Origin of Ekadashi and boon received by her.
Suvrat said:-
On listening the importance of Ekadashi vow explained thus by Bhagwan, devotees became very happy and started keeping faith in their religion. 1.
O King, amongst the devotees some were very expert in questioning, they put their hands together, bow down humbly and ask the Loed very politely. 2.
Devotees said:-
O Swamin, you told us that Tithi Ekadashi is the best in all the Vratas, please tell us, what is the prime effect of it and why it is called fruitful? 3.
Suvrat said:-
when all the dedicated disciples humbly requested, Lord Bhagwan decided to narrate the valuable aspects of this vow. 4.
Shri Narayana muni said:-
O devotees, keeping good vow, among all the people, the disciples related to Vishnu, realize the importance of this vow, which you should know. 5.
Ekadashi is directly born from the body of Shri Vishnu himself, moreover it is born by the blessing of him; therefore it is very important for the devotees. 6.
In ancient days in Krutayuga, there was a demon named Nadijangha. His son named Mura became very aggressive and violent due to his excessive strength. 7.
Mura performed severe penance before Brahma and achieved a boon from Him that nobody could kill him on the earth. 8.
Then that arrogant demon defeated all the brave kings. With his armed strength, he defeated Indra and other kings also and became sovereign emperor himself. 9.
As a result all gods lost their vigour and the power, were displaced; being afraid of the king of demon kept wandering on the surface of the earth, in various disguises. 10.
After lapse of some period dejected by sorrow, the dwellers of three globes, surrender to Brahma and narrated their suffering. 11.
Brahma, who also was unable to guide them; along with Shiva and went to milky ocean where there is the celebrated White island. 12.
On the shore of that ocean, the gods entered mental equipoise and contemplated upon Shri Vishnu, the Lord of Lakshmi, by abstaining from food and restraining sense organs. 13.
All those gods were standing on one foot, with their arms and eyesight upwards, started severe penance without mental diversion to get the blessing of the Lord. 14.
Lord Vishnu was very pleased with their severe penance, he came down from Vaikuntha and appear before them with magnanimous luster. 15.
The deities undergoing austerities saw the Lord, Who appeared in front of them, with the ardorous luster of ten of thousand suns, which was beyond human imagination. 16.
Thereover,thed eities directly perceived Shri Vasudeva, four-armed Vishnu Himself, the cosmic Lord, wielding mace, lotus, conch, disc of energy. in his four hands, having swarthy complexion like Indraneela bead, lotus-like eyes and smiling pleasant face, along with Goddess Lakshmi, being served the excellent attendants. 17-18.
They bowed down with devotion, respect and utmost politeness; and narrated to Him, the cruel deeds of the demon-king Mura. 19.
Bhagwan Vishnu, ocean of mercy, looked at the group of gods, who were very much troubled and were in difficulties. He promised them that He will relieve them from the harassment of the cruel demon. He resolved to take strong action to kill him. 20.
Thereafter, along with all the gods, Bhagwan Vishnu went to Chandravati city of the demon; and He blew Panchajanya conch,. Hearing that sound all demons, the enemies of gods became frightened. 21.
The king of demons: Mura could not bear the sound; and started fighting with gods. All the gods were unable to face the attack and started running here and there. 22.
Even Lord Vishnu, fighting with him with his energy wheel, could not kill demon Mura even after fighting for one thousand years. 23.
Then Lord Vishnu was very tired and He went to His own Badari-van ansand as if scared, He entered into a cave and reclined. 24.
Then he controlled His eleven sense organs made them selforiented within Himself settled in deep Yogic sleep for a moment. 25.
That cave was twelve Yojane spread over and was having only one door. That demon Mura quickly come over there, chasing Him from rear side. 26.
Shri Hari saw that he, the cruel and arrogant demon, who was undefeatable due to the boon of Brahma, arrived there. Shri Vishnu was very angry. 27.
On the strength of Yogic control of eleven sense-organs, a damsel, the embodiment divine weapon emerged out of that luster, exhibiting intense torment. 28.
Mura, the demon looked at that very beautiful damsel and solicited her as, ‘O beloved, please prefer me as groom’. 29.
The goddess replied the demon, who was very much excited by amour as, ‘O demon, it is my condition that whosoever will battle with me and defeat me in the battle, will alone be eligible to become my husband’. 30.
Then the demon fought with the goddess with weapons and missiles. The goddess became enraged and she cut off the head of the cruel demon with her sword. 31.
Thereby all the gods and goddesses and Lord Vishnu himself were very happy and praised the goddess and while adoring her asked her as to who she was. 32.
The goddess said, O Bhagwan Vishnu, I am Your power, named Ekadashi. I am born with Your prowess and from the severe Tapas and hence I am Tapaswini. 33.
In the Brahmic Universe, whatever devil deeds or sins, whether minor or major, and all kind of demons prevail, I am the destroyer of all those. 34.
