Kanchi Periva Forum - Ebook # 21 - Vaikunta Ekadasi Special Edition
1. Vaikunta Ekadasi 2014 Special Edition
Ekadasi Mahimai by Sri
Maha Periva
&
Detailed meaning of Sri
Vishnu Sahasranamam
Volume : 21
Published : January 2014
2. Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Importance of Ekadasi - Discourses by Periva ........................................................................................................................ 4
Bhojana Dwayam тАУ Double meals for Ekadasi? ................................................................................................................. 4
Festivals, Vratam and Ekaadasi .......................................................................................................................................... 6
Amongst Vratams, Ekaadasi has the pride of place ........................................................................................................... 8
Names of Ekaadasi ........................................................................................................................................................... 11
Let Us Attain to Poornatvam ........................................................................................................................................... 11
роПроХро╛родроЪро┐ рооро╣ро┐роороо тАУ ро╕рпНро░рпА рооро╣ро╛ рокрпЖро░ро┐ропро╡ро╛ роЙрпЖройрпНропро╛роЪ рокродро╛роХрпБрокрпНрокрпБ ................................................................................................. 13
роПроХро╛родроЪро┐роХрпНроХрпБ роЗро░роЯрпНроорпИ рокрпЖро╛роЬройрооро╛ ? ..............................................................................................................................................................13
рпЖрогрпНроЯро┐роороХ, ро╡рпНро░родроорпН ; роПроХро╛родроЪро┐роЪрпН роЪро┐ро▒рокрпНрокрпБ .............................................................................................................................................................14
роПроХро╛родроЪро┐ропро┐ройрпН роПро▒рпНро▒роорпН ............................................................................................................................................................................................18
роЙрпЖро╡ро╛ро╕роорпБроорпН роЙроорпИрокрпНрокрпБроорпН ................................................................................................................................................................................20
рооро▒рпНро▒ро╡ро░рпНроХро│ро┐ройрпН родрпАро╡ро┐ро░ роЕроирпБро╖рпНрпИро╛ройроорпН............................................................................................................................................................21
роОро▓рпНро▓ро╛ ро╡роХрпБрокрпНрпЖро╛ро░рпБроорпН роПро▒рпНро▒роорпН рокрпЖро▒рпНро▒родрпБ ........................................................................................................................................................22
роПроХро╛родроЪро┐роХро│ро┐ройрпН рокрпЖропро░рпНроХро│рпН....................................................................................................................................................................................23
роиро┐рооро▒ро╡рпБ рокрпЖро▒рпБрокро╡ро╛роорпН ...........................................................................................................................................................................................24
роЖропро┐ро░роорпН роиро┐ро▓рокро╡ ро╡ро╛ тАУ ро╕рпНро░рпА ро╡ро┐ро╖рпНрогрпБ роЪро╣ро╕рпНро░роиро╛роо ро╕рпНрокро▓ро╛роХродрпНродро┐ройрпН родрооро┐ро┤рпН роЕро░рпНродрпНродроорпН ..................................................................... 27
роорпБройрпНройрпБрооро░ .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 27
роорпБроХро╡рпБрооро░ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 28
роЕродрпНродро┐ропро╛ропроорпН роТройрпНро▒рпБ ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 29
роЕродрпНродро┐ропро╛ропроорпН роЗро░рогрпНроЯрпБ .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
роЕродрпНродро┐ропро╛ропроорпН роорпВройрпНро▒рпБ ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 43
роЕродрпНродро┐ропро╛ропроорпН роиро╛ройрпНроХрпБ ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 50
роЕродрпНродро┐ропро╛ропроорпН роРроирпНродрпБ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 56
роЕродрпНродро┐ропро╛ропроорпН роЖро▒рпБ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 63
роЕродрпНродро┐ропро╛ропроорпН роПро┤рпБ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 69
роЕродрпНродро┐ропро╛ропроорпН роОроЯрпНроЯрпБ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 75
роЕродрпНродро┐ропро╛ропроорпН роТройрпНрпЖродрпБ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 82
роЕродрпНродро┐ропро╛ропроорпН рпЖродрпНродрпБ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 88
роЕродрпНродро┐ропро╛ропроорпН рпЖродро┐рокройро╛ройрпНро▒рпБ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 94
роорпБроЯро┐ро╡рпБрооро░................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 98
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................................ 100
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3. Shri Kanchi Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Saranam
Introduction
Hari Om!
