Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi – Padma Ekadashi /Devashayani / Hari Shayani -Ashadhi Ekadashi -Maha-ekadashi-Devpodhi Ekadashi & Start of Chaturmas Vrata
Ashad Shukla Ekadashi is an extremely important Ekadashi as it marks the start of a very important and perhaps the longest duration of observing religious vows . This period is called CHATURMAS means a period of 4 months. People observe different vows, promised in front of God and follow them for full four months till Devautthan Ekadashi or Hari Prabodhin Ekadashi. This 4 months period is extremely important for devotees and Sanyasis . Even general public is can benefit from this as well as there is no restriction of vows which can be taken during Chatrumas. Although there is a long list of virtuous acts which can be carried during this period. People choose any one or multiple act or create as per their own wish to follow during this Chaturmas.
Mahatma Gandhi’s mother used to carry out Chaturmas fast with utmost sincerity. Mahatma Gandhi writes in his autobiography that one his mother took a vow that she will eat only once in a day and only when, she sees the Sun. It so happened that once it rained heavily for 3 days consecutively for 3 days and Sun did not show for 3 days. She did eat saying he Lord doesn’t want her to take food. Such was her devotion.
Sanyasis who have taken vows not to stay at one place , has a ritual to stay at one place during Chaturmas .During this period they may disseminate their knowledge and learning to general public.
However eve if you are not carrying out any Chaturmas vows , still you can observe the Harishayani Ekadashi.
Story of Devashayani Ekdashi:
Dharmaraj Yudhishthir said to Lord Krishna, ” O Keshava ! Please tell us What is the name of Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi?What is the procedure to observe this and who is worshiped in this fast?”
Lord Krishna said, ” O Yudhishthir! This Ekadashi is called Padma Ekadashi. I will tell the story which Lord Brahma narrated to Narad about Padma Ekadashi.
Once the same question was asked by Narad rishi to Lord Brahma, then he replied,” O Narada! You have asked a very beautiful question for the benefit of the mankind in Kaliyuga. Ekadashi fast is supreme in all fasts and it destroys all sins committed by a person. People who do not observe this fast they will find it difficult to avoid hell. Lord Vishnu is pleased with those who observe Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi. This Ekadashi is called Padma. Now I will tell you a very ancient story mentioned in Puranas. Listen carefully.
Once upon a time there was a very Powerful and virtuous King Mandhata. He always spoke truth and was brave and victorious over his enemies. he used to take care of his people like his progeny.His kingdom was replete with wealth, food and happy. They never faced a famine in his kingdom. But Once there was no rain for 3 years and consequently there was a big famine. Common people started starving due lack of food and started to die. Since there was no food, people stopped doing Yagya, havan and other religious deeds. One day people went to meet King Mandhata and said to him,” Your Majesty, Entire world is dependent on water. Since there is no rain for many years now consequently there is no water and no food. Your people are dying due to this grave famine. We request to kindly do do something about this adversity we are facing and alleviate us from our grief.
King Mandhata Replied,” I think what every one is saying is totally justified and correct. Rain is important for production of food grain. You are aggrieved because of no rain. It is due to the sins of a King that his Kingdom has to suffer. I have thought a lot about it but I am unable to see any mistake done by me which can cause this calamity. I understand your problem and I will definitely do something about it. ” Saying thus aggrieved King , because of the plight of his people went towards the forest along with his some soldiers. He went to ashrams of many rishis and finally reached the ashram of Rishi Angira who was the son of Lord Brahma. King got down from his horse and paid his obeisance to the Rishi. Rishi was just through with his morning rituals . he blessed king and asked his well being and the reason for his visit.
Rishi said,” O King ! How are yo doing and how is your Kingdom? What has brought you here today?
