Parsva EkAdasii - 29th Aug'2001

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Parsva EkAdasii

 

Sri Yudhishthira MahArAja asked of Lord Sri Krishna, "What is the name of

that EkAdasii that occurs during the light fortnight (shukla paksha) of the

month of BhAdrapada (August-September "Hrishikesha mase") ? Who is the

worshipable Deity for this EkAdasii, and what merit does one attain in

observing it? Kindly reveal all of this to me my Lord."

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna addressed His devoted

Yudhishthira as follows, "This EkAdasii, Oh Yudhishthira, is called VAmana

EkAdasii, and it bestows upon those who observe it both great merit and

ultimate liberation from material bondage. Therefore, because it removes all

one’s sinful reactions, it is also called Jayanti EkAdasii. Just hearing of

its glories frees one from all his past misdeeds. So auspicious is this fast

that observing it bestows the same merit as that earned by performing a

horse sacrifice. There is no better EkAdasii than this, because it awards

liberation so easily. Thus if one truly desires freedom from the punishing

material world, one should fast on VAmana EkAdasii.

 

"While observing this holy fast, a Vaishnava should lovingly worship the

Supreme Lord in His form as VAmandev, the dwarf incarnation, whose eyes are

like lotus petals. By doing so, he worships all other Deities as well,

including BrahmA, Vishnu, and Shiva, and at death he undoubtedly goes to

that abode of Sri Hari. In all the three worlds there is no fast that is

more important to observe. The reason this EkAdasii is so auspicious is that

it celebrates the day when the sleeping Lord Vishnu turns over on His other

side; thus it is also known as Parivartinii EkAdasii."

 

MahArAja Yudhishthira then asked of the Lord, "Oh JanArdana, please clear up

a question I have. How is it that the Supreme Lord sleeps and then turns

over on His side? Oh Lord, when You are asleep what happens to all the other

living entities? Please also tell me how You bound the king of the demons,

Bali DaityarAj (Bali MahArAja), as well as how one may please the brAhmaNas.

How does one observe ChAturmAsya, which You mention in the

ChAturmAsya-mahAtmya of the Bhavishya PurANa? Kindly be merciful to me and

answer these questions."

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna replied, "Oh Yudhishthira,

lion among Kings, I will gladly narrate to you an historical event that,

simply by hearing, eradicates all one’s sinful reactions. "In the TretA-yuga

there once was a king of the name Bali. Though born in a family dynasty of

demons (daityas), he was very devoted to Me. He sang many Vedic hymns to Me

and performed the homa rituals (fire sacrifices) just to satisfy Me. He

respected the twice-born brahmins and engaged them in performing sacrifices

daily. This great soul had a quarrel with Indra, however, and eventually

defeated him in battle. Bali took over his entire celestial kingdom, which I

Myself had given to Indra. Therefore Indra and all the other devas

(demigods), along with many great sages, approached Me and complained about

Bali MahArAja. Bowing their heads to the ground and offering many sacred

prayers from the Vedas, they worshipped Me along with their spiritual

master, Brihaspati. Thus I agreed to appear on their behalf as a dwarf

VAmanadev, My fifth incarnation."

 

King Yudhishthira further enquired, "Oh Lord, how was it possible for You to

conquer such a powerful demon, and only by coming in the form of a dwarf

brahmin? Please explain this clearly, for I am Your faithful devotee." The

Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna replied, "Though a dwarf, I was a brAhmaNa, and I

approached that pious king Bali to ask him for alms in the form of land. I

said, ‘Oh DaityrAj Bali, please give Me just three steps of land in charity.

Such a small piece of land will be good as all the three worlds for Me.’

Bali agreed to grant My request without lengthy consideration. But as soon

as he vowed to give Me the land, My body began to expand into a gigantic

transcendental form. I covered the entire Earth with My feet, all the

Bhuvarloka with My thighs, the Swarga heavens with My waist, Maharloka with

My stomach, Janaloka with My chest, Tapoloka with My neck, and Satyaloka

with My head and face. I covered the entire material creation. Indeed, all

the planets of the universe, including the Sun and the Moon, were

encompassed by My gigantic form."

 

"Seeing this astonishing pastime of Mine, all the demigods, including Indra

and Shesha, the king of the snakes, began to sing Vedic hymns and offer

prayers to Me. Then I took Bali by the hand and said to him, ‘Oh sinless

one, I have covered the whole Earth with one step and all the heavenly

planets with the second. Now where shall I place My foot to measure the

third step of land you promised Me?’

 

"Upon hearing this, Bali MahArAja bowed down in humility and offered Me his

head to place My third step. Oh Yudhishthira, I placed My foot on his head

and sent him all the way to PAtAlaloka. Seeing him thus humbled, I became

very pleased and told Bali that henceforth I would permanently reside in his

palace. Thereafter, on Parivartinii EkAdasii, which occurs during the light

part of the month of BhAdra (August-September), Bali, the son of Virochana,

grandson of Prahlad, installed a Deity form of Me in his residence. "Oh

king, until Haribodhinii EkAdasii, which occurs during the light part of the

month of Karttika, I continue to sleep in the ocean of milk. The merit one

accumulates during this period is particularly powerful. One should

therefore observe Parivartinii EkAdasii carefully. Indeed, it is especially

purifying and thus cleanses one of all sinful reactions. On this day the

faithful devotee should worship Lord Trivikrama, VAmanadeva, who is the

supreme father, because on this day I turn over to sleep on My other side.

"If possible, on this day one should give a qualified person some yogurt

mixed with rice, as well as some silver, and then remain awake throughout

the night. This simple observance will free one of all material

conditioning. One who observes this sacred Parivartinii EkAdasii in the way

I have described will surely attain all kinds of happiness in this world and

the kingdom of God in the hereafter. One who simply hears this narration

with devotion will go to the abode of the demigods and shine there like the

Moon itself, so powerful is observance of this EkAdasii. Indeed, this

observance is as powerful as the performance of a thousand horse

sacrifices."

 

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Parivartinii EkAdasii, or VAmana

EkAdasii, which occurs during the light part of the month of BhAdrapada,

from the Brahma-vaivarta PurANa.