Deva-sayana - PadmA EkAdasii on 12th July

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Deva-sayana - PadmA EkAdasii

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Sayan EkAdasii – Deva Sayani EkAdasii – Padma EkAdasii from the

Bhavishya-uttara PurANa.

The saintly king Yudhishthira Maharaj said, “Oh Keshava, what is the name of

that EkAdasii that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of AshADha

(June – July)? Who is the worshippable Deity for the auspicious day, and what

is the process for observing this event?”

 

Lord Sri Krishna replied, “Oh caretaker of this Earthly planet, I shall gladly

tell you a wonderful historical event that the deva lord BrahmA once narrated

to his son NArad Muni.

 

“One day NArad Muni asked his father, ‘What is the name of the EkAdasii that

comes during the light part of the month of AshADha’, much as you did? ‘Kindly

tell me how I should observe this EkAdasii and thus please the Supreme Lord,

Sri Vishnu.’

 

“Lord BrahmA replied, ‘Oh great saintly orator, O best of all sages, Oh purest

devotee of Lord Vishnu, your question is as usual excellent for all mankind.

There is nothing better than EkAdasii, the day of Lord Sri Hari, in this or any

other world. It nullifies even the worst sins if observed properly. For this

reason I shall tell you about this AshADha-shukla EkAdasii.

 

“ ‘Fasting on this EkAdasii purifies one of all sins and fulfills all ones

desires. Therefore, whoever neglects to observe this sacred fast day is a good

candidate for entering into hell. AshADha-shukla EkAdasii is also famous as

PadmA EkAdasii. Just to please the Supreme Lord Hrishikesha, the master of the

senses, one should fast on this day. Listen carefully, Oh NArad, as I relate to

you a wonderful historical event that was recorded in the scriptures regarding

this EkAdasii. Just hearing this account destroys all kinds of sins, along with

all obstacles on the path to spiritual perfection.

 

“ ‘Oh son, there was once a saintly king in the Surya Vamsha (Sun dynasty)

whose name was MAndhAtA. Because he always stood up for the truth, he was

appointed emperor. He took care of his subjects as though they were his very

own family members and children. On account of his piety and great religiosity,

there was no pestilence, drought, or disease of any kind in his entire kingdom.

All his subjects were not only free of all kinds of disturbances but also were

very wealthy. The king’s own treasury was free of any ill-gotten moneys, and

thus he ruled happily for many years.

 

“ ‘Once, however, because of some sin in his kingdom, there was a drought for

three years. The subjects found themselves beset by famine also. The lack of

food grains made it impossible for them to perform the prescribed Vedik

sacrifices, offer oblations of grita (ghee) to their forefathers and to the

devas, engage in any ritualistic worship, or even study the Vedik literatures.

Finally, they all came before their beloved king in a great assembly and

addressed him thus, ‘Oh king, you always see to our welfare, so we humbly beg

your assistance now. Everyone and everything in this world needs water. Without

water, almost everything is rendered useless or dead. The Vedas call water

nAra, and because the Supreme Personality of Godhead sleeps upon water, His

another name is NArAyana. God makes His own abode on water and takes His rest

there.

 

It is said that three things cannot exist without water; pearls, human beings,

and flour. The essential quality of a pearl is its luster, and that is due to

water. The essence of a man is his semen, whose main constituent is water. And

without water, flour cannot be made into dough and then be cooked into various

forms of bread, offered and eaten. Sometimes water is called jala-nArAyaNa, the

Supreme Lord in the form of this life sustaining substance – water.

 

In His form as the clouds, the Supreme Lord is present throughout the sky and

pours forth rains, from which grow the grains that maintain every living

entity.

 

“ ‘ “Oh king, the severe drought has caused a great lack of valuable grains;

thus we are all miserable, and the population is decreasing as people die off

or leave your kingdom. Oh best ruler on Earth, please find some solutions to

this problem and bring us to peace and prosperity once again.”

 

“ ‘The king replied, “You speak the truth, for grains are like Brahman, the

Absolute Truth, who lives within grains and thereby sustains all beings.

Indeed, it is because of grains that the entire world lives. Now, why is there

a terrible drought in our kingdom? The Holy Scriptures discuss this subject

very thoroughly. If a king (or head of the country) is irreligious, both he and

his subjects suffer. I have meditated upon the cause of our problem for a long

time, but after searching my past and present character I can honestly say that

I find no sin. Still, for the good of all your subjects, I shall try to remedy

the situation.”

Thinking in this way, King MAndhAtA assembled his army and entourage. Paid his

obeisances to me, and then entered the forest. He wandered here and there,

seeking great sages in their Ashrams and inquiring about how to resolve the

crisis in his kingdom. At last he came upon the ashram of one of my other sons,

AngirA Muni, whose effulgence lit up all directions. Seated in his hermitage,

AngirA looked like a second BrahmA. King MAndhAtA was very pleased to see that

exalted sages, whose senses were completely under control.