We are pleased to bring you the Twenty first edition of the e-book series from the Kanchi Periva Forum. As
you might be aware, we have been regularly publishing free ebooks with a view to disseminate knowledge
about the Hindu tradition & culture, and more importantly carry the message of Sri Maha Periva to our
members by setting His discourses within the appropriate topic and in the right context for the readers to
read and relish the same.
This monthтАЩs ebook is a special edition focused on Vaikunta Ekadasai and Ekadasi MahimaiтАУ which are
extracted from a series of discourses given by Sri Maha Periva. This book also contains an exclusive treasure
in Tamil тАУ a section which contains the Tamil meanings for the entire Vishnu Sahasra Namavali (titled
тАЬроЖропро┐ро░роорпН роиро┐ро▓рокро╡ ро╡ро╛тАЭ), which is contributed by our respected member Sri Ramamani Balaji. Sri Ramamani
Balaji is a very highly qualified professional but is extremely humble, and prefers to be introduced as just an
ardent devotee of Sri Maha Periva. He uses тАЬроЕроЯро┐рокропройрпБроХрпНроХроЯро┐рокропройрпНтАЭ as his title in Tamil, yet another reflection of
his modesty.
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4. Importance of Ekadasi - Discourses by Periva
Bhojana Dwayam тАУ Double meals for Ekadasi?
There is a sloka which says, "ekaadasyaam tu kartavyam sarveshaam bhojana
dwayamI"! That is the first line of the sloka, which means, 'on ekaadasi day all people
are required to do something.' What is that? The answer is promptly given, 'bhojana
dwayam'!
Literally it means 'eat meals twice'! It is something like feasting on Lent, the forty week
days before Easter, when Christians are supposed to fast, pray and do penance!
Ekaadasi is the eleventh day after new or full moon normally earmarked for fasting and
prayers.
The fast on Ekaadasi is total without even a sip of water for 24 hours, broken only the next day, after that
day's prayers are over. If that day happens to have some extra responsibilities such as a festival or a
Sraddham, then the time of breaking the fast may come to even three or four in the afternoon. Then to say
that on Ekaadasi we should be eating two meals, seems far fetched!
But there is a pun on the word, 'bhojana'! As a one word, it means meals. When viewed as a combination of
two words, it will divide in to, ''bho!' + 'jana', it would mean, 'Hey! you people', addressing people at large.
Now the first line of the sloka means, 'Hey! Listen all of you, there are two things that you are required to do
on Ekaadasi days'. What are they? The second line of the sloka says, "...suddho upavaasa: pratama:
satkhathaa sravavanam tata: II". First job is to fast, that too 'perfect total fasting', that is, 'suddha upavaasa:'!
Second job is to 'listen to the good stories of Godly exploits!' Now read the whole sloka once again with this
clarification in your mind, "ekaadasyaam tu kartavyam sarveshaam bho jana dwayam I suddhopavaasa:
pratama: satkhathaa sravanam tata: II"
'Upavaasa' is fasting. It also means, to live closely with. To live closely with what? Evidently the divinity, that
is God! That day unless you avoid any mundane activity such as eating and digesting the inputs, you cannot
hope to live close to divinity. If the mind is to be brought to a stand still, it is essential to keep the stomach
empty. Then only you can do Praana Yaama and focus the mind with single pointed devotion. Even if we are
not to do detailed Rechakam and Kumbakam, only with deep uninterrupted inhalation and exhalation, can
the mind be static in Dhyana. You cannot do this if your stomach is full and or over loaded with gas or
whatever! So, the Saastraa-s lay down clearly that, the aahaara should always be light and once a fortnight
we should observe 100 percent Upavaasa for one day.
Because of the mistaken notion that we are this body only, that is, 'deha-atma-buddhi' that, we are all the
time concerned about taking care of the body, catering for every whim and fancy of this inanimate material,
ignoring the reality in us, that is the Atma! To correct this situation, 'deha-atma-buddhi', has to go! For this a
number of 'Upavaasa-s' have been devised to starve the body into submission and obedience, lest it
continues with it's prevarications! When we learn to thus to ignore the body and pay attention to the Reality
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5. of the Self, only then, we will be moving in the right direction.
