Shayani Ekadashi or Maha-ekadashi or Prathama-ekadashi or Padma Ekadashi or Devshayani Ekadashi or Devpodhi Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashadha. Thus it is also known as Ashadhi Ekadashi or Ashadhi.It is known as Toli Ekadashi in Telugu.This holy day is of special significance to Vaishnavas, followers of the Hindu protector God, Lord Vishnu.
Details
On this day images of Vishnu and Lakshmi are worshipped, the entire night is spent singing prayers, and devotees keep fast and take vows on this day, to be observed during the entire chaturmas, the holy four-month period of rainy season. These may include, giving up a food item or fasting on every Ekadashi day. It is believed that Vishnu falls asleep in Ksheersagar - cosmic ocean of milk - on Sheshanāga, the cosmic serpent. Thus the day is also called Dev-Shayani Ekadashi or Hari-shayani Ekadashi or Shayana Ekadashi. Vishnu finally awakens from his slumber four months later on Prabodhini Ekadashi - eleventh day of bright fortnight in the Hindu monthKartik. This period is known as Chaturmas and coincides with the rainy season. Thus, Shayani Ekadashi is the beginning of Chaturmas. Devotees start observing the Chaturmas vrata to please Vishnu on this day. A fast is observed on Shayani Ekadashi. The fast demands abstainance from all grains, beans, cereals, certain vegetables like onions and certain spices.
Significance
In the scripture Bhavishyottara Purana, god Krishna narrates significance of Shayani Ekadashi to Yudhishthira, as the creator-god Brahma narrated the significance to his son Narada once. The story of king Mandata is narrated in this context. The pious king's country had faced drought for three years, but the king was unable to find a solution to please the rain gods. Finally, sage Angiras advised the king to observe the vrata of Dev-shayani ekadashi. On doing so by the grace of Vishnu, there was rain in the kingdom.
This day, a huge yatra or religious procession of pilgrims known as Pandharpur Ashadi Ekadasi Waari Yatra culminates at Pandharpur, in Solapur district in south Maharashtra, situated on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River. Pandharpur is main center of worship of the deity Vitthal, a local form of Vishnu. Lakhs of pilgrims come to Pandharpur on this day from different parts of Maharashtra. Some of them carry Palkhis with the images of the saints of Maharashtra. Dnyaneshwar's image is carried from Alandi,Namdev's image from Narsi Namdev, Tukaram's from Dehu, Eknath's from Paithan, Nivruttinath's from Trimbakeshwar, Muktabai's from Muktainagar, Sopan's from Sasvad and Saint Gajanan Maharaj from Shegaon. These pilgrims are referred to as Warkaris. They sing Abhangas of Saint Tukaram and Saint Dnyaneshwar, dedicated to VitthalBig text.