 

“ ‘The king immediately dismounted his horse and offered his respectful

obeisances at the lotus feet of AngirA Muni. Then the king joined his palms and

prayed for the Muni’s blessings. That saintly person reciprocated by blessing

the king with sacred mantras; then he asked him about the welfare of the seven

limbs of his kingdom. The seven limbs of a king’s domain are the king himself;

the ministers; his treasury; his military forces; his allies; the brahmins; the

sacrificial performances performed in the kingdom and the needs of the subjects

under his care.

 

“ ‘After telling the sage how the seven limbs of his kingdom were situated,

King MAndhAtA asked the sage about his own situation, and if he was happy. Then

AngirA Muni asked the king why he had undertaken such a difficult journey into

the forest, and the king told him of the affliction his kingdom was suffering.

The king said, “Oh great sage, I am ruling and maintaining my kingdom while

following the Vedik injunctions, and thus I do not know the reason for the

drought. To solve this mystery, I have approached you for help. Please help me

relieve the suffering of my subjects.”

 

“ ‘ANgira Rishi said tot he king, ‘The present age, Satya yuga, is the best of

all ages, for in this age Dharma stands on all four legs (Truthfulness,

Austerity, Mercy, and Cleanliness). In this age everyone respects Brahmins as

the topmost members of society. Also, everyone fulfills his occupational

duties, and only twice-born Brahmins are allowed to perform Vedik austerities

and penances. Although this is a standard, Oh lion among kings, there is one

shudra (uninitiated, untrained person) who is thus unlawfully performing the

rites of austerity and penance in your kingdom. This is why there is no rain in

your land. You should therefore punish this labourer with death, for by so

doing you will remove the contamination inflicted by his actions and restore

peace to your subjects.”

 

“ ‘The king then replied, “How can I kill an offenseless performer of austerity

and sacrifice? Please give me some spiritual solution.”

 

“ ‘The great sage ANgirA Muni then said, “Oh king, you should observe a fast on

the EkAdasii that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of AshADha.

This auspicious day is named PadmA EkAdasii, and by its influence plentiful

rains and thus grains and other foodstuffs will surely return to your kingdom.

This EkAdasii bestows perfection upon its faithful observers, removes all kinds

of bad elements, and destroys all obstacles on the path to perfection. Oh king,

you, your relatives, and your subjects should all observe this sacred EkAdasii

fast. Then everything in your kingdom will undoubtedly return to normal.”

“ ‘Upon hearing these words, the king offered his obeisances and then returned

to his palace. When the PadmA EkAdasii arrived, King MAndhAtA assembled all the

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and shudras in his kingdom and instructed them

to strictly observe this important fast day. After they had observed it, the

rains fell, just as the sage had predicted, and in due course of time there

were abundant crops and a rich harvest of grain. By the mercy of the Supreme

Lord Hrishikesha, the master of the senses, all the subjects of King MAndhAtA

became extremely happy and prosperous.

 

“ ‘Therefore, Oh Narada, everyone should observe this EkAdasii fast very

strictly, for it bestows all kinds of happiness, as well as ultimate

liberation, upon the faithful devotee’

 

Lord Sri Krishna concluded, “My dear Yudhishthira, PadmA Ekadasi is so powerful

that one who simply reads or hears its glories becomes completely sinless. Oh

PANDava, one who wishes to please Me should strictly observe this EkAdasii,

which is also known as Deva-sayani EkAdasii

 

Deva-sayani, or Vishnu-sayani, indicates the day when Lord Vishnu goes to

sleep with all the devas (demigods). It is said that after this day one should

not perform any new auspicious ceremonies until DevotthAni EkAdasii

(Haribodhini (Probodhini) Devotthaani (Uttana) EkAdasii), which occurs during

the month of KArtika (October – November), because the devas (demigods), being

asleep, cannot be invited to the sacrificial arena and because the Sun is

travelling along its Southern course (Dakshinayanam).

 

“Lord Sri Krishna continued, “Oh lion among kings, Yudhishthira Maharaj,

whoever wants liberation should regularly observe a fast on this EkAdasi which

is also the day when the Chaturmasya fast begins.”

 

Thus ends the narration of the glories of the AshADha-shukla EkAdasii –

also known as PadmA EkAdasii or Deva-sayani EkAdasii – from the

Bhavishya-uttara PurANa.

 

 

Sayana Dwadasi

 

On this dvadasi, following Sayana EkAdasii, Lord Vishnu takes rest on the milk

ocean, where he remains sleeping for four months called Chaturmasya.

 

This pastime is enacted in the following manner. The Lord may be brought on

procession to a lake or pond, where one can perform full worship, and then

bathe the Lord in the lake saying:

 

sese paryanka varye'smin phana mani ganamale

sveta dvipantare deva kuru nidram namo'stu te

 

Oh Lord, in Svetadvipa, please take rest on your bed in

the form of sesa-naga with his jewelled hoods.

Let me pay my respects to you.

 

After the puja, and kirtana, charanamtra and prasadam should be distributed.

Then the deity should be brought back to the temple amid all pomp and ceremony.