Devshayani Ekadashi is very famous festival across Maharashtra State as many devotees of Lord Vitthal gather at Pandharpur on the banks of Chandrabhaga and recites ‘Jai Jai Vitthal Shri Hari Vitthal’. On this day of Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi, the devotees of Lord Vishnu believe Lord Vishnu goes to sleep on this day and wakes up after four months on Prabodhini Ekadashi. Why Devshayani Ekadashi is so popular ensues from the idea that Lord Vishnu chooses to go to a long sleep in the Ksheer Sagar (milky ocean) on this day. Therefore, this day is considered to be ideal to propitiate Lord Vishnu and Mata Mahalakshmi. Starting on this day, the sleep of the Lord called as Yoga Nidra stretches over four months called as Chaturmas. In Sanskrit, Ekadashi is number eleven. Ekadashi is the eleventh day of the waxing and waning moon.

 

Thus two tithis occur in every calendar month coinciding with the two lunar phases Shukla Paksha (waxing moon, the bright half when the moon is 3/4th bright) and Krishna paksha (waning moon, the dark half, when the moon is 3/4th dark). There, are usually 24 Ekadashis in a calendar year however two, extra Ekadashis occur in a leap year. This Ekadashi is also called Saubhagyadini Ekadashi. According to the Padma Purana, fasting on this day destroys the sins committed, intentional or unintentional. Also, worshipping on this day leads to salvation. According to Brahmavaivarta Purana, by observing fast on this day, all wishes are fulfilled. It is also known as Shayani Ekadashi or Maha-Ekadashi or Prathama-Ekadashi or Padma Ekadashi or Devshayani Ekadashi or Devpodhi Ekadashi. It is that the eleventh day (Ekadashi) of the brilliant fortnight ( Shukla paksha) of the Hindu month of Ashadha.

 

Lord Brahma told his son Narad about the greatness of Ashadhi Ekadashi, and Lord Krishna told King Yudhisthira, the eldest of Pandavas, about it in ‘Bhavishyottara Purana’. Devshayani Ekadashi is highly special as indicated by its many names including Ashadi Ekadashi in Maharashtra as the annual Padharpur Yatra or holy pilgrimage to the Padharpur temple comes to an end on this day. In the south, this day is identified as Toli Ekadashi. As per popular custom in the Vaishnavite Mutts, the inmates wear heated seals on their bodies called as Tapta Mudra Dharana. Astrologically, since there are 360 degrees in a circle, the Moon moves (on the average) 360 / 27.3 or 13.2 degrees per day relative to the stars. So on the 11th day, the Sun, Moon, and the Earth and in trine (120°) position to each other and hence have a greater impact on the gravitational forces and the magnetic pull of the moon makes it a day chosen by the ancient Yogis to practice austerity, observe fasts and focus on spiritual growth.