|
Parivartini / Dhaan Ekadashi - Vrat Katha
|
|
Falls on: Bhadrapadh sukla paksh
| |
|
|
Name of Ekadashi that sukla paksh of Bhadrapadh have?
Yudhisthir asked Bhagwan Shri Krishna, �What is the name of the Ekadashi that occurs during sukla paksh of Bhadrapadh? Which Dev is worshipable on this Ekadashi, and what merit does one attain by observing it? Kindly reveal all this to me�
.
|
Material bondage removing Vrat
Purna Prushotam Bhagwan, Shri Krishna replied, �Yudhisthir this Ekadashi is called Parivartini / Vaman Ekadashi, and it bestows both great merit and ultimate liberation from material bondage. Therefore, because it removes all one's sinful reactions, it is also called Jayanti Ekadashi; Just hearing of its glories frees one from all his past misdeeds. So auspicious is this fast that observing it bestows the same merit as that earned by performing a Akshva Megh Yaghya. There is no better Ekadashi, than this, because it awards liberation so easily. Thus if one truly desires freedom from the material world, one should fast on this Ekadashi�.
�While observing this holy fast, a Vaishnav should lovingly worship Purna Prushotam in His form as Bhagwan Shri Vaman, (the dwarf incarnation), whose eyes are like lotus petals. By doing so, he worships all other Devs as well, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and at death, he undoubtedly goes to the abode of Bhagwan Shri Hari. In all the three world; there is no fast that is more important to observe. The reason this Ekadashi is so auspicious is that it celebrates the day when in the meditative sleep Bhagwan turns over on His other side; thus it is also known as Parivartini Ekadashi�.
Yudhisthir then asked Bhagwan, �hai Janardan, please clear up a question I have. How is it that Purna Prushotam meditatively sleeps and then turns over on other side? Bhagwan, when You are asleep, what happens to all the other living entities? Please also tell me how You bound the king of demons, Bali Maharaja, as well as how one may please the Brahmins. How does one observe Chaturmasya? Kindly be merciful to me and answer these questions�.
Hearing itself eradicates all sinful reactions
Bhagwan Shri Krishna replied, Yudhisthir, I will gladly narrate to you a historical event that, simply by being heard, eradicates all one's sinful reactions.
�In the Treta-yug there once lived a king named Bali. Though born in a demonic dynasty, he was very devoted to Me. He sang many Vedic hymns to Me and performed the Hom / Yagiya (ritual) just to satisfy Me. He respected the Brahmins and engaged them in performing sacrifices daily. This great soul had a quarrel with Indra, however, and eventually defeated him in battle. Bali took over his entire celestial kingdom, which I Myself had given to Indra. Therefore Indra and all the other Devtas, along with many great sages, approached Me and complained about Bali Maharaja. Bowing their heads to the ground and offering many sacred prayers from the Vedas, they worshiped Me along with their spiritual master, Brahaspati. Thus I agreed to appear on their behalf as Vaman, My fifth Avtar."
|
Dwarf conquers demon
King Yudhisthir said, �Bhagwan, how was it possible for You to conquer such a powerful demon in a dwarf's body? Please explain this clearly, for I am Your faithful devotee�.
Purna Prushotam Bhagwan Shri Krishna, replied, �Though a dwarf, I was a Brahmin, and I approached Maharaj Bali to ask him for alms in the form of land. I said, 0 Bali, please give Me just three steps of land in charity. Such a small piece of land will be as good as all the three worlds for Me. Bali agreed to grant My request without lengthy consideration. But as soon as he vowed to give Me the land, I began to expand my body into a gigantic transcendental form. I covered the entire earth with My feet, all of Bhuvarloka with My thighs, the Suvargha heavens with My waist, Maharloka with My stomach, Janaloka with My chest, Tapoloka with My neck, and Satyaloka with My head and face. I covered the entire material creation. Indeed, My gigantic form encompassed all the planets of the universe, including the sun and the moon.
Seeing this astonishing pastime of Mine, all the Devas, including Indra and Sesh Nag the king of snakes, began to sing Vedic hymns and offer prayers to Me. Then I took Bali by the hand and said to him, 0 sinless one, I have covered the whole earth with one step and all the heavenly planets with the second. Now where shall I place My foot to measure the third step of land you promised Me�?
|
Bali bowed his head
"Upon hearing this, Maharaj Bali bowed down and offered Me his head. Yudhisthir, I placed My foot on his head and sent him all the way to Patalaloka. Seeing him thus humbled, I became very pleased and told Bali that henceforth I would permanently reside in his palace. Thereafter, on Parivartini Ekadashi, which occurs during sukla paksh of Bhadrapadh, Bali, the son of Virochana, installed a Swaroop (form of Me) in his residence�.
"Rajan, until Haribodhini Ekadashi, which occurs during sukla paksh of Kartik, I continue to be in my meditative sleep in the ocean of milk. The merit one accumulates during this period is particularly powerful. One should therefore observe Parivartini Ekadashi carefully. Parivartini Ekadashi cleanses and purifying one of all sinful reactions. On this day, the faithful devotee should worship Bhagwan Trivikram, Vaman, who is the supreme Father, because on this day I turn over to sleep on My other side".
"If possible, on this day one should give a qualified person some yogurt mixed with rice, as well as some silver, and then remain awake throughout the night. This simple observance will free one of material conditioning. One who observes this sacred Parivartini Ekadashi in the way I have described will surely attain all kinds of happiness in this world and the kingdom of Bhagwan in the hereafter. One who simply hears this narration with devotion will go to the abode of the Devtas and shine there like the moon itself, so powerful is observance of this Ekadashi, Indeed, this observance is as powerful as the performance of a thousand's of "Akshva Megh Yagyah.�
|
|