King folded his hands in front of Rishi and said in with extreme humility,” O great Rishi among the Saptarshis (7 Rishis denoted by Ursa Major constellation(Saptarshi constellation) in sky). I have been extremely careful in carrying out my responsibilities as King and have observed righteousness(Dharma) but still a huge famine has fell down on us. My people are starving and in great agony due to this. It has been told in scriptures that the Kingdom suffers due to the sins of the King only. I have not committed any sins in my life till now. When I am ruling with justice and righteousness(Dharma), then why did famine befell on my kingdom? i am clueless about the reason and I have come to you find the exact reason behind this calamity. Kindly use your divine powers and find out the reason behind this famine and kindly tell me a solution to end this misery.
Rishi Angira replied to the King,” O King, Current age is Satayuga, which is best age among all four ages( Satayuga, Treta Yug, Dwapar Yug, Kali Yuga). All four pillars of Dharma( Satya-Truth, Daya-Kindness, Tapa-Penance & austerities, Dan-Donation) are followed with complete sincerity and perfection. This means the Dharma is followed with complete precision and and this is the best time for Dharma. people worship Lord Brahma and only Brahmanas read Vedas in this age and carry out penance. O King, everyone follows his duties, as whatever he has been assigned in your kingdom. Try and find out if this practice is followed with complete correctness or not. As far as I can see, there is one person who is trying to do penance against the duty of Shudra , which was originally assigned to him. Due this anomaly in the perfect age of Satayuga, the rains have stopped. If you want the happiness of your people you should stop him from doing the penance or you might have to kill him..
Hearing upon this the merciful King Mandhata spoke,” Dear Lord, I cannot kill that innocent Shudra, who is doing his penance. I will direct my people to follow their own Dharma but if someone is ambitious and wants to progress, I won’t stop him from doing so. Kindly tell me any other way to overcome my difficulty.
Pleased with King’s answer the Rishi said,” O King,” If you want some other method, I will tell you a very simple method. You should observe the fast of Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi ( Eleventh day of bright fortnight of Ashadh month) with complete rituals. There will be plentiful rains due to this fast in your Kingdom. People will be happy as Ekadashi fast is the bestower of all Siddhis (special boons) and the vanquisher of all obstacles. This Padma Ekdashi which is giver of worldly pleasure and the salvation, is also called Harishayani Ekadashi. There will be plentiful rain for full four months of Chaturmas due to the fasting of this Devashayani Ekdashi. You should observe this Ekadashi with your ministers, servants and with the common folks of you kingdom. “
Hearing the sound advice given bu Angira Rishi, King Mandhata returned to his Kingdom. He observed Padma Ekadashi with his entire kingdom observing complete rituals. As told by Rishi Angira , it rained plentiful in King Mandhata’s Kindom and people became happy again.
Padma Ekadashi quickly grants the worldly pleasures and wealth in this earthly plane and is giver of salvation in afterlife. Therefore this Ekadashi fast should be observed by everyone. One who reads or hears the significance of Padma Ekadashi , his sins are destroyed and untimely death is avoided.
People plant Tulasi seeds in ground or in vase o this day of Padma Ekadashi. it is believed to bring great merits. The messengers of death also pay respect to sacred of even the air passing through the Tulasi. The life is deemed greatly auspicious for those who wear Tulasi rosary on their necks.
Lord Vishnu is pleased by observing this fast. Therefore those who want salvation should do this fast. Chaturmasya Vows & fast is started from this day of Padma/Devashayani Ekadashi.
Please go through the link below to know about Chaturmas Vrata niyamas.
Years & Dates of this Ekadashi:
Date in 2018 – 23 July 2018, Day- Monday || Nakshatra- Anuradha || Chandra- Vrischik(Scorpio)
Read about:
Chaturmas Vrata and its significance
Note: Ashadi Ekadashi is also of great importance at Vithal( incarnation of Vishnu) Temple in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. The pilgrims are also known as Warkaris who carry images of various saints of Maharashtra in huge palkhis.
Links To All 26 Ekadashis of 13 Months (Adhikmas Included)
| Month/हिंदी महीना | Ekadashi Name/एकादशी का नाम |
| Margashirsha Krishna Paksha/मार्गशीर्ष कृष्ण पक्ष | Utpanna Ekadashi/उत्पन्ना एकादशी |
| Margashirsha Shukla Paksha/मार्गशीर्ष शुक्ल पक्ष | Mokshada Ekadashi/मोक्षदा एकादशी |
| Paush Krishna Paksha /पौष कृष्ण पक्ष | Safala Ekadashi /सफला एकादशी |
| Paush Shukla Paksha/पौष शुक्ल पक्ष | Putrada Ekadashi /पुत्रदा एकादशी |
| Magh Krishna Paksha/माघ कृष्ण पक्ष | Shattila Ekadashi /षटतिला एकादशी |
| Magh Shukla Paksha/माघ शुक्ल पक्ष | Jaya Ekadashi /जया एकादशी |
| Falgun Krishna Paksha/ फाल्गुन कृष्ण पक्ष | Vijaya Ekadashi/विजया एकादशी |
| Falgun Shukla Paksha/फाल्गुन शुक्ल पक्ष | Amalaki Ekadashi /आमलकी एकादशी |
| Chaitra Krishna Paksha/चैत्र कृष्ण पक्ष | Papmochani Ekadashi /पापमोचनी एकादशी |
| Chaitra Shukla Paksha/चैत्र शुक्ल पक्ष | Kamada Ekadashi /कामदा एकादशी |
| Vaishakh Krishna Paksha/वैशाख कृष्ण पक्ष | Varuthini Ekadashi/ वरुथिनी एकादशी |
| Vaishakh Shukla Paksha/वैशाख शुक्ल पक्ष | Mohini Ekadashi/मोहिनी एकादशी |
| Jyesth Krishna Paksha/ज्येष्ठ कृष्ण पक्ष | Apara Ekadashi /अपरा एकादशी |
| Jyesth Shukla Pakhsa/ज्येष्ठ शुक्ल पक्ष | Nirjala Ekadashi /निर्जला एकादशी |
| Ashadh Krishna Paksha/आषाढ़ कृष्ण पक्ष | Yogini Ekadashi/योगिनी एकादशी |
| Ashadh Shukla Paksha/आषाढ़ शुक्ल पक्ष | Devshayani Ekadashi / देवशयनी एकादशी |
| Shravan Krishna Paksha/श्रवण कृष्ण पक्ष | Kamika Ekadashi / कामिका-कामदा एकादशी |
| Shravan Shukla Paksha/श्रवण शुक्ल पक्ष | Shravana Putrada Ekadashi /श्रावण पुत्रदा एकादशी |
| Bhadrapad Krishna Paksha/भाद्रपद कृष्ण पक्ष | Aja Ekadashi /अजा एकादशी |
| Bhadrapad Shukla Paksha /भाद्रपद शुक्ल पक्ष | Parivartini-Parsva Ekadashi /परिवर्तिनी-पार्श्व एकादशी |
| Ashwin Krishna Paksha/आश्विन कृष्ण पक्ष | Indira Ekadashi/इंदिरा एकादशी |
| Ashwin Shukla Paksha/ आश्विन शुक्ल पक्ष | Papankusha Ekadashi /पापांकुशा एकादशी |
| Kartik Krishna Paksha /कार्तिक कृष्ण पक्ष | Rama Ekadashi /रमा एकादशी |
| Kartik Shukla Paksha/कार्तिक शुक्ल पक्ष | Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi /देव प्रबोधिनी एकादशी |
| Adhikmas Krishna Paksha/अधिकमास कृष्ण पक्ष | Parama Ekadashi /परमा एकादशी |
| Adhikmas Shukla Paksha/अधिकमास शुक्ल पक्ष | Padmini Ekadashi/पद्मिनी एकादशी |
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अषाढ़ शुक्ल एकादशी/ पद्मा एकादशी/ देवशयनी एकादशी / हरिशयनी एकादशी और चतुर्मास का प्रारंभ
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