The words Dev Shayani denotes Dev as Lord Vishnu or Lord Narayan and Shayani denotes resting or sleeping. This auspicious Ekadashi day takes place in the month of Ashad/Ashadh a (June-July) and also known as Ashadi Ekadashi or Padma Ekadashi.(This image is taken from a temple in Pokhara, Nepal)
Lord Vishnu commences His resting period from this day on Sheshnag, the thousand-headed serpant who afloats on the Ksheersagar, the cosmic ocean of milk. He prefers to rest on Sheshnag and not at His abode Vaikunta Lok.
In the Vedas, the water is known as Nara and the Supreme Personality of Godhead rests on it and so His another name is Narayan/ Narayana.
The Lord sleeps for the period of four months and awakens on Prabodini Ekadashi, Haribodhini, Devotthaani or Utthana Ekadashi in the month of Kartik (October-November). In these months, it said that one should refrain from performing any sacrificial pyres or Havan – Yajgna / Yagya and auspicious ceremonies because Lord Vishnu and all the demi-gods Devas are resting at this time. So they cannot be invited to partake in the celebrations. During this time, the Sun too changes its course and moves in the southern direction-Dakshinayanam. These four months of rest in the Hindu calendar are Shravan, Bhadrapad, Ashwin and Kartik.
Story from Purana:
Just by listening to this Sri Hari's mahima all the sins will be washed away. In tretayuga Bali was great asura emperor. He was a great devotee of Sri Hari and worshipped Him by doing yagna, yaga and vrats. on the same line the devendra who had lost his position was also worshipping Sri Hari along with his acharya Brhaspathi. Pleased by both their requests Sri Hari took Vamana avtar and came to the earth for the fifth time. Bali Chakravarthy gladly ave away three steps of land to vatu Vamana. At that instance Sri Hari took the trivikrama form and grew into the Universal form that spread throughout the universe.
The Feet covered the Bhooloka and the kness covered the Bhuvarloka and all other lokas were covered up to his waist.Maharloka was covered by his abdomen, chest covered the jana loka, tapoloka was covered by neck, satya loka by face..all the heavenly bodies like planets, stars etc., became part of him. Thus he covered the universe with three foot lengths and covered Emperor Bali's back with the half foot, which made Bali to go all the way to the Rasatala.
On the day of Ashada Shukla, Shayani ekadashi one of Sri Hari's murthy will be with emperor Bali, the other murthy will be on the back of Sri Adishesha in the milky ocean till KArtika masa. Thus from Shayni ekadashi day to kArtika Shukla's prabhodhini ekadashi this second murthy will be sleeping in the middle of the milky ocean. This period is called Chaturmasya. All the vrtas, pooja etc., during this time are very auspicious. This day when Sri Hari sleeps on Adishesha is called Shayani ekadashi. by listening to the story of Shayaniekadashi the benefits are equivalent to Ashvamedha yagna..
-from Padma Puran Part 3 Uttarakhanda 54th chapter explaining the significance
of Shayani ekadashi.
No comments:
Post a Comment