'Even when you are hungry, continue the fast; even when you wish to gossip, maintain silence; even when
the eyes are ready to collapse in to sleep mode, keep them open the whole night by reading some scripture
or sloka or chanting.' As you keep at such practices, slowly you will learn to master the body. What ever
happens to the body, the mind will be centered on God! These Upavaasaa-s and Vratam-s are so created to
enable us to gain control over the mind and body. Yes, food is essential to be able to live. Otherwise we die.
But, as the English proverb says, 'Eat to live and do not live to eat!' Keep it within control. More of food leads
to many avoidable diseases. Even machines are given periodical rests to keep them in working condition. So
also if this stomach is given periodical rests, it is good for the bodily health and control.
If you take the whole body, when we work for six days, we give it one day's break. But inside the body the
various parts are going on continuously for ever, till one is alive. The heart can never be rested. But you can
gain such control over your self to keep it in such good order, by avoiding anxiousness and stress and
remaining cool and confident. The lungs can not be rested completely. But, even here through Praanaayaama
we could get some order in its functioning. The one who practices Praanaa Yaama, will be having deep
regular breathing with a slight raise in the pulse rate even in intense moments of physical and mental stress.
The one who does not practice Praanaa Yaamaa, will be having breathing in gasps and his B.P. and pulse rate
will be quite beyond normal, at such times.
But the stomach can be rested and should be so rested, periodically. Because it is one part of the body which
is recieving raw materials from the outer world and constantly working to convert that material into
digestible and absorbable, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamines and minerals. So it should be given periodical
rests. It is the food that becomes blood and flows in to the brain. Brain is a very delicate part of the body. The
Blood Pressure there should be not be high. Upavaasam helps in keeping of over all B.P. in acceptable range.
So, to keep a fast is to ensure good health, though it may seem otherwise. I am quoting a sentence from
Vaidya Saastra, which goes like this:- "...langanam parama oushadam...". This means that, 'fasting is the best
medicine!'
You know why the word 'langanam' means fasting? The direct meanibng of the word is to 'cross' or 'jump
over'. That is why it is called 'skipping a meal'! That is langanam. The religious scriptures too say the same
thing as the Vaidya Saastraa. Thiruvalluvar too has said this. "Marundena vendaavaam yakkaikku arundiyadu
artradu portri unin", meaning that when ever you eat, it is good to ensure that what you had eaten earlier
has been digested! If you do so, you will never need any medicines!' This can only be done when you skip one
or two meals, off and on!
Though we think that health is dependent on good food, food is double edged weapon. Food is the best
friend of many a disease. When you have fever, what does the doctor say? There is an English proverb which
says, 'starve the fever and feed the cold'. What ever the disease, along with the medicine, the doctor is most
likely to tell you some restrictions on food. The fasting which helps body-wise is also good in lessening the
grip of 'deha-atma-buddhi'. Many items of food though may be nourishing, could be having a corrupting
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6. influence on the mind. Though you may be eating only Sattva predominent food mostly, an occassional
indulgence in quantity, can and does pull you down heavily. That is why fasting periodically is very good.
Festivals, Vratam and Ekaadasi
Some days are meant for celebrating the coming into being of some
Gods or days in memory of their exploits. Some other days are meant
for fasting mainly. All most all religions have days for fasting, feasting
and festivals! In some we have to bathe, decorate ourselves with new
clothes, do Alankaram for the Deity, do pooja, prepare multi course
special items as the Neivedyam for offering to the God, then feast and
be happy.
For some we pay more attention to the devotional activities with
complete or partial fasting. These are the Vratam-s such as, Kruttika
vratam, Chaturthi vratam, Rishi Panchami, Pradosha vratam, Soma
Vaara vratam, Sravana vratam and Payo vratam. Above all this is the
Ekaadasi vratam.
On other vratams we have at least one meal. Ekaadasi is complete
fasting, i.e., 'poorna upavaasam'.
Other vratams are talked about by Puraanaas & Aagamaa-s. In them what is oriented towards Siva may not
be observed by the Vaishnava sect. Similarly what is oriented towards Vishnu may not be observed by others.
Ekaadasi is universally applicable to followers of all sects with in the Hindu religion, as it is mentioned in
dharma saastraa-s, which is commonly applicable to all.
Vishnu was sleeping. At that time, there was a demon who made life miserable for all the living beings in the
whole world. To destroy that asura, Vishnu's power came out in the form of a woman who was called
Ekaadasi. Maha Vishnu was said to have taken Avatara as Koorma, Varaha, Dhanvantri and Mohini, on
Ekaadasi days. Thus Ekaadasi is generally believed to be more Vishnu related. But at the time of the churning
of the ocean of milk, when Aalahaala Visham, the poison was expressed, Siva consumed it. That was an
Ekaadasi day. So that day we should all observe total fast say the Saivites.
Thus Ekaadasi is acceptable for both Saiva and Vaishnava sect-s. But as long as you are born as a Hindu and
follow any Ishta Devata, you are adviced by the Dharma Saastraa-s to observe the Ekaadasi Upavaasam.
Let me list all the days mentioned in the Dharma Saastraa-s for keeping Upavaasam. Ekaadasi is for complete
fasting. Sunday, Full Moon and New Moon, are to be observed as days on which you can have one meal in
the day time and fast in the night. During the waning and waxing of the moon in each fortnight and on the
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7. Ashtami and Chaturdasi, we are not to have any food during the day time and have one meal in the night
time.
Ramanavami, Gokulashtami and Sivaratri are also said to be days on which complete upavaasa is to be
observed. But in practice sufficient changes have infiltrated, to make them days of feast rather than fast! In
Krishna Jayanti, that is, Gokulashtami a variety of snacks such, Murukku, Cheedai, Thenkuzhal, Appam,
Adirasam and so on are also made that fasting may not be possible! Guruvaara vratam is quite prevalent
these days.
More than any other in South India, it is the Saturday vratam that is widely observed. Many have no dinner in
the evening this day, with a prayer addressed to Thirupati Venkata Ramana Swami. Though there is no
mention of this Dharma Saastraa-s, according to the saying that, "kalou vekata naayaka".
Similarly the Monday upavaasa is widely being observed amongst the Saivite-s and Smartaa-s. In the North,
without any difference between Saivite-s and Vaishnavite-s, this Soma Vaara vratam is popular. That is how
Lal Bahadur Sastry too, when there was acute food shortage in the country, recommended foregoing one
meal every Monday as a upavaasa. Even govt official dinners on this day was avoided. Not to rely too much
on rice only, roti made of atta was introduced in all eateries in the south, around this time.
Thus it was officially recognized for the first time that, to fast could make a substantial difference in the food
stock holdings at the national level. In my opinion, if we all observe all the rules for fasting as per the dharma
saastraa-s, we could create a food surplus and be able to export our surpluses to earn foreign exchange!
Chandrayanam is the name of a vratam. Though it is true that we can gain nothing by putting ourselves
through very tortuous methods of fasting, for some people this may be the only recourse. There may be
some who realize that their back log of accumulated sins of the past are so huge that, try as hard as they can,
they would never be able to cancel out their debt! When they come to this correct understanding of their
insurmountable position, they may opt to do this Chandrayanam. Note that there are anushtaanaa-s even
more difficult than this, like the one observed by Mandana Mishra, when Adi Sankara met him, known as
'Pancha Agni Vratam'!
To observe such anushtaanaa-s is called 'krusram'. Those who cannot bear the agony of such observances,
could alternately opt for doing certain thousands of Gayatri Mantra. Then there is something in lieu of that.
We are masters of the art of reduction. We replace one difficult anushtaanaa for another 'krusram' of
donating a cow known as 'Godaanam'! Then that was replaced by donating the cost of a cow. Then that was
further reduced, finally reaching 6 & 1/4 anna-s, a fraction of one Rupee to be donated!
There are two types of Chandrayanam. One is known as 'katterumbu' and the other known as 'godumai'.
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8. Katterumbu is like the big black ant, narrow to start with, become big and then again narrow, twice like that!
