Chaturmas: A sacred period of self-transformation

 

 

 

 

The eleventh day of Shukla Paksha in Ashadh month is well-known across the country as ‘Ashadhi Ekadashi’ or ‘Devshayani Ekadashi’. This day is also known as Maha Ekadashi, Toli Ekadashi, Padma Ekadashi, Devpodhi Ekadashi and Hari Sayana Ekadasi. In the south, this day is identified as Toli Ekadashi. As per the traditional custom in the Vaishnavite Mutts, the inmates wear heated seals on their bodies called as Tapta Mudra Dharana. It is believed that, Lord Vishnu chooses to go on a long sleep in the Ksheer Sagar (milky ocean) on this day. Hence, this day is considered to be ideal to propitiate Lord Vishnu and Mata Mahalakshmi. The sleep of the Lord is called as Yoga-Nidra, which stretches over four months known as Chaturmas.

 

Devshayanti Ekadashi is very important in Maharashtra. This day, the devotees of Lord Vitthal take out Pandharpuri Wari, the annual Pandharpur Yatra. The holy pilgrimage to the Pandharpur temple comes to an end on this day. In Vidarbha, Dhapewada, which is known as Pandharpur of Vidarbha, is also keeping the tradition of Wari. Pandharpur Wari tradition of Maharashtra is one of the world’s largest and oldest movements continuing more than 800 years. The Pandharpur Wari has countless people gathering on a specific day every year and walk for a distance of around 250 kms. Know what keeps the 800-year-old tradition so alive even in modern times. According to Madhura Bhosale of Sanatan Ashram, “Collective chanting of Vitthal’s name by all Warkaris appear like ‘Naamdindi’.

 

Those who participate in this Pandharpur Wari automatically sacrifice their body, mind and money at the feet of God. One has purity of mind while travelling to meet God eagerly and the physical body too wears away like sandalwood. Therefore, Warkaris heading towards Pandharpur are on a pilgrimage in the form of Wari.”

 

‘Wari’ means pilgrimage and the person who undertakes it is called ‘Warkari’. Nada Yogi Vibhushri Rivesh Vade explains the word ‘Wari’ as a birth and death journey of a soul. He says, “To understand the spiritual significance of this age-old tradition, we need to take a holistic view instead of drowning our attention in the ritual, which is only a symbolic representation of a far deeper meaning. Wari is nothing but an inward pilgrimage, a journey to the recesses of one’s own divine nature. ‘Hari’’, the original state. All that is manifested as creation is nothing but waves or ‘Lahiri’. Creation is like a continuous orchestra, where music from different instruments is playing harmoniously and rhythmically. This medley sees a continuous introduction of new musical instruments by a simultaneous transformation of the existing ones.