Prabodhini Ekadashi
Encyclopedia
Prabodhini Ekadashi is the 11th lunar day (ekadashi
) in the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha
) of the Hindu month
of Kartik
. It marks the end of the four-month period of Chaturmas
, when god Vishnu
is believed to sleep. It is believed that Vishnu sleeps on Shayani Ekadashi
and wakes on Prabodhini Ekadashi, thus giving this day the name "Prabodhini Ekadashi" ("awakening eleventh"), Vishnu-prabodhini ("awakening of Vishnu") and Dev-Prabodhini Ekadashi, Deothan, Dev uthav ekadashi or Dev Oothi ekadashi ("god's awakening"). The end of Chaturmas, when marriages are prohibited, signifies the beginning of the Hindu wedding season. It is also known as Kartiki Ekadashi, Kartik Shukla ekadashi and Kartiki. It is sometimes called Deva-Diwali or Deva-Deppawali - the festival of lights of the gods.
plant is performed with god Vishnu, who is regarded as the husband of Tulsi. This ritual marriage is known as Tulsi Vivah
and may be conducted on the next day of Prabodhini Ekadashi instead of Prabodhini Ekadashi itself.
Pandharpur
In Maharashtra
, Prabodhini Ekadashi is linked with the god Vithoba
- a form of Vishnu. Varkari
pilgrims throng the Pandharpur
temple of Vithoba on this day. The celebrations in Pandharpur continue for five days, till the full moon day (Kartik Poornima
). On Prabodhini Ekadashi, the chief minister or a minister of Maharashtra state performs ritual components of worship on behalf of the Government of Maharashtra
. This form of worship is known as sarkari-mahapuja.
Mt. Girnar
In Gujarat, more 800,000 pilgrims perform the 32-km Parikrama
(circumambulation) of Mt. Girnar
over a two-day period. This performed as a gesture of thanksgiving to the gods, who are believed to have assembled on the mountain.
Pushkar
In Pushkar
, Rajasthan, the Pushkar Fair
or Pushkar mela commences on this day and continues till the full moon day (Kartik Poornima). This fair is held in the honour of god Brahma
, whose temple stands at Pushkar. A ritual bath during the five days of the fairin the Pushkar lake is considered to lead one to salvation. Sadhu
s gather here and stay from ekadashi to full moon day in caves. About 200,000 people and 25,000 camels assemble in Pushkar for the fair. Pushkar fair is Asia's largest camel fair.
Sugarcane harvest
Prabodhini Ekadashi also marks the beginning of sugarcane
harvest. The farmer performs a puja in the field and ceremoniously cuts some sugarcane, laying some at the boundary of the field and distributing five canes to a Brahmin
(priest), blacksmith, carpenter, washer-man and water-carrier and taking five canes at home. At home, figures of Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi
are drawn on a wooden-board with cowdung and butter. The sugarcane are tied together at the top and placed round the board. Some cotton, betel-nut, lentils and sweets are offered along with a yagna (fire sacrifice). A song urging the god to wake is sung. The canes are then broken and hung off the roof till Holi
, when they are burnt.
Swaminarayan sect
Prabodhini Ekadashi is considered as the most important Ekadashi in the Swaminarayan sect. It is also celebrated by Swaminarayan sectarians as Abjibapashree Jayanti, birth-anniversary of Abji Bapashree, considered an incarnation of the Swaminarayan sect founder - Swaminarayan.
The day also commemorates the religious initiation of Swaminarayan by his guru Ramanand Swami in 1857 and passing of authority by Ramanand Swami to Swaminarayan in 1858. The celebrations last for 5 days. Swaminarayan followers observe a waterless fast and offer Haatadi (an offering of fresh vegaetables) to the gods.
Ekadashi
Ekadashi , also spelled as Ekadasi, is the eleventh lunar day of the shukla or krishna paksha of every lunar month in the Hindu calendar . In Hinduism and Jainism it is considered a spiritually beneficial day...
) in the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha
Paksha
Paksha , is a fortnight in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar. Literally meaning side or period, that is either side of the Full Moon Day or Purnima...
) of the Hindu month
Hindu calendar
The hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar. Nepali calendar, Bengali calendar, Malayalam calendar, Tamil calendar, Telugu calendar, Kannada...
of Kartik
Kartik
Kartik may refer to:* Kartika , a month in the Indian national calendar and Bengali calendar* Kartik * Karttikeya, the brother of Ganesha in the Hindu mythology...
. It marks the end of the four-month period of Chaturmas
Chaturmas
Chaturmas is a holy period of four months , beginning on Shayani Ekadashi—the eleventh day of the first bright half, Shukla paksha, of Ashadh —until Prabodhini Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the first bright half of Kartik in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.Chaturmas is reserved the...
, when god Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
is believed to sleep. It is believed that Vishnu sleeps on Shayani Ekadashi
Shayani Ekadashi
Shayani Ekadashi or Maha-ekadashi or Prathama-ekadashi or Padma Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashadha . Thus it is also known as Ashadhi Ekadashi or Ashadhi...
and wakes on Prabodhini Ekadashi, thus giving this day the name "Prabodhini Ekadashi" ("awakening eleventh"), Vishnu-prabodhini ("awakening of Vishnu") and Dev-Prabodhini Ekadashi, Deothan, Dev uthav ekadashi or Dev Oothi ekadashi ("god's awakening"). The end of Chaturmas, when marriages are prohibited, signifies the beginning of the Hindu wedding season. It is also known as Kartiki Ekadashi, Kartik Shukla ekadashi and Kartiki. It is sometimes called Deva-Diwali or Deva-Deppawali - the festival of lights of the gods.
Rituals
A fast is observed on Prabodhini Ekadashi and the ritual marriage of the TulsiTulsi
Ocimum tenuiflorum Ocimum tenuiflorum Ocimum tenuiflorum (also tulsi, tulasī, or Holy Basil is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae which is native throughout the Old World tropics and widespread as a cultivated plant and an escaped weed. It is an erect, much branched subshrub 30–60 cm...
plant is performed with god Vishnu, who is regarded as the husband of Tulsi. This ritual marriage is known as Tulsi Vivah
Tulsi Vivah
Tulsi Vivah is a 1971 Bollywood fantasy drama film based on mythology. Directed by Chandrakant, the film stars Jayshree Gadkar and Anita Guha .-Cast:*Abhi Bhattacharya ... Bhagwan Shri Vishnu*Jayshree Gadkar ... Vrunda...
and may be conducted on the next day of Prabodhini Ekadashi instead of Prabodhini Ekadashi itself.
Pandharpur
In Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Prabodhini Ekadashi is linked with the god Vithoba
Vithoba
Vithoba , also known as Vitthala and Panduranga , is a Hindu god, worshipped predominantly in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa and Andhra Pradesh. He is generally considered a manifestation of the Hindu god Vishnu or his Avatar Krishna...
- a form of Vishnu. Varkari
Varkari
Varkari is a Vaishnava religious movement within the bhakti spiritual tradition of Hinduism, geographically associated with the Indian states of Maharashtra and northern Karnataka. Varkaris worship Vithoba , the presiding deity of Pandharpur, regarded as a form of Krishna, an Avatar of Vishnu...
pilgrims throng the Pandharpur
Pandharpur
Pandharpur is an important pilgrimage city on the Bhimā river in Solāpur district, Maharashtra, India. The Vithoba temple attracts about half a million Hindu pilgrims during the major yātrā in the month of Ashadh ....
temple of Vithoba on this day. The celebrations in Pandharpur continue for five days, till the full moon day (Kartik Poornima
Kartik Poornima
Kartik Poornima is a Hindu holy day celebrated on the full moon day or the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik . It is also known as Tripuri poornima and Tripurari Poornima. It is sometimes called Deva-Diwali or Deva-Deppawali - the festival of lights of the gods...
). On Prabodhini Ekadashi, the chief minister or a minister of Maharashtra state performs ritual components of worship on behalf of the Government of Maharashtra
Government of Maharashtra
Government of Maharashtra is the government for the state of Maharashtra in Western India.It is an elected government with 288 MLAs elected to the legislative assembly for a 5 year term.-Ministers:...
. This form of worship is known as sarkari-mahapuja.
Mt. Girnar
In Gujarat, more 800,000 pilgrims perform the 32-km Parikrama
Parikrama
For meaning of word see Parikrama .Parikrama is a Rock and Roll band from Delhi, India. They have several live performances and original numbers to their name. The band was officially formed on June 17, 1991 in Delhi...
(circumambulation) of Mt. Girnar
Girnar
Girnar is a collection of mountains in the Junagadh District of Gujarat, India, situated near Junagadh at a distance of 327 km from Ahmedabad. It is a holy place and an important pilgrimage for both Hindus and Jains. There are a number of temples located here. Amidst the lush green Gir...
over a two-day period. This performed as a gesture of thanksgiving to the gods, who are believed to have assembled on the mountain.
Pushkar
In Pushkar
Pushkar
Pushkar is a town in the Ajmer district in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is situated at 14 km North West from Ajmer at an average elevation of 510 metres , and is one of the five sacred dhams...
, Rajasthan, the Pushkar Fair
Pushkar Fair
The Pushkar Fair, or Pushkar ka Mela, is the annual five-day camel and livestock fair, held in the town of Pushkar in the state of Rajasthan, India...
or Pushkar mela commences on this day and continues till the full moon day (Kartik Poornima). This fair is held in the honour of god Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
, whose temple stands at Pushkar. A ritual bath during the five days of the fairin the Pushkar lake is considered to lead one to salvation. Sadhu
Sadhu
In Hinduism, sādhu denotes an ascetic, wandering monk. Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. The sādhu is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa , the fourth and final aśrama , through meditation and contemplation of brahman...
s gather here and stay from ekadashi to full moon day in caves. About 200,000 people and 25,000 camels assemble in Pushkar for the fair. Pushkar fair is Asia's largest camel fair.
Sugarcane harvest
Prabodhini Ekadashi also marks the beginning of sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
harvest. The farmer performs a puja in the field and ceremoniously cuts some sugarcane, laying some at the boundary of the field and distributing five canes to a Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
(priest), blacksmith, carpenter, washer-man and water-carrier and taking five canes at home. At home, figures of Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
are drawn on a wooden-board with cowdung and butter. The sugarcane are tied together at the top and placed round the board. Some cotton, betel-nut, lentils and sweets are offered along with a yagna (fire sacrifice). A song urging the god to wake is sung. The canes are then broken and hung off the roof till Holi
Holi
Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
, when they are burnt.
Swaminarayan sect
Prabodhini Ekadashi is considered as the most important Ekadashi in the Swaminarayan sect. It is also celebrated by Swaminarayan sectarians as Abjibapashree Jayanti, birth-anniversary of Abji Bapashree, considered an incarnation of the Swaminarayan sect founder - Swaminarayan.
The day also commemorates the religious initiation of Swaminarayan by his guru Ramanand Swami in 1857 and passing of authority by Ramanand Swami to Swaminarayan in 1858. The celebrations last for 5 days. Swaminarayan followers observe a waterless fast and offer Haatadi (an offering of fresh vegaetables) to the gods.