Ekadashi means “Eleven” in Sanskrit. it as an auspicious day when Lord Krishna narrated the significance and fasting methods to Yudhisthira . Read this post to learn about Ekadashi and its significance in the sanatan dharma .
What is Dev Uthani Ekadashi and Why It’s Celebrated?
“Dev Uthani Ekadashi”, also called “Prabodhini Ekadashi” is a pure Hindu festival celebrated in the name of Lord Vishnu. It’s celebrated on the 11th lunar day (Ekadashi) in Shukla Paksha), the first fortnight between New Moon and Full Moon Day. Ekadashi is a pious ritual to awaken Vishnuji who stays asleep for 4 months after “Dev Shayani Ekadashi”. “Dev Uthani” is waking up Dev/God, while Ekadashi is 11.
Hindu scriptures says Lord Vishnu didn’t sleep for years to destroy evil and bless their devotees, which disturbed his sleeping pattern and made him fall asleep suddenly for years. Lord Vishnu’s erratic sleeping habits disturbed Goddess Lakshmi’s repose time and consort. She requested Vishnu to normalize his sleeping pattern. He realized that his staying awake for years stresses Lakshmi and other gods. So, he decided to sleep four months yearly.
The Origin and Significance of Dev Uthani Ekadashi
Dev Uthani Ekadashi is highly significant as it starts the season of weddings, which gets stalled in the four months of Vishnu sleeping. It’s auspicious to celebrate all occasions, such as weddings and engagements, during that time as the lord showers blessings on newly married people. Ekadashi also indicates the start of a joyful phase in the lives of married couples. The animate and inanimate made of Pancha-mahabhutas (water, earth, sky, air, and fire) created this world. During that time, God also formed Sin-Punya to punish and cause pain to the sinful and wrong people.
God made Yamraj and Naraka, which embody sin, to combat sin-virtue. When the lord visited Yamraj’s home, he could hear some people crying. After inquiry, he found the earthly species who fell into hell were suffering because of their ill karma or misdeeds. The lord’s heart became compassionate when he witnessed that dangerous scene. He was blessed with a deity from his body whom he addressed as Ekadashi to resurrect the dead souls and give them another chance to compensate for their ill deeds. A person who carefully witnesses the Ekadashi vow gets a position in Vaikuntha (God’s abode).
It left a significant influence as it manifested from the Lord’s divine soul. A person who eats on Ekadashi gets described as the day’s auspicious effects and suffers a lot. Thus, people avoid eating pulses, cereals, and grains and drink more water and milk. Some follow only the fruit diet, known as “Falahar”, on Ekadashi. Purusha (Mind) is the eleventh sense, which is the most powerful and vital among all the senses. Thus, you should keep it clean, holy, and pure. Ekadashi makes it possible for you to do that.
According to a Hindi saying, the food we consume directly influences our minds. Upanishads say, “Annamayam hi saumyamanah” which means, “Dear disciple, the mind is the food we eat”. The food we eat affects us in three ways. A portion fulfills your senses and eliminates residual waste from your body after absorbing nutrients. The second part, i.e., the absorbed part, gets converted into 7 tissue components(Dhatu) and thus, nourishes your body. The third part leaves a direct impact on your mind.
Lord Krishna mentions in Srimad Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 17, verses 8, 9, 10), that different foods have different impacts on people. The wise (sattvik) like to have juicy, and nutritious food, which adds health, energy, vitality, and happiness to your life. The fiery (Rajas) prefer to have dry, acrid, bitter, sour, and spicy food, which causes disease and sorrow. The ignorant (Tamas) such as impure, decomposed, and ataks food creates darkness and induces ignorance. Thus, people fast on Ekadashi to eat a sattvic diet, comprising water and fruits, to purify their bodies and mind (eleventh sense).
Your bodily system requires a break for refreshment, cleansing, and detoxification like you require a break from your everyday life to rest and rejuvenate. Such a break in a day every fortnight detoxifies your body and cleans your system. As per scientists, Ekadashi Virat’s disciplined observance can prevent even deadly diseases, like cancer. Ekadashi is Kali Yuga’s Yuga Dharma, which the current generation and all people should follow. Sri Mahaprabhuji said in the essay, “Ekadashi Upvas Di Kartavyam.” (Sarva Nishyam- 244), which means one should observe the Ekadashi Vrata to discipline their mind.
Ironically, human beings have found options for phal-ahara, which mainly and means, a fruit diet. They have initiated making new dishes to have on Ekadashi. You should learn about cooked food even if allowed rather than indulging your senses on Ekadashi. Besides all these things, you should sing the praises of Hari on Ekadashi, chant Hari’s name, and focus the most on his form and Leela. The process is very simple to understand. First, people free their minds and senses from dosha, purify their hearts, and make it perfect for Hari to sit in it. Then, they chant the benevolent Hari’s name and welcome him to grace themselves with his beautiful form.
No one should interpret that Hari is to be celebrated only on Ekadashi. Sri Mahaprabhuji mentioned in Navaratnam that Sri Krishna’s name should always be chanted and always be remembered by his Bhakts. However, a conscious and special effort should be put more than usual on Ekadashi. With the more celebration of Harini Leela on Ekadashi, Hari gets pleased as the people’s mind gets consciously focused on him. So, considering all the things mentioned above, Ekadashi Vrata observance is worthy of Hari’s charm for a healthy body, and pure and disciplined mind.
Maryada margiya importance of dev prabodhini Ekadashi – As per maryada marg
The significance of this Ekadashi is described in Skanda Purana. Shankhasura was (killed) put to sleep by Srihari and prabhu slept in Ksheer Sagar for four months later on Devprabodhini Ekadashi the Lord woke up. At same night, Prabhu gets married to Tulsiji in the sugarcane mandap. Jagran on the day of this Ekadashi leads to the attainment of Akshaya Punya and place in Vaikuntha. Maryada bhaktas also enjoy the pleasure of Bhagavad darshan by being a part of this event and offering seva as per their capacity and also by becoming a manorathi of Tulsi-Vivaha. In particular, the Vrat-niyamas of Chaturmas observed by Bhakt’s are completed on this Ekadashi.
Pushtimargiya importance of dev prabodhini Ekadashi
Prabodhini Ekadashi has a great importance in pushtimarg. The bhav behind it is that on that day God is married to Tulsiji according to the story of Sativrinda and Jalandhar. On that day, Tulsiviva Manorath is held in the temples of Puthimarg (havelis) vaishnavs take the joy of Tulsiji getting married with the Lord. They take the blessings from the marriage of the Lord. In pushtimargiya temples, on the day of Ekadashi of mandap, sugar canes, Diya’s, pots, fruits, etc is served and jagran is observed at night, the bhav of the four youthadhipati and Tatsukh is behind every seva done.
Ekadashi is celebrated round the year in India. Hopefully, this post helped you to learn its significance in the sanatan dharma. It will always stay significant and people will keep celebrating round the year to attain a pure body and mind.