Dev Uthani Ekadashi 2024: According to Bhavishya Purana Uttar Parva Chapter Number 70, the period from the month of Ashadha to Kartik of the Hindu calendar is known as Chaturmas in which Lord Vishnu sleeps. This sleep was done at the request of Goddess Yoganidra so that he could be given a place in her divine body.
Many divine entities were present in the entire body. Only the eyes were free. Therefore Lord Vishnu allotted four months in a year for Yoganidra from Ashadhi Ekadashi to Kartik Ekadashi. Lord Vishnu sleeps in Ashadhi Ekadashi, which is also called Devshayani, and wakes up in Kartik Ekadashi, which is called Devotthani Ekadashi. By fasting on this day, one not only gets the benefits of all the Ekadashis but also attains salvation.
Devshayani and Devotthani fast method:-
Place the idol of Lord Vishnu on the bed and take a vow in front of it to control speech and follow other rules. The method of sleeping of Devadhidev for four months of the year and then raising him is mentioned. Different rules regarding the things to be avoided and consumed during this fast are described in the Bhavishya Purana. By giving up jaggery, the fasting person becomes a king with sweet speech in the next life. Similarly, one who gives up oil for four months has a beautiful body. Giving up bitter oil destroys one’s enemies.
Giving up Mahua oil brings immense good fortune. By renouncing the offering of flowers etc., one attains Vidyadhar in heaven. One who practices yoga in these four months attains Brahmapada. One who gives up the tastes like bitter, sour, pungent, sweet, alkaline, astringent etc. never attains deformity and misery. By renouncing the tambul, one attains the best pleasures and has a sweet voice.
By renunciation of ghee one attains beautiful beauty and all kinds of accomplishments. By renouncing the fruit one becomes intelligent and has many sons. Eating green leaves makes one sick, eating unripe food makes one healthy. By renouncing oil-pressing, the fasting person attains the blessings of Deeptimaan, Deeptkaran, King of Wealth and Lord Kuber. By following the rule of renouncing curd, milk and buttermilk, a person attains Goloka.
By abandoning Sthalipak, one becomes the guest of Indra. By adopting the rule of eating hot food, one gets long life children. One becomes a devotee of Vishnu by adopting the rule of sleeping on earth i.e. sleeping on the ground. Renunciation of these things leads to religion. No one can violate his orders regarding wearing of nails and hair, taking bath in Ganga daily and observing a fast of silence. The one who always eats food on earth is the master of the earth.
‘Om Namo Naraynay’ By chanting this Ashtakshar Mantra without fasting and worshiping the feet of Lord Vishnu, one gets the results of Godan. By touching the feet of Lord Vishnu, man becomes blessed. There is no doubt that by offering offerings to Lord Vishnu in the temple of Lord Vishnu during Chaturmasya, a person becomes a permanent king throughout the Kalpa.
One who circumambulates Lord Vishnu a hundred times while reciting praises and worships him with flowers, garlands etc., goes to Vishnuloka in a plane carrying a swan. The one who sings and plays musical instruments related to Vishnu attains Gandharva world. The one who imparts knowledge to people through discussion of scriptures every day, is recognized as God in the form of Vyas and ultimately goes to Vishnuloka. A person who takes bath daily never goes to hell.
A person who controls his food gets the results of taking bath in Pushkar area. One who eats unsolicited food gets the reward of building an excellent step well and well. By eating food in the sixth (last) part of the day, a person attains heaven permanently. A person who eats food in a leaf gets the result of living in Kurukshetra.
By following such fasts and rules during Chaturmasya, the seeker attains complete satisfaction i.e. becomes happy and satisfied in every way. When Garudadhwaja Jagannath sleeps, all the activities like marriage, yagya etc. of the four varnas are not performed. Marriage, Yajnopavita etc. rites, initiation ceremony, Yagya, housewarming, marriage, Godan, prestige and all the auspicious deeds are all auspicious in Chaturmasya. In the month without Sankranti i.e. in Malmas, no activity related to Gods and ancestors should be performed. On Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month, Katidaan of Lord Vishnu is done, that is, the process of changing sides should be performed. Mahapuja should be done on this day.
Why does Lord Vishnu sleep for four months?
Now listen to the reason for this Vishnu-Shayan. At some time, after satisfying Hari with the effect of penance, Yoganidra prayed that Lord! Please give me a place in your parts too. Then I saw that my entire body was occupied by Goddess Lakshmi etc. The chest, conch, chakra, bow and arrow are blocked by Lakshmi, the arms are blocked by Asi, the organs below the navel are blocked by Vanateya, the head is blocked by the crown and the ears are blocked by earrings. Therefore, I was satisfied and gave Yoganidra a place with respect in my eyes and said that you will be dependent on me for four months in a year. Happy to hear this, Yoganidra resided in my eyes.
I respect that Manaswini. During Yoga Nidra, when I sleep on this Mahanidra-like bed in the ocean of milk, at that time in the company of Brahma, Goddess Lakshmi massages both my feet with her lotus feet and the waves of the ocean of milk wash my feet. O the person who observes many fasts and observes the rules during this Chaturmasya period, he resides in the world of Vishnu throughout the Kalpa. Lord Vishnu, wielding conch, disc and mace, wakes up on the Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month, listen to his fasting rituals.
Method of Devuthani Ekadashi fast:-
God should be awakened with this mantra- ‘Idam Vishnurvi Chakrame Tredha Ni Dadhe Padam. Samudhamsya Pa Sure Swaha ॥ (Yaju 5.15) When Vishnu wakes up on his seat, all the religious activities of the world begin. The Lord should be taken around in a chariot at night with the sound of musical instruments like conch, Mridang etc. and chanting. On the rise of Devesh, the city should be illuminated with lamps and a Mangalotsav should be celebrated with dance, songs, musical instruments etc. Whoever sees Dharnidhar Damodar Lord Vishnu gets up in heaven and receives all the things given to him in heaven.
Keep vigil in the temple at night on the day of Ekadashi. On Dwadashi, take bath with clean water in the morning and worship Lord Vishnu. Perform havan in the fire with ghee etc. as sacrificial liquids, after that take bath and feed special food items to the Brahmin. Offer modak made from ghee, curd, honey, jaggery etc. for food. The host should also happily and restrain himself and worship eleven, ten, eight, five or two Vipras duly with flowers, fragrance etc. Offer food to the best sannyasis also and send them off by giving them the food left in the resolution and desired letters, flowers etc. along with dakshina.
After this one should eat food oneself. The thing which has been left for four months should also be eaten. By doing this one attains religion. At last the devotee attains Vishnupuri (Vaikuntha). The person whose Chaturmasya fast is completed without any obstacles, becomes blessed and does not have to be reborn. The one who completes the Devshayan Vrat ritually and finally awakens Lord Vishnu, attains the world of Vishnu.
Also read: Dev Uthani Ekadashi 2024: Shri Hari will wake up from four months of Yoga Nidra, Chaturmas will end
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