Godumai starts of thin, become fat in the centre and tapers down in the end. The idea is to start off with one
morsel of food on pratamai that is, on the first day after Full Moon, keep increasing by an additional morsel,
till you reach 15 morsels on the New Moon. Then every day you reduce the number of morsels, till you fast
on the next Full Moon. The other method is the opposite that you fast on the New Moon and have 15
morsels on the Full Moon. That is, you increase or decrease the input with
waxing and waning of the moon.
When observing Chandrayana Vratam, each day you are supposed to eat only once, that too only those many
morsels as meant to be eaten that day. All Vratams are commonly known as, 'oru pozhudu', meaning once
only. But then, having eaten that 'oru pozhudu', people take liberties by having a sumptuous, wholesome and
filling spread known as 'palahaaram' of Iddly, Dosa, Uppuma, Vada and so on. The word 'palahaaram' could
be taken to mean, 'many eats' or 'only fruits', with a pun on the word 'pala'! Real Upavaasam is eating fruits
only!
Amongst Vratams, Ekaadasi has the pride of place
There is a sloka which goes like this:- "na gaayatryaa: param mantram na
maatu: para deivatam I na kaasyaa: paramam teertam na ekaadasyaa: samam
vratam II". There is no mantra above Gayatri; there is no God above one's
Mother; there is no sacred river superior to the Ganges in Kaasi; says the
Sloka, finally adding that there is no Vratam equivalent to Ekaadasi!
Look at the selection of the words. The other three have nothing above them,
would mean that there could be something equal. But in the case of Ekaadasi
as a Vratam, not only that there is nothing above it but also, it is not even
equalled!
Who are required to observe this Vratam? Dharma Saastram says that all human beings, both men and
women, from eight years of age to 80, are required to observe this Vratam! Caste, creed, gender and any
other differentiation does not matter. Uniformly all people are required to observe this Vratam:"ashta varsha adhika: martya: apoornaaseeti vatsara: I ekaadasyaam upavaset pakshayo: ubhayo: api II"
With love and care the tiny tots less than eight and old people above eighty are both excused. Not that they
are forbidden to fast but they are not required to! In places like Maharashtra, there have been mothers who
do not breast feed their children on Ekaadasi days! The Saastraa-s are rather humane and so do not expect
such extreme discipline.
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9. We must start such ventures with a belief that we can manage and will be shown the way by God. The idea is
not to make it a self torture but to build self confidence and reliance. On other Upavaasa days, we may have
one time some Tiffin's and once some fruits and milk. Ekaadasi too could be started like that and later made
progressively difficult.
Preferably Ekaadasi should be 'water less' too! To do so is very difficult. Then the stage lower is to have fruits
with milk. Next lower level is to have 'oru pozhudu' of sattu maa and poories.
Then is 'rendu pozhudu' of once some Tiffin and once some fruits. Then we should not make it further
watered down and make a joke of fasting!
There is allowance for people who are sick, that they may have some porridge or gruel. If you have cooked
food on Ekaadasi, please do not call it Ekaadasi Vratam any more. In fact having decided to undertake the
Vratam, if we are fickle minded to eat cooked food, that is tantamount to 'eating the shit of a dog' say the
Saastraa-s!
If your question is as to, 'how can you be expected to work on the Ekaadasi days as it is not declared as a
Govt holiday', I will answer you in two ways. Everyone may undertake the Vratam and then ask the Govt to
grant a holiday on Ekaadasi-s. Then the more important point is that, by foregoing food for a day, we will
slowly come to realize that we are more energetic and lighter on those days! Rather we will start looking
forward to greater efficiency and spritefulness that results. We will actually become more productive.
This human body has one great quality. It gets used to habits and adjusts to any set patterns. So we can train
ourselves not to become incapable of hard work on those days. If we are interested in spending the whole
day in devotional activities, then we have to go back to the Govt to grant us holiday. But, first let us make
ourselves deserving of such grant!
In the whole year, even if we are not able to make a complete 'suddha upavaasam' on all the 24 or 25
Ekaadasi days in a year, at least on Vaikunta Ekaadasi we should have such a complete Upavaasam! In
Bhagawatam it is mentioned that, Bhima could never tolerate his hunger. So he was not able to maintain
complete Upavaasam on these Ekaadasi days. So he took permission from Vyasa to do so once a year. That
was not the same as Vaikunta Ekaadasi.
