23rd Sept - Ekadasi Vrata for Good & Comfortable Life

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Om Datta Guru

 

 

 

 

Parsva

Ekadasii

 

from Brahma-vaivarta Puran

 

 

September 23, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 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.

 

 

NOTE: The next day

after Ekadashi is Sri Vamana Dvadashi: Appearance day of Lord Vamanadev.

Ekadashi

fast is observed till noon. The fast is broken after noon with Ekadashi

prasadam. Next day (Sri Vamana Dvadashi), observe Lord Vamanadev's appearance

by again fasting till noon and by chanting extra Mahamantra japa praying to the

Lord for His shelter. Break this fast with joyful feasting of Lord Vamanadev's

appearance day mahaprasadam!

 

 

 

 

 

Reference :-

 

 

http://www.acbspn.com/ekadashis/parsva.htm

 

 

http://www.kalnirnay.com/

 

 

http://www.iskconbangalore.org/contents/vaishnava/index.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regards,

Sunil John

 

 

 

 

 

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