This is a very special ekadashi in the cold month of Margashira. This
ekadashi si also known as Saphala Ekadashi. On this day we worship Sri Narayana. Practice: Per Conversation between Yudhistira and Sri Krishna.Sri Krishna says On the ekadashi day worship Sri Narayana during the day with upavasa. Amongst the snakes Adhishesha, amongst the birds Garuda, amongst Gods Vishnu and similarly amonsgst all the vrats, Ekadashi vrat is the most prominent (Shreshta). perform Jagarane with HariBhakts. On Dwadashi day Offer Coconut, Pomogranate(dAlimbe), Gooseberry(nallikai ) borekai ( berry fruit ) , raw mango, beetle leaves and beetle nuts. Perform pooja with Lamps(Deepa) and incense(dhoopa). Offer Naivedya to Sri Hari. Offer prasad to the learned people and then break fast. Huggi(moong daal & rice ) Naivedya is considered special during Dhanurmasa. Make sure the quantity of daal is greater than rice while preparing huggi. Story from Padma purana: "Once there was a City called Champaavati, which was ruled by the saintly King Maahishmata. He had four sons, the eldest of whom, Lumpaka, always engaged in all manner of very sinful activities including illicit sexual encounters with the wives of others, gambling, and continual association with known prostitutes. His evil deeds gradually reduced the wealth of his father, King Maahishmata. Lumpaka also became very critical of the numerous devas, the empowered universal attendants of the Lord, as well as toward the brahmins, and every day he would go out of his way to blaspheme the Vaishnavas. At last King Maahishmata, seeing the unrepentant brazen fallen condition of his son, exiled him to the forest. Out of fear of the king, even compassionate relatives didn't come to Lumpaka's defense, so angry was the king toward his son, and so sinful was this Lumpaka. "Bewildered in his exile, the fallen and rejected Lumpaka thought to himself, `My father has sent me away, and even my kinsmen do not raise but a finger in objection. What am I to do now?' He schemed sinfully and thought, `I shall sneak back to the city under cover of darkness and plunder its wealth. During the day I shall stay in the forest, and as night returns, so shall I to the city.' So thinking, the sinful Lumpaka entered the darkness of the forest. He killed many animals by day, and by night he stole all manner of valuable items from the city. The city-dwelling folk apprehended him several times, but out of fear of the king they left him alone. They thought to themselves that it must have been the accumulated sins of Lumpaka's previous births that had forced him to act in such a way that he lost his royal facilities and became to act so sinfully like a common selfish thief. "Though a meat-eater, Lumpaka would also eat fruits every day. He resided under an old banyan tree that unknown to him happened to be very dear to Sri Vaasudeva. In due course of time, while Lumpaka was doing so many sinful and condemnable activities, the Saphalaa Ekadasi arrived. On the eve of the Ekadasi (Dasami) Lumpaka had to pass the entire night without sleep because of severe cold that he felt due to his scanty bedclothes (bedding). The cold not only robbed him of all peace but almost of his very life. By the time the sun rose, near dead, his teeth chattering and near comatose. In fact all that Ekadasi morning, he remained in that stupor and could not awaken out of his near comatose condition. "When midday of the Saphalaa Ekadasi arrived, the sinful Lumpaka finally came to and managed to rise up from his place under that banyan tree. But with every step he took, he stumbled and fell to the ground. Like a lame man, he walked slowly and hesitantly, suffering greatly from hunger and thirst in the midst of the jungle. So weak was Lumpaka that he couldn't even concentrate to nor muster strength to go and kill even a single animal that whole day. Instead, he was reduced to collecting whatever fruits had fallen to the ground of their own accord. By the time he returned to his banyan tree home, the sun had set. "Placing the fruits on the ground next to him (at the base of the sacred banyan tree), phalairEBHihi sripathistushyatAM harihi| I will offer all these fruits to Sri Hari. Lumpaka began to cry out,O Sri Hari, please be merciful to me and accept these fruits as an offering !' Again he was forced to lie awake the whole night without sleep, but in the meantime the all merciful Madhusudana, had become pleased with Lumpaka's humble offering of forest fruits, and He accepted them. Lumpaka had unwittingly observed a full Ekadasi fast,and by the merit he reaped on that day he regained his kingdom with no further obstacles. "As the Sun beautifully rose in the sky on the day following Ekadasi, a handsome horse approached Lumpaka as if seeking him out, and stood next to him. At the same time, a voice suddenly boomed out from the clear blue sky saying, `This horse is for you, Lumpaka! Mount it and ride swiftly out of this forest to greet your family! O son of King Maahishmata, by the mercy of Sri Vaasudeva and the strength of the merit you acquired by observing Saphalaa Ekadasi, your kingdom will be returned to you without any further hindrances. Such is the benefit you have gained by fasting on this most auspicious of days. Go now, to your father and enjoy your rightful place in the dynasty.' "Upon hearing these celestial words resounding from above, Lumpaka mounted the horse and rode back to the city of Champaavati. By the merit he had accrued by fasting on Saphalaa Ekadasi, he had become a handsome prince once more and was able to absorb his mind Sri Hari. In other words, he had become My pure devotee. King Maahishmata gave him the kingdom, and Lumpaka ruled unopposed for many, many years. Whenever the Ekadashi came, he worshiped the Sri Hari with great devotion. And by the mercy of Sri Krishna he obtained a beautiful wife and a fine son. In old age Lumpaka handed his kingdom over to his son � just as his own father, King Maahishmata, had handed it over to him. Lumpaka then went to the forest with his queen to dedicate his concentrated attention to Sri Hari with controlled mind and senses. Purified of all material desires, he left his old material body and returned back to home, attaining a place near the lotus feet of his worshipful Lord, Sri Krishna. Reference: Padma Maha Puran Part-3 UttaraKhanda's 41st Chapter explaining the significance of Saphala Ekadashi.
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AuthorKrishna Mutt Kondapur Blog is an attempt to update the mutt bandhus with Madhva events ,programs in Hyderabad Archives
March 2016
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