In our country, we should try and make this Ekaadasi more widely observed by all caste-s. It was so till some
decades back. Only in the past two or three generations we have been defaulting on this. Even now because
some Madhva grand mothers are observing this Vratam in some corners of the country that, we still have
some rains and not complete draught!
As this is a Vratam to be observed as per directions of Dharma Saastraa-s, it is applicable to all caste-s and
sub-sects of Madva-s, Vaishnava-s and Smaartha-s. But in this, it is the Madva-s who are very sincere.
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10. Normally amongst all traditional rituals, those in which mantra-s from the Veda-s are chanted, are priority
one, as Veda-s are the basic scriptures in our religion. Then amongst Pithru Karma-s and Deva Karma-s, Pithru
Karma-s get priority. Like if you have Rama Navami and your departed Father's yearly falling on the same day,
Father's Karma will be done first! Ekaadasi has no scriptural Vedic relevance. Similarly in chanting of God's
names and singing Bhajan-s, no Veda mantra-s are involved.
Sraaddham is a very serious Vedic Karma addressed at the Pithru-s. In it after the offering of food to the
Brahmins representing the Pithru-s, the balance is to be eaten by us, the later generations of the Pithru-s. If
Ekaadasi occurs on the annual of the Pithru, then what takes priority, is the question. Smaartha-s and
Vaishnavite-s think that Pithru Karya takes precedence and so Ekaadasi Vratam is to be set aside. As we are
doing something as per directions of the Veda-s, we are incurring no sin, is our view.
But Madva-s are of the view that Ekaadasi takes precedence. They may postpone the Sraaddham to the next
day and maintain the fast on Ekaadasi. The next day i.e., on Dwaadasi, Sraaddham that is to be done normally
after 12 noon, is done very early in the morning, by the Madva-s!
During the mourning period after a death in the family (known as aasoucham) and or period of Theettu after
a birth of a baby (known as soodakam), if Ekaadasi occurs, all sects are of the view that, the Ekaadasi fast will
still be observed. During these periods all other fasts or Vratam, such as Soma Vaara Vratam, are defaulted.
There is a word 'Raja Bhogam' meaning, Royal Enjoyment. The Kingly families have a right to eat all varieties
of meat and drink liquor. Even they have observed the Ekaadasi Vratam quite sincerely with evident
discipline. When you think of Ekaadasi, you cannot forget Ambarisha and Rukmaangada.
There is a Sloka that is to be thought of, early in the morning on waking up, with a cool mind, about
venerable Bhagavata-s, that is, people known for their high intensity of devotion.
"prahlaada naarada paraasara pundareeka
vyaasa ambarisha suka sounaka bishma taalpyaan I
rukmaangada arjuna vasishta vibishanaadeen
punyaan imaan parama bhaagavataan smaraami II"
The two names of Ambarisha and Rukmaangada are included here based mainly on the observance of
Ekaadasi Vrata. King Rukmaangada required all the citizens of his State observe the Ekaadasi Vratam because
of which, they were all highly advanced devotees of God, rid of the normal human fallacies and frailties. This
is mentioned in the Narada Purana.
Not only the high strata of society, people from the lower rungs too became famous due to their keeping
Ekaadasi Vratam. Kaisika was a Sudra devotee of such merit that, one of Ekaadasi-s came to be known by his
name as, 'Kaisika Ekaadasi'!
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11. Names of Ekaadasi
In a year since there are 365 days, normally there will be two in each month
making a total of 24 Ekaadasi-s and in some years there will be 25 of them. In
Padma Puranam seperate names are given for these 25 Ekaadasi-s, the method
of observance, and those who benifitted by such action.
Danur (Mrgasirsha) month it is called the 'Utpatti Ekaadasi' to start with. Next in
Sukla Paksham, it is the 'Moksha Ekaadasi'. It is this day on which the ocean of
milk was churned and the Amirta the Nectar of immortality was expressed.
So also, on this day Krishna is said to have given Gita Upadesa to Arjuna on the
battle field of Kurushetra. It is celebrated as 'Gita Jayanti'. Third is the Saphala
in the month of Thai Krishna Paksham.
Next is the 'Putrata'. Fifth is 'Shatthila'. Then are 'Jaya, Vijaya, Aamalaki, Papa Mochanika, Kaamada, Varudini,
Mohini, Apara, Nirjala,' respectively. Bhima observed complete fast without even water during this 'Nirjala'.
