AshADa Shukla EkAdashii- Shayanee Ekadashi-

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3rd JULY , FRIDAY,EKADASHYAAM

EKADASHI ACHARAnE (SHAYANI)

 

BhAgavatAnA Ekadashyam

 

UPAVASAM for MADHWAS-(Tapta

MUdra DhaaraNa )

Shayani Ekadashi-

ii) Prathama Ekadashi also-

iii) Sudarshana

Homa-Panchagaya Praashanam

 

General :

The Four Holy Months

with the advent of July, the atmosphere is heavy with moisture.

This is a time of

waiting.

Waiting for the

downpour of cooling rain.

Waiting for the carpet

of summer flowers on wet forest floors.

Waiting for the sounds

of thunder and the flash of lightning. Waiting for the distant clouds on the

silver-lined horizon to overcome the sky with expectancy.

 

In this noisy season

of storms,

Vishnu, the god who

protects and preserves the universe, lies down to rest and sleep after having

made the earth a green vision with plenty of food grains, fruits and

vegetables.

 

The 11th day of the

bright half of Ashadh is known as Shayani Ekadashi.

 

It is the beginning of

Chaturmaas, the four auspicious monsoon months, which are full of festivals and

celebrations.

 

At the end of this

festive period comes Prabodhini Ekadashi, a sacred day on which Vishnu awakens

again to takeControl of the cycle of the universe.

 

India, where a large

number of rivers and lakes depend on rainfall, is a country, which worships the

concept of water falling from the heavens.

 

Apo nArA iti proktA

Apo vai nara-sUnavaH |

ayanaM tasya tAH

pUrvaM tena nArAyaNaH smR^itaH ||1-1-28

Waters are called

'nAra’, because thy are the fundamental principle emerged from nArAyaNa, from

which the living-beings have also emerged, nArA iti asya vyAkhyAnam -nara

sUnavaH iti; and because the almighty has firstly entered waters, he is known as nArAyaNa,

i.e., nAra= waters; nArAyaNasya= of

nArAyaNa; ayanam=

pravesha sthAnam - entry point, abode.

[From mahAbhAratam tasya khila bhAgho

harivamsham ]

 

 

Rain is variously

called neha, vnshti or varsha.

The dark clouds are

considered manifestations of Krishna and rain is his mercy flowing from the

heavens.

No wonder then that

the monsoon is the holiest season in the Hindu calendar.

 

Much of India's folk,

as well as classical dance, music and literature, are replete with descriptions

of rain, which is an omen of prosperity, love and romance.

 

Monsoon lore in Indian

legends and mythology is abundant, clouds on dark and rainy nights to keep

trysts to make love.

The fields glistening in the rare sunlight, sport

numerous shades of green and with their heavy heads of grain, are harbingers of

plenty.

 

In these four months,

from Ashadh to Kartik, almost every day is a cause for celebration and every

night is a time to feast.

 

In between these

festive occasions however,there are fasts, disciplined days of homage to the

almighty, times reserved for family and children, and various other facets of

life.

 

Many Indians remain

vegetarian during this time and the fabulous variety of foods and sweets for

breaking fasts; turn these months into a veritable moveable feast.

 

Each day is reserved

for one deity or another.

 

Temples are decorated

with flowers and fragrances fill the air.

Deities are bathed in

sandal water or anointed with saffron paste and dressed in gorgeous robes of

silk and gold.

 

Thunder on the distant

horizon brings India's landscape to vibrant life with the first showery spells.

 

The monsoon dance of

peacocks is a magnificent sight.

 

Dark clouds, gray

skies and monsoon imagery are extensively and skillfully used in the tradition

of miniature paintings.

 

The guru's first

instruction to a pupil is to search for truth and the recognition of its

absolute power. This instruction is contained in the Gayatri mantra or chant

which is holy to all Hindus.

 

Every temple brings

out its treasure of jewellery to decorate the deity for worship and

celebration. sandal water or anointed with saffron paste and dressed in

gorgeous robes of silk and gold.

 

Thunder on the distant

horizon brings India\quotes landscape to vibrant life with the first showery

spells.

 

 

Temple bells ring out.

The sound of Nadaswaram and drumbeats

reverberate in the

air.Nadaswarams play lilting music to call devotees for worship and

prayer.Cattle are decorated. Animals and birds are fed with berries, sugarcane,

nuts and fruits.

 

 

Some Facts about Sayana EkAdasii

 

(Deva-sayana - PadmA

Ekadasi)

 

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 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).

 

 

a) Chaturmaasa

Arambham.

b) GopadmaVratha,

c) Prathama Ekaadashi,

d) Sri ViShNu

Sayanotstava,

e) Shaaka Vratha AramBha,

f) Bramharatha at

Phandarapur.

g) Tapta Mudra

DharaNa,

h) #ShakaVratha

Arambha,

i) DharaNa PaaraNa Vratha arambha.

 

For one month,

Coconut, Plantain,(Banana) vegetables

are not offered to the Lord as Neaivedya

 

I.) Chaturmasa Arambham .

 

General:

 

Being AashaDamasa, in

order to please the Lord, Masaniyamaka Sri Vamana, one should do Danam by

giving Chappals, Salt, Nelli kayi

(Amla)(Gooseberry).

 

One is expected to

take food only once.

 

If, it is done in this

way for the whole AashaDamasa month, he will be blessed with Dhana Dhanya and

Putra Labha.

 

Those interested, has a mind -

will to do - able to do, alone, should sacrifice taking Ghee,

Salt,.Tamboolam and Juice. By leaving all these things, there are effects also.

Dharana parana; Paraka ; Lakshya Batti ; Lakshya Pradakshina ; Lakshya

Namaskara ; Gopadma etc.- obtains Vishesha

Punya.

 

Chaturmasya Vrta

Sankalpa and Vishnu Shayanotstava=

 

In order to purify the

body, all Vaishnavas perform Sudarshana Homa. If possible, they may go to their

Matadeesha and get Tapta Mudra (Chakra and

Shanka).Then one should do Vishesha pooja-

 

Must offer prayer by

reciting the following

sloka:" Supte

Twayi Jagannathe JagatsuptaM BhavedidaM|

Vibuddhe Twayi

Buddyeta tatsavarvaM sacharacharaH|

 

Then folding the Hands:

 

"Chaturo

VarshikanmasaN Devasyotthapanavidhi|

Shravane Varjaye

Shakam Dadhi Bhadrapade Tatha||

Dugdama Ashyujae Masi

karthike Dwidala tatha|

Imam Karishye Niyamam

Nirvignam Kuru Mes Achyuta ||

 

Idam Vratam Maya deva

GrihitaM puratastava|

NirvignaM Siddhimayatu

Prasadaat Te Ramapate ||

Grihites Asmin Vrate

Deva PanchatvaM Yadi Me BhaveT|

Tada Bhavatu

SampoornaM Prasadaatte JanaaRdhana||

 

By reciting the above

Mantram give Arghy to God from the Shanka

(Conch)

 

Now Chaturmasa Sankalpa has been done:

 

Kindly take VISNU's

Pratime (idol) and make the Lord to sleep on the furnished Cot in the Devara

pooja room.

 

Do Vishesha pooja-

 

1) Supte Twayi

Jagannnathe- repeat the slokas again and offer prayer to God-

2) Please be awake the

whole Ekadashi night by singing hymns, keerthanas, doing Bajan etc ;

3) On Dwadashi day

after performing punaH pooja do PaaraNe, and

4) On Trayodashi day

do again pooja and have food after worshipping lord with instruments etc

 

This type of doing

pooja (TridinatmakaUtsava) is called VISNU

SHAYANOTSAVA.

 

 

 

II.) #"Shakahara Vrata Sankalpa"

>From to day

onwards for a month, ( Aashada Shudda Dwadashi to Sharavana Shuddha Dashami

)one should not offer Vegetables, Plaintain, Coconut , fruits as Neivedya or

Hastodaka to God and also he should not eat.

 

Shakavratam Maya Deva

Grihitam Puratastava|

Nirvignam Siddimayatu

Prasadatte Ramapate ||

 

 

 

III). "Dharana

Parana Vrata:"

 

During the Chaturmasa,

in the first month OR in the fourth month Or during the four months period,

doing UPAVASAM (Abstinence) on alternate days and doing Parane on alternate

days is called " Dharana Parana Vrata"

 

You should give 108

Argya to Bhagavantha.

Every month one should

do Udyapane or at the end.

Just to control the

body, mind and for Sarva papa parihara

(Absolution) this Dharana Parana Vrata is done with all sincerity and

effort.

 

 

IV. "Lakshya

Pradakshina Vrata "

 

During Chaturmasa, one

should do Lakshya Pradakshina Vrata. Starts from Aashadamasa and ends at the completion of Karthika Masa.

One should do

Pradakshina Namaskara uttering the papas ( sins ) he has done and

repenting ( Paschayattapa poorvaka -in a

penitent mood) before God to be

merciful -repenting to condone for the

sins done- seeking forgiveness

(absolution) and do Uddayapane after completing Lakshya

Pradakshina.

 

 

V. "Pradakshina

Mantra "

 

Anantavyaya Vishno Sri

Lakshminarayana Prabho|

Jagadeesha

NamastubhaM, Pradakshina Pade Pade ||

 

Bramha Hatyadi papas,

Varna Sankaradhi Doshas, papas on account of

'Patitya';

'Abhakshyabhakshana roopa Papa'; and all sorts of papas (sins) are washed away by so doing

 

 

 

VI. Lakshya

Pradakshina Namaskaram

 

is the way according

to Maha Vishnu. The significance of this Vrata is that it

removes, piquancy or papa from

the darkness and burns all papas by sincerely doing the Vrata.Poorva Janama

papas are also washed out by doing with greater sincerity-

It is also said that

papas in this Janma as well as papas going to be done in future Janma are also

likely to be taken care of ., to wipe out, by doing the great Vrata.

 

 

 

VII. "Lakshya

Namaskara Vrata"

 

>From

Aashadamasa Shuklapaksha Ekadashi, this Lakshya Namaskara Vrata isstarted to

please the Sri Hari who is considered to be Shamadamadiyukta and

Devadeva called as Chakrapani.

 

Even Sumangalis and

widows could do this Vrata.

 

 

Sankalpa Mantra:

 

Mama Lakshya namaskara

Vratasya Purushottama|

Nirvignena VrataM SangaM

Kuru twaM Krupaya Hare ||

Papa Panka NimagnaM

MaaM Papa Vyshasya BhajanaM|

Vrata Nanena SupreetaH

Samuddara Jagatpate ||

 

Argya mantra:

 

Deva Deva Jagannatha

Sarva Phala Prada|

Vrate Nanena Supreeto

Grihanrghyam MayaarpitaM||

 

 

VIII. "Gopadma

Vrata"

 

>From

Aashadamasa Shukla Paksha Ekadashi to Karthika Masa ShuklaDwadashi, this

Gopadma Vrata is performed.

Everyday,

one must clean the

place where cattle's are reared.

Must clean,

wash,

sprinkle with

cowdung water, and

at a neat place write,

or

paint or put

rangavalli (Kolam),

the picture of a COW

and

write on it 33

numbered poems and

do pooja with

Haldi,Kunkumum, sandal paste, flower etc.

 

With the same 33

number give Arghya,-

Do 33 Pradakshina,-

33 Namaskaram- .

Prepare 33 Apoopa (

Rice flour mixed with jaggery with Elakakai and

,"Gasagase (

Poppy seed )" sprinked above –

And fried in pure

Ghee) mix it with rice powder using the mixer.

 

Keep the dough in a

box outside for a day for it Making of Appupa:

 

Soak two cups of rice

in water for two days. On the third day dry it for two hours, after throwing

excess water.

Grind the rice in the

mixer and sieve it. Put 1.5 cups of jaggery, to ferment.

Next day make it in to

small balls.

 

Take one flatten it,

role it over khus khus(poppy seeds) seeds and deep fry.

It will be soft when

you take it out of the oil but it will become crisp later. and do danam to a Satprapta Brahmin.with dakshine of Rs 33/-

 

Argya Mantra:

 

Ashta Dravya

SamayuktaM Swarna Patra Smitam JalaM|

Arghyam Grihana

Devesha Bhaktanama Abhaya Pradha ||

This Vrata to be done

for five years and afterwards udyapana

to be done.

 

Those Grihastas and

Sumangalis who perform this Vrata are sure to get the Phala

 

This is the day of the

huge "yatra" or pilgrimages to the god Vithoba of Pandharpur, a town

in south Maharashtra, situated on the banks of the Bhima River, a tributary of the Krishna River.

 

Ashadhi Ekadashi is

more of a religious procession festival and is celebrated during the months of

June- July (Aashaadh Shukla paksha).

 

Ashadhi Ekadashi is

the day of fast and on this day people go walking in huge processions to

Pandharpur singing the Abhangas (chanting hymns) of

Saint Tukaram and

Saint Dnyaneshwar to see their God Vitthal.

 

The yatra starts in

Allandi and ends on Guru Poornima day at Pandharpur. The Feast of Ashadhi Ekadashi is celebrated with great

solemnity at Pandharpur. Hundreds of thousands go in procession from different

parts of Maharashtra, some carrying palanquins with the images of the great

saints of Maharashtra.

 

These Bhaktas are

called “ VAARAKARI” –

 

[Courtesy: Pundit

Che.E.KAvali-Sachitra Bharateeya HabbagaLu-Page 97]

 

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