you.That will be sufficient," said Mrudumanya full of satisfaction.

"I got what I wanted."

    Mrudumanya began to conquer heaven. Indra ran away to Brahmadev in Satyalok

(abode of truth). Mrudumanya marched towards Satyalok. Since Brahmadev knew

about the boon Mrudumanya had obtained from Shankar, he did not want to engage

him in battle. He gathered his 33 crore gods (330 million) and escaped to

Vaikunta, the abode of Vishnu, with the hope that at least Vishnu would protect

them from this demon. Satyalok fell into the hands of Mrudumanya. Brahmadev fell

at the feet of Vishnu. Then Mrudumanya reached Vaikunta. He said to Vishnu, "Do

not give protection to Brahmadev. Fall at my feet and I shall spare Vaikunta.

But if you do not listen to me, I will conquer the three worlds."

    Vishnu stood ready to fight. There was a fierce struggle without anyone

being able to establish his superiority. Then they came to a hand-to-hand

wrestle. Vishnu, though not defeated, felt exhausted. Then he decided to have

recourse to Shankar. All the gods then went to Shankar, who was happily seated

on Kailas Mountain. Brahma and Vishnu arrived and worshipped Shankar. Shankar

was happy at seeing all the gods coming to him.

    Vishnu was angry and complained to Shankar, "You gave this boon to this

demon. He routed Jndra and Brahmadev. I too have been unable to subdue him. Now

he will rule over the three worlds. So, please, do something about it." Then

Mrudumanya arrived. He began to storm Kailas Mountain. Shankar got angry. He

ordered his troops to fight. He himself sat on his Nandi (bull), took his

trishul in his hand, and marched to meet Mrudumanya. Vishnu and all the gods

began to fight against Mrudumanya. But Mrudumanya was invincible on account of

Shankar's boon.

The Goddess Shakti

    Shankar decided to use a stratagem instead of force. Brahma, Vishnu and

Shankar retreated. They went to Trikut Mountain. Then came a storm of rain and

thunder. Shankar took shelter in the hole of a big tree. Brahma and Vishnu

followed him. For 24 hours they remained sitting, fasting and meditating in

that hole. With their breath the air became hot, and finally a bright light

appeared, and from the light the figure of a frail girl emerged. As they became

fully awake a beautiful virgin was standing before them. Shankar understood that

the virgin was the goddess Shakti, at whose hands Mrudumanya would be killed.

She said, "Be quiet, I have come to destroy Mrudumanya."

    Mrudumanya reached the place and suspected that the gods were hiding in the

hole of that big tree. As he came closer with his sword in hand, he saw that

beautiful girl at the entrance of the hole. Mrudumanya was astonished and

asked, "Who are you?" The girl's body began to grow. She reminded him of the

words of Shankar, "You will be killed by the hand of a woman." Then the girl

flew into the sky and took the form of the goddess with four arms. In one hand

she held a sword, in the other a huge "Gada" (mace or club), and two dreadful

weapons in the remaining two hands. She threw her sword on Mrudumanya. His neck

was severed and the demon collapsed to the ground.

    All the gods fell at the feet of the goddess and asked her to declare who

she was and by what method she would be pleased. Then the goddess said, "I am

the mother of the three worlds. The power of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shankar is

contained all in me. My name is Ekadashi. To please me the Ekadashi vow should

be observed. I shall forestall any calamity from those who keep this vow."

Pandharpur

    The feast of Ashadhi Ekadashi is celebrated with great solemnity at

Pandharpur. Hundreds of thousands go in procession from different parts of

Maharashtra, some carrying palanquins with the images of the great saints of

Maharashtra. Dnaneshwar's image is carried from Alandi; Tukaram's from Dehu,

Eknath's from Paithan, Nivruttinath's from Tryambakeshwar, Muktabai's from

Edlabad, and Sopan's from Sasvad. At Pandharpur the devotees worship the god

Vithoba and his consort Rukmini.

    Pundalik was giving his parents a lot of trouble. But one day listening to a

Rishi's sermon he realised his folly, and thereafter devoted himself to the

service of his parents. One-day god Vithoba came to see him while he was

engaged in massaging the feet of his old parents. Pundalik threw a brick and

told god Vithoba to stand on the brick and wait. God Vithoba stood on the brick

and he is still there with his arms akimbo, waiting. Vishnu is believed to have

taken the form of Vithoba for the sake of Pundalik, as a reward for his

wonderful devotion to his parents.

****

Source: http://www.indiaa2z.com/festivals/

 

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