|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
Lord Krishna explains to King Yudhishtira about the significance
of Vijaya Ekadashi which falls on the Shukla Paksha in the month
of Phalgun.
Lord Krishna speaks ' Oh King Yudhishtira - I
am delighted to explain to you about the abundance of merits
acquire by observing the Vijaya Ekadashi with utmost faith and
devotion. One who worships Lord Hari on this auspicious day would
bring success in their entire endeavor in present life and in
future births. It also removes all the sins of the worshipper
'.
Once, Maharishi Narada requested his father - Lord Brahma about
the significance of Vijaya Ekadashi. Lord Brahma replied to his
Manasa Putra that whoever worships Lord Vishnu and fasts on
this auspicious day of Vijaya Ekadashi ensures success all
through their life. Moreover, the sins committed in their life will
vanish like cotton balls in the fire. It provides the worshipper to
attain Victory in their venture as its name indicates.
Lord Rama was exiled for fourteen years from his Kingdom
Ayodhya. He arrived at Panchavadi with his Brother Lakshman
and His wife Sita Devi. They lived in Panchavadi like any other
ordinary human beings. During this period, the Demon King Ravana abducted
Sita Devi. At this, Lord Rama was traumatized and he was felt
powerless. Lord Rama resumed his journey with his younger brother
Lakshman, on his way he killed Kabandha, met Jadayu - The Pakshi Rajan (The
King of the Birds -Eagle). Jadayu was on the edge of his death explained
all the truth about how Sita Devi was mercilessly abducted by the
demon king Ravana. Immediately after Jadayu took last breath and
he got salvation at the Lotus feet of Lord Rama. Later, Lord Rama
had friendship with the Monkey King Sugriva. Lord Rama constructed
an army of Monkeys with the help of Sugriva. The army consists of
powerful warriors like Hanuman, Angadha, Nalan, Neelan and Jambavan and many
more. Lord Rama chosen Hanuman as a messenger to proceed to Lanka with His
Anguleeyam (Ring) and he was entrusted with the job of safely hand it over to
Sita Devi. Hanuman had to face lot of hindrances on his way to Lanka,
like Mainakam - The Mountain, Surasa - Nagamatha, Simhika - The demon, Lankini-
who was the protector of Kingdom Lanka. Finally, Hanuman located Sita
Devi in Ashoka Vatika surrounded by the ogres. Hanuman described
Sita Devi about the incidents happened in the life of Lord Rama in the absence
of her and the friendship He had made with the Monkey King Sugriva. Sita
Devi realized Hanuman as the faithful servant of Lord Rama and handed her
'Choodamani' (an ornament which is used for decorating hair) to give to
Lord Rama. Hanuman as a truthful messenger illustrated what had happened
in Lanka to Lord Rama.
Lord Rama with the help of Monkey King Sugriva and his
huge army arrived at the shores of Lanka. He found that it was
difficult to cross the vast ocean, the depth and the deadly animals in the deep
ocean made them further helpless. Lakshman consoled his brother with the
information of Sage Bagadhalbya who is a great scholar could help them to find
a way out. Sage Bagadhalbya was a wise an intellectual scholar
who lived four miles away in an island. As soon as they entered the
hermitage of Sage Bagadhalbya, the Sage could visualize that Lord Rama is the
personification of Lord Narayana.
He received them with utmost reverence. Lord Rama described the Sage
about his purpose to cross the deep ocean and reach the Kingdom of
Ravana.
Sage Bagadhalbya explains to Lord Rama about the
glorious worship of Lord Vishnu on the auspicious day of
Vijaya Ekadashi and the methods of worship as a resolution for the
whole issue. Sage continued
to explain the process of worship of Lord Vishnu, on the previous day of Ekadashi
a pitcher made of silver or gol dor copper or mud should be kept filled with
water and decorated with mango leaves on the top and covered with a lid.
The pitcher should beplaced on the top of rice grains.
After ablations, the pitcher should be decorated with sandal paste
and flowers. On the top of the lid of the Pitcher a small idol of Lord
Vishnu should be placed and offerings of fruits should be made to Lord.
The whole day should be spent in chanting the names and glories
of Lord Vishnu, follow fasting and abstaining from sleep and keep awake in
the night. On the Ekadashi day, after abulations and worship of Lord
Vishnu by offering fruits, incents, flowers, ghee lamp, Bhog, abstain from
sleep and worship of Lord Vishnu should be carried out faithfully. On the
Dwadashi day, after abulations the pitcher along with all the offerings made to
Lord is taken to the river side. After prayers the offerings in
the form of Fruits & Bhog along with the idol of Lord Vishnu and
the pitcher should be donated to a righteous Brahmin. Sage
Bagadhalbya explained to Lord Rama that by observing Vijaya Ekadashi would
yield him and his warriors to attain success in all their endeavors. Lord Rama
observed the Vijaya Ekadashi as instructed by Sage Bagadhalbya with utmost
faith and devotion. Consequently he conquered the vast Kingdom of Lanka
and killed Ravana and his demon army.
Lord Krishna continued, whoever listens or reads the glories
of Vijaya Ekadashi would attains the merit of Ashwamedha Yagam and whoever
observes would get rid of all the sins committed and attain the Lotus
feet of Sriman Narayana.
|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
