Sayana Ekadasi - Ekadasi Alert: Fri, 3rd July 2009

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Sayana

Ekadasi (Deva-sayana - Padma Ekadasi)

 

 

from Bhavishya-uttara PuranDate of fasting:  Fri, 3rd

July 2009

Breakfast  :   04:53 AM - 05:35 AM Next day ***

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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

worshipable 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

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

you 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 to the 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

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

laborer 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 offense-less 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 (Utthana) 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

traveling 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.

---*** Date and breakfast timing is mentioned for Kuwait.

Please visit http://www.vaisnavacalendar.info/calendars/

 

-- Take advantage of this rare opportunity of this human form of life.  There are 8,400,000 different species of life through which we are rotating lifetime after lifetime. So getting a human body is not an every day affair. This most auspicious opportunity only comes after many millions of lifetimes in the lower species. Anyone who does not utilize their human life for self-realization is making the greatest mistake. When this happens it is the greatest tragedy, and unfortunately today this neglect of the human form has become the standard behavior for the entire human society. What can be done? We must first ourselves become solidly situated in Krishna consciousness and then do the highest welfare activity of spreading to everyone else all over the world.

Chant:Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare HareHare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare