Sayana Ekadasi (29 Jun 2004)

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29 Jun 2004 Tu (Mayapur Calendar) Trisprsa Mahadvadasi

 

Fasting for Sayana Ekadasi

 

 

 

Sayana Ekadasi

(Deva-sayana - Padma Ekadasi)

(from the Bhavishya-uttara Purana)

 

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

name of that Ekadasi 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 Narada Muni."

 

“One day Narada Muni asked his father, ‘What is the name of the

Ekadasi that comes during the light part of the month of Ashadha’, much as

you did? ‘Kindly tell me how I should observe this Ekadasi 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 Ekadasi, 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

Ekadasi.

 

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

one's desires. Therefore, whoever neglects to observe this sacred fast day

is a good candidate for entering into hell. Ashadha-shukla Ekadasi is also

famous as Padma Ekadasi. Just to please the Supreme Lord Hrishikesha, the

master of the senses, one should fast on this day. Listen carefully, Oh

Narada, as I relate to you a wonderful historical event that was recorded in

the scriptures regarding this Ekadasi. 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 Vedic sacrifices, offer oblations of grita (ghee) to their

forefathers and to the devas, engage in any ritualistic worship, or even

study the Vedic 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 Vedic 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

Vedic 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 Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight of the

month of Ashadha. This auspicious day is named Padma Ekadasi, and by its

influence plentiful rains and thus grains and other foodstuffs will surely

return to your kingdom. This Ekadasi 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 Ekadasi 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 Ekadasi 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 Ekadasi 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 Ekadasi, which is also known as Deva-sayani Ekadasi.

 

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

Ekadasi (Haribodhini (Probodhini) Devotthani (Uttana) Ekadasi), 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

Maharaja, 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 Ekadasi

– also known as Padma Ekadasi or Deva-sayani Ekadasi – from the

Bhavishya-uttara Purana.