Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi: The start of marriage season
| Date :08-Nov-2019 |
By Rajendra Diwe :
Chaturmaas, the four months’ period started with Devashayani Ekadashi (Ashadh Shuddha Ekadashi) in the month of Ashadh will conclude with Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu who goes off to sleep in Ksheer Sagar (ocean of milk) perched on Shesha Naga for the duration of four months will get awake on Prabodhini Ekadashi. This period of four months from Ashadhi Ekadashi (Devshayani Ekadashi) to Kartiki Ekadashi is known as Chaturmas. And after four months Vishnu wakes up from his slumber and that day is known as Prabodhini Ekadashi. This awakening is known as ‘Prabodh.’ His vigil at Bali Raja's doorstep, which began on Devashayani Ekadashi, ends on this day. He then returns to His abode.
There is also a legend that Lord Vishnu in Chaturmaas is guarding Bali Raja. To please the Lord all the more, while He is away guarding Bali Raja’s kingdom, devotees observe extra vows during Chaturmaas. This is an opportunity for devotees to behold Parmatma in their Atmas. The Lord graces them for having observed the vows and fasts by manifesting in their hearts. This is known as ‘Devprabodh’. Prabodhini Ekadashi also known as Kartiki Ekadashi in Maharashtra is mainly celebrated in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra and also in some southern States. It also marks the beginning of sugarcane harvest and sugarcanes have a significant place in the performance of rituals.
This day is also termed as Dev Uthani Ekadashi as it is celebrated with reverence to God Vishnu. The festival is also called ‘Tulsi Vivah’. On this day Lord Vishnu in form of Shaligram is married to Tulsi in a religious ritual. Prabodhini Ekadashi also marks the beginning of marriage season. The four months period from Shayani Ekadashi to Prabodhini Ekadashi is considered inauspicious for marriages or other sacred functions and people wait till Prabodhini Ekadashi to begin the ceremonies. According to another legend, “Lord Vishnu had to spend years without sleeping, as he was too busy with destroying the evil and blessing his devotees. The schedule had an adverse effect on his sleeping habit and resulted in his falling asleep almost suddenly for years. Vishnu’s irregular sleeping timing disturbed the resting time of Goddess Lakshmi, his consort. She requested Lord Vishnu to regularise his sleeping timing so that she too gets proper resting periods. Subsequently, Vishnu realised the fact that his continuous awakening for years, stresses not only his consort Lakshmi but also other Gods too.
Thus, he decided to sleep for four months in a year, regularly.” The greatness of Prabodhini Ekadashi was first narrated by Lord Brahma to Sage Narada and is explained in the ‘Skanda Purana’. It holds great significance for Hindus as it marks the beginning of the auspicious ceremonies like marriages, child naming ceremonies, Gruh pravesh and so on. Prabodhini Ekadashi holds immense importance among the ‘Swaminarayan sect’. This day honours the religious initiation or ‘diksha’ of Swaminarayan by his guru and mentor Guru Ramanand Swami. Devotees observe this sacred fast to wash away their evil deeds and sins committed during the lifetime. Also by offering prayers to Lord Vishnu with devotion on the day of Prabodhini Ekadashi, it is believed that a person can attain salvation or ‘moksha’ and go straight to ‘Vaikunth’ after death.