The Lord Vishnu was very pleased with Ekadashi and said, ‘O sinless lady, today, happiness has indeed spread over three globes, only due to your velour. So, choose a boon from Me. 35.
Ekadashi said, O Lord, if you are pleased and desire to give me some boon; then please do one favour. Fulfill all the desires of those devotees, who observe vow on my day: Ekadashi. 36.
A person who keeps fast on Vow-day of mine, should get relief from all the past sins and should get enjoyment in this world and Moksha, in next world. 37.
A person who takes food only once, at night and that too, without asking, on Ekadashi day; because he is unable to fast should also get his wish fulfilled. 38.
I wish that this vow of mine, should be performed, in all the three worlds and during all four epochs: Yugas; and should be propagated throughout year, in all the twelve months. 39.
O Lord, Being my lord in twenty four forms (12x2=24 bright and dark Ekadashis), please me forever, by fulfilling my demand; this is my request. 40.
Shri Bhagwan said, O Goddess, you have demanded such a thing, which is difficult even for Brahma etc., the doyens of gods also. But as I am very pleased today, I shall give you that boon, you have demanded. 41.
From today onwards, those people who would observe the vow of yours on Ekadashi day, accompanied by the performance of my worship will get their desired things. 42.
If a person performing my Vrata desires to get released from worldly existence, he will get the same. A people wishing to get all the pleasures from family life also will get the desired happiness. 43.
Since, people will get all their desired wishes, from the Vrata of yours, you will get fame on the earth, as donor of mundane enjoyment and spiritual emancipation. 44.
I shall become your husband, with my twenty-four forms: Keshava etc., consorting with you, assuming twenty four forms. 45.
Shri Narayanamuni said:-
O Bhagwan, in this way Ekadashi got blessings from Lord, and being very delighted, went away. Lord Vishnu made her vow as His own. 46.
All the ascetics dwelling in the Badari Jungle performed this Vrata; and from that day onwards, that vow was propagated amounts all the people. 47.
Lord Vishnu, having given boon to Ekadashi and having propagated it on the surface of the earth, proceeded towards His highest home. 48.
Getting a boon from Lord Vishnu She became Yogic sleep: Yoga-nidra incarnate (Nidra-devi) staying in the holy body of Lord, like Shri Lakshmi. 49.
Penance-loving Ekadashi again started severe Tapas to for hundred years more to please Lord Vishnu. 50.
By the devotion and austere penance of Ekadashi, Lord Vishnu became very delighted and appeared in front of her and told her to demand whatever she wanted. 51.
Ekadashi said, O Lord, if You are pleased, please give me a place in one of your body organs as Lakshmi. 52.
Lord Bhagwan said, under my waist, my body has occupied by Garuda. In the breast Lakshmi stays and wheel and other weapons have occupied my four hands. 53.
My ears are occupied by Kundalas and goddess Saraswati has taken charge of my mouth, head is occupied by Kireeta, the diadem; the only place I can offer you is my eyes. 54.
It is said by great thinkers that eyes are the place allotted to most beloved person; because you are very favourite to Lakshmi, you may stay in my eyes. 55.
Today, it is eleventh date of bright fortnight of the month of Ashadha. From today onwards you start staying in my eyes for next four months. 56.
Every year, during these four months, named Chaturmas, I shall bear you in my eyes and sleep in the milky ocean (Kshiranira-dhi). 57.
O Ekadashi, the beautiful damsel, by name Yoga-nidra; you are born from the severe penance of my senses, to kill the demon, Mura. 58.
When I have accepted you, while sleeping in ocean, on serpentbed of Sesha, now my devotees and the family- persons will also start doing severe penance. 59.
Those people who perform penance, Yoga or my Pooja, with deep love and devotion to please me during four months, will soon get fulfillment of their wishes. 60.
In this way, Lord Vasudeva having given a reward to Ekadashi and having held her, in His eyes, lied down on the bed of Shesha snake. 61.
Thereafter, Lord Vishnu left all the satiations of sense organs, pertaining to objects and set their tendencies, along with mind, through introversion, to merge in His own self-hood. 62.
Goddess Rama kept on caressing His feet, while the Lord was entering Yogic somnia i.e. deep sleep, without any food-intake. 63.
Then Nanda, Sunanda etc. the attendants of the Lord also started practicing severe penance, all over, on the northern shore of the Ocean of milk, without taking any food. 64.
Groups of ascetics also started penance, while staring at the image of Lord, without blinking the eyes and without taking any food and by controlling the sense-organs. 65.
O People, therefore all of you should perform penance (Tapas), as per your capacity during these four months (Chaturmasya) and should perform the worship of Bhagwan Vishnu, along with Shri Lakshmi. 66.
The group of ascetics also started meditation and staring at the idol of Lord without moving the eyes and without taking any food and controlling the organs of body. 65.
Oh You People, “therefore all of you should perform severe meditation (Tapa) as per your capacity in the four months (Chaturmas) and should perform the worship of Bhagwan Vishnu along with his wife Shri Laxmi. 66
Thus when Lord Vasudeva held deep sleep in His own eyes, His disciples residing near the ocean of milk, became very unhappy. 67.