So far 14 Ekaadais-s are over with this Sukla Paksha Ekaadasi in the month of Aani.
15th is the Aadi Krishna Paksha Ekaadasi called 'Yogini'. In the next Sukla Paksha Ekaadasi, Maha Vishnu is
said to go to sleep, starting the Chaatur Masya Vratam, called the 'Sayani'. This is followed by 'Saamika' and
'Putrada' (this name is a repetition), Aja, Padmanabha, Indira, Papankusa and Rama', till which Vishnu
continues to sleep. In the 24th, that is the Krishna Paksha Ekaadasi in Kaartika, he wakes up. That is called
'Prabhodini'. Next day the Chaatur Masya Vratam is complete. The 25th one that comes at times is called
'Kamala".
Thus we should all observe these Ekaadasi Vratam-s so extolled in our religion. Instead of simply fasting, it
should be done in the true spirit of 'Upa Vaasam', that is, 'living with God'! For this purpose throughout that
day and night, we should read the purana-s, chant the sloka-s, sing bhajan-s, do dhyana, listen to Hari Katha
Pravachanam-s, and spend all the time in such activities, by applying body, mind and heart! Thus we should
inhere Bhakti, Gnaana and Vairagya; that is Devotion, Knowledge or Awareness and Dispassion, there by
achieving the purpose of our being born in this world.
Let Us Attain to Poornatvam
On Vaikunta Ekaadasi, Maha Siva Ratri, Gokula Ashtami, Rama Navami and such days, if we people born in
this country, do not observe Vratam by controlling our mouth, body and mind, it will be shameful to our
existence. Our wholeness lies in being mentally happy even if our stomachs are only half full. I Pray to God to
bless us with such an attitude of satisfaction and completeness (poornatvam).
Like medicine for diseases, food should be taken as a counter for hunger. I mentioned earlier that food is to
be taken for satisfying ones hunger and not for the prevarications of ones tongue, as told to us by Adi
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12. Sankara. There is one difference between other diseases and this disease of hunger. If you apply a balm for
head ache, it disappears. Then it occurs only some other day, much later. So also with fever and other
ailments. But with hunger, it occurs again and again, three times a day or even more. Thus God orders the
nature to keep testing us. It is an honour for us to pass this test and gain the prizes of good health and self
ennoblement.
Our clarity of purpose is important. We visit some friends or relatives. They
offer something to us, that may be taboo for us because of our observing a
Vratam. At that time we should not deviate from our intended path just so
as not to hurt them or oblige them. We should be able to say a firm 'No' in
all humility, without making a big show of it, simultaneously without
compromising our principle! Our behaviour could be an example for them.
Looking at how meticulously the widows in Bengal observe this Ekaadasi
Vratam, we should carry home a lesson or two! Out of necessity, the
bengali brahmins do include the fish as part of their diet. These widows do
not eat fish even on normal days as a self imposed discipline. They observe
this Ekaadasi Vratam so strictly that, not a drop of water is consumed.
In summer it could be very hot like in an oven. Despite the parched mouth and throats, they refrain from
drinking water. There were deaths due heat stroke. Still there was never a compromise.
Looking at the pathetic state of affairs, socially concerned people called for a meeting of knowledgeable
Pundits to see if there were any ameliorating provisions in the Saastraa-s, for some relief to these widows in
terms of acceptable bevarages! But No! The widows declared in no uncertain terms that, come what may,
they will not drink water or any other drink. "You can bathe us. Pour water in to our ears. Still we will not
drink even a drop of water, during the Vratam," they said.
We should never accept defeat that, we are not able to control the tongue. Adam fell down from his exalted
position by eating the forbidden apple, they say! Similarly, we should not eat any of the items forbidden in
our Saastraa-s. When subjected to temptation, we should ask ourselves as to whether this taste is going to
last! After a few minutes the taste is lost, instead of lasting.
It does not remain in the tongue. Is it going to stay in the tummy for ever and make us rid of hunger
permanently? No! All control is self control. All discipline is what is imposed on our selves, by our selves only!
Discipline imposed by others will not last long!
I pray to the God Almighty, to give us this sense of understanding!
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