Ekadashi comprises of 2 words, Eka (1) and Dasha (10), meaning controlling our actions of ten senses and one mind. Ekadashi is considered as a day to worship Lord Vishnu to cleanse the body and soul. People keep fasting in this day to realize and please Lord Vishnu. Usually there are 24 Ekadashi’s in a year, and occasionally two extra Ekadashis will be added in a leap year.
Ekadashi falls in the eleventh day of the Lunar cycle and is taken with a great significance by Hindus, especially in Nepal and India. Apart of other Ekadashi, the one that falls in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, Sukla Paksha (Hariparivartani Ekadashi) is observed with a bit more enthusiasm and dedication than others. Also known as Parsava Ekadashi, Vamana Ekadashi, Jaljhilini Ekadashi and Jayanti Ekadashi, this day is taken as a most auspicious and important Ekadashi.
Yogic Sleep of Lord Vishnu
As believed, Lord Vishnu goes to deep yogic sleep in Harisayani Ekadashi. Then it is said that, Lord Vishnu changes his sleeping position from left side to right side in Haripaivartani Ekadashi. Also, the time period when Lord Vishnu is believed to be awake from his deep sleep is Haribodhini Ekadashi. Each Ekadashi have their own significance and importance and devotee of Lord Vishnu keep fasting in every Ekadashi’s with great devotion.
Legend Behind the birth of Ekadashi
Ekadashi Devi was born out of Lord Vishnu himself. She manifests in Lord Vishnu. As mentioned in Padma Purana, during a battle Lord Vishnu and demon Muran, Vishnu changed his strategy and pretended to be exhausted during fight, which had continued for several hundred of years. Lord Vishnu then decided to take rest to create a new weapon to kill the demon. He then hides himself in the cave of Himalayas and went to the state of yogic sleep with all his 10 senses and a mind.
When demon Muran tried to kill Vishnu in his state of sleep, a beautiful female avatar of Lord Vishnu emerged from his body who then fought and killed the demon.
The battle noise wakes up Lord Vishnu, who was then pleased by his own manifestation in female form, named her Ekadashi, and asked her for boon. However, Ekadashi requested Lord Vishnu to grant the boon to the people who take fasting in that specific day (eleventh day of Lunar Moon when Ekadahi killed Muran) to purify their souls and wash away their sins. Vishnu agreed to it and declared that, whoever observes fasting in Ekadashi would attain Vaikuntha.
Mantra to chant in this day
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudavaye
