Deva-sayana - Padma Ekadasii 26th July 2007

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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.

 

These stories have been summarised and slightly changed or

abbreviated from how they are found in the celebrated

book, " EkAdasii: The Day of Lord Hari " 1986. HH Krishna Balaram

Swami. Bhaktivedanta Institute Press, Pages 99-103.