|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
Bhavishyottara
Puranam describes the glories of Hari Sayana Ekadashi/Deva Sayani or Padma
Ekadashi. Lord
Krishna narrates to King Yudhishtira about the glories of Deva Sayana Ekadashi
which falls on the waxing period of moon which was earlier described by Lord
Brahma to his Manasaputra Maharishi Narada. Lord Brahma explains the
prescribed rules and regulations of the worship of Supreme Lord Sriman Narayana
on this propitious day, basically everyone should observe the Deva Sayani
Ekadashi in order to get purified and it has the capabilities to eradicates the
sins committed in one’s life and fulfills the desires of the worshiper.
The legend
has that during Satya Yuga there was an Emperor Mandata from Soorya Dynasty
ruled the entire world. He was a righteous ruler, his kingdom and
its people were happy. His Kingdom flourished with the uprightness of the
people and did not face any natural disaster or calamities like famine, drought,
flood etc.. He ruled his Kingdom wisely for several years. Year’s
passes by, Emperor Mandata’s kingdom started to face shortage of rain and
people find the scarcity of food. As a result, the performance of
sacrifices, reciting Veda and other sacred scriptures are also reduced
drastically. People started to lose interest in righteousness and
worried about the present situation of drought and famine. The scholars approached Emperor Mandata and
advised the importance to worship of Lord Sriman Narayana as a solution for the
pathetic conditions prevailing in their Kingdom. The Emperor gracefully
accepted the advice of the scholars and decided to visit Sages for more precise
opinion. Emperor Mandata left to forest with his army
of men, there he paid visit to Sages and their hermitages, discussed
with them about the present crisis and engaged in pious activities.
One day
Emperor Mandata met Sage Angira – Manasa Putra of Lord Brahma whose effulgence
made Emperor Mandata prostrates before him, stood before him folding palms
together and prayed. Sage Angira was pleased at the
humbleness of Emperor Mandata and blessed him. The most compassionate
Sage Angira enquired the Emperor about the reason for his visit and the well-being
of the people in his Kingdom. Emperor Mandata replied with deep
dissatisfaction and anguish that his Kingdom is facing severe drought and
thereby people are facing lot of miseries. Emperor revealed his inability
to find any cause for the reason and requested Sage Angira to advice a solution
which could bring back the peace and happiness in the life of the people in his
Kingdom. He earnestly requested Sage
Angira for an appropriate means to alleviate the sufferings of his subjects.
Sage Angira
explained the Varnashrama Dharma elaborately to the Emperor and informed that
performing austerities according to the Varnashrama Dharma yield results and
acceptable. Sathya Yuga is one of the most rewarding era, Bhramins are considered as superior and most
respectable Varna, who are allowed to performed Vedic rituals and severe
austerities. Worship of Lord against
the prescribed rules and regulations, engage in performing austerities against
one’s own Varnashrama Dharma should be discarded and these could cause
misfortune to the Kingdom. Sage Angira enlightened Emperor Mandata with
the main causes for the severe drought in his Kingdom and instructed him to get
rid of the Varnas which were performing austerities against their Varnashrama .
Emperor Mandata was in utter dismay to take away the life of people who are
innocent and engaged in performing austerities without knowing the adverse effect,
hence he requested the Sage to instruct an easy solution without causing threat
to the life of his subjects. Sage Angira described the glories of
Devasayani Ekadashi which occurs during the waxing period of the moon and
instructed Emperor Mandata to observe Devasayani Ekadashi along with the people
of his Kingdom, that could bring all the piousness and it’s capable to bring
enough rain fall in his Kingdom. Sage Angira also informed that
observance of Devasayani Ekadashi would bring back all the Good luck, happiness
and prosperity in their lives. Emperor
Mandata satisfied after listening to the promising words of Sage Angira, once
again he paid obeisance to Sage and returned to his
palace. As instructed by the Sage, Emperor Mandata and the entire
people in his Kingdom observed Ekadashi faithfully and Prayed to Lord
Hrishikesha. As per everyone’s wish his Kingdom obtained enough rainfall
with the blessings of Lord Hrishikesha. Thus the Kingdom of Mandata got
rid of severe drought and famine, and all the people in His Kingdom lived
happily.
Lord Krishna
continued, listening and reading the glories of Devasayani Ekadashi would
eradicate all the sins committed in one’s life, consequently it would bring
happiness and peace, ultimately liberation from the cycles of birth and death.
|| Jai Sriman Narayana ||