Those disciples who had never become so unhappy even when they themselves had practiced deep penance, were very much grieved just by erroneously imagining in their minds, the suffering experienced by their Lord. 68.
Therefore, thoughtful house-holders do not perform auspicious rituals like thread-ceremony, marriage, etc. in the holy four months. They practice penance in these holy four months (Chaturmasa) only. 69.
They perform a massive celebrations at the conclusion of the holy four months, on the eleventh day of Kartik month, when the Lord concludes His Yoganidra (deep sleep). 70.
Being extremely delighted, all the ascetics, devotees, all the Gods including Brahma with His paraphernalia, worshipped the Lord. 71.
With different varieties of divine materials of worship, and beating drums and musical instruments, the Gods worshipped Lord Yogeshvara with Goddess Laxmi. 72.
O you all disciples! ‘This Prabodhini Ekadashi is considered as very propitious, because it spreads enormous joy in the whole world. 73.
We regard this Ekadashi day as very auspicious indeed ! because it is the birh-day of my father Dharmadeva, who is born in this world due to the curse given by Sage Atreya. 74.
Therfore, On this day, in the early morning, my followers should worship Yogeshvara Vasudeva along with Goddess Laxmi and revered Dharmadeva along with Bhaktidevi. 75
In the evening, Lord Damodara, the presiding God of Ekadashi, along with Radha, should be worshipped with dedication. 76.
Adhering to the rules of celibacy, they should also observe fast and keep awake throughout the night. They should perform the Uttarapuja (concluding worship) on Dvadashi day. They should then conclude the fast with their colleagues and friends and those observing the vow after offering food to the devotees of the Lord and the Brahmanas. 77-78.
O You devotees! Beginning from the Ekadashi of the bright half of month of Kartik, for five days till Full Moon day (Pournima), the Gods together with the ascetics, celebrate the festival on the bank of the ocean of milk. 79.
Since, these five days are free from any adverse effects of the constellation, Brahmanas celebrate auspicious ceremonies like marriages etc. on these days. 80.
This Prabodhini festival must be celebrated every year by My followers, because, this festival bestows the fruits of all the vows. 81.
For the sake of self- purification, all the men and women followers of the Uddhav sampraday, should observe fast on the Ekadashi day. 82.
Lord Vasudeva has declared Ekadashi as His own self. Therefore, everybody should observe fast on both the Ekadashi days falling on bright and dark half of any month. 83.
Especially, ascetics and widows should observe this Ekadashi vow. If they do not observe, then, day by day, it will lead to the commitment of the sin of killing a Brahmin. 84.
Those who are physically unable to observe fast on Ekadashi day may do so just by eating fruits or eating only once on the Ekadsashi day. Still, those men and women who are health wise unfit should observe Ekadashi vow at least in the four holy months (Chaturmas). 85-86.
O all of you ! ‘ those who are unhealthy and unfit to observe fast may eat fruits etc and observe fast by offering gifts etc.’ 87.
Such unhealthy and unfit men should observe fast on at least three Ekadashi days viz. Shayani, Bodhani and Parivartini Among these three, Bodhani Ekadashi is the bestower of more happiness. Everybody should observe this fast even by drinking water once or twice in a day. 88-89.
By observing fast on Prabodhini Ekadashi, one attains the fruit of fasting without eating anything on all the Ekadashi days. 90.
Those who are very rich, and those who do not have day to day domestic problems should perform Mahapuja on all the Ekadashi days. 91.
Lord Shri Krishna who by Himself is Nirguna, but is the cause of the cause of everything, is to be worshipped in the central pitcher of the Sarvatobhadra mandala. 92.
All the idols of Keshav along with the well-known Shaktis of Pancharatra Agama, are to be worshipped in the surrounding portion of the Mandala.with the Panchamrita (milk, curds, ghee, honey and sugar) and Maha-abhishek and Maha-naivedya and Mahaarati are to be offered on Ekadashi day. If it is not possible for a person, to perform these rituals on all the Ekadashi days, he may perform those rituals on Ekadashi days of Holy four months (Chaturmas). 93.95.
A person who is unhealthy and physically unfit, should perform Maha-puja on Prabodhini Ekadashi. He should not behave
as a miser. 96.
O you learned men!,’ Lord Vasudeva is extremely fond of Ekadashi day. Hence My followers should celebrate the Ekadashi festival. 97.
Those people who do not observe this Ekadashi vow, they are debarred from the Uddhava sampraday. 98.
Suvrata said:-
O Lord of Men ! after listening to the words of the great sage, everybody, was very much delighted and desirous of acquiring more knowledge of this Ekadashi vow, started asking more questions again and again. 99.
Thus ends the thirty-second chapter entitled, ‘Origin of the Ekadashi (vow) and the benefits (obtained) from it.’ in the third Prakaran of Satsangi jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra, (the rules of the code of conduct). 32