✠✠✠ Festivals of Ekadashi ✠✠✠
Ekadashi is the time of the year when there are several major festivals that take place. These festivals may be associated with a specific deity. Some of these festivals are Rama Ekadashi, Utapanna Ekadashi, Indira Ekadashi, and Kamada Ekadashi. Each festival is different from one another and there is a lot to know about them.
Rama Ekadashi
In the Hindu religion, Rama Ekadashi is considered an auspicious day. It is celebrated just before Diwali. On this day, people perform a fast in order to get rid of the negative energies. They worship Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi, and ask for their blessings. The result of this fasting is that it helps people get rid of their bad habits and sins.
As per the Hindu mythology, it is believed that people who observe the Rama Ekadashi Vrat are blessed by the Lord. According to the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, it is said that this fast cleanses all the sins of devotees. This festival is said to be the best time to offer prayers to Goddess Laxmi.
If you want to celebrate this auspicious festival, you need to prepare the special food and offer it to Lord Vishnu. You also need to take a holy bath on this day.
Rama Ekadashi is one of the most important ritual fasts in the Hindu religion. In addition, you need to wear fresh clothes and light incense sticks. Also, you should bathe early. You can offer the flowers and fruits to the deity. You can even offer Tulsi leaves.
Maha Shakti Ekadashi
The Maha Shakti Ekadashi is a holy day for Hindus. She is a deity who is a manifestation of Lord Vishnu's immense internal power. Her birth is described in the Mahabharata and other ancient texts.
The Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day of every fortnight. It is also the day of the month in which the Moon is waxing. Various spiritual traditions celebrate Ekadashi Day to cleanse their minds and bodies.
On this day, Hindus fast to seek blessings of the Lord. It is a day of spiritual progress and harmony. There are several spiritual traditions that dedicate Ekadashi Day to meditation. Aside from the fasting, devotees are encouraged to offer donations to those in need.
To become a devotee of the Lord, one should worship the deity. They are asked to chant the eight-syllable mantra of the Lord. Taking bath is another ritual. Devotees should avoid using Bell metal cutlery and are not supposed to massage oil or honey on their bodies.
The main purpose of Ekadashi fasting is to remove all the sins of a person's past lives. It is believed that fasting on Ekadashi opens the door to the Lord's abode. In addition to the fasting, devotees are advised to do charity, sing praises of the Lord and engage in devotional activities.
Nirjala Ekadashi
Nirjala Ekadashi is one of the most sacred and important ekadashis in Hindu calendar. It falls in the summer months and is observed to pray to Lord Vishnu.
The fasting period is 24-hours long. It is observed to gain benefits of the other ekadashis. Some believe that the fast of Nirjala Ekadasi also brings good changes to devotees' lives. In addition, it also helps purify the body.
Before the Ekadasi, devotees are required to worship and chant the names of Lord Vishnu. They are also asked to donate to the Brahmins. This vrat is observed in honor of Vaikunth, the abode of Vishnu.
During the fast, the devotees are also asked to perform a night vigil. This means they are supposed to sit in a place isolated from people and vegetation. During the fast, they are also not allowed to eat rice, lentils or wheat.
After the end of the fast, devotees are given water and food, which they can consume. This is the day when people also donate clothes, tulsi leaves and pure water to the needy.
A person can only participate in the fast if he or she is fully dedicated and believes in the power of the vrat. He or she should never take part in the fast if he or she has any diseases or is pregnant.
Indira Ekadashi
Indira Ekadashi is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu religion. It falls on the eleventh day of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Ashwin. It is observed to honor Lord Vishnu.
The fasting day is also believed to help the ancestors attain Moksha and peace. However, there are some rules that must be followed for observing the Ekadashi fast.
During the fast, devotees perform prayers to Lord Vishnu and ancestors. They also perform Shradh for deceased ancestors. If the devotees follow these rituals, they can obtain the blessings of Lord Vishnu.
Devotees also offer charity to Brahmanas. In addition, they should stay awake throughout the night and pray for the blessings of Lord Vishnu. This can be done by reading the Vishnu Sahasranama.
Besides offering Prasad to family and friends, it is also recommended that devotees donate food to crows. It is also necessary to read the Ekadashi Vrat Katha before starting the fast.
On the day of Indira Ekadashi, devotees should perform puja and a tarpan ceremony. After performing these rituals, they should not take food from another person's house. Furthermore, abstinence from sexual acts must be observed.
Apart from praying to Lord Vishnu, devotees should also worship Sri Shaligram Shila. Devotees should not drink water or smoke during the fast.
Papankusha Ekadashi
Papankusha Ekadashi, also known as Ashwina Shukla Ekadashi, is one of the most auspicious festivals celebrated in the Hindu calendar. This day is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Padmanabha. It is a festival which is observed on the eleventh day of the month of Ashwin in the Hindu calendar. Papankusha Ekadashi is a special vrat that helps a person to attain salvation.
The Papankusha festival is observed to purify the soul and body. Lord Padmanabha is worshiped with zeal and devotion. People fast on Papankusha Ekadashi to attain peace of mind and health. The Lord Padmanabha idol is offered fruits, lamps, and betel leaves.
A person who performs jagran at night on Papankusha Ekadashi will be able to reach heaven. He or she should wear clean clothes and install the deity's picture.
The Papankusha festival also encourages people to donate food and other essentials to Brahmins. They should make charitable contributions according to their financial status.
Devotees should worship Lord Padmanabha with devotion and worship the idol with the help of incense sticks. They should also offer fruits and payas to the Lord.
A person should read the Papankusha Vrat Katha before beginning his or her vrat. In the Papankusha Vrat, a person is not allowed to speak lies or take any actions that can bring death.
Kamada Ekadashi
Kamada Ekadashi is the Hindu sacred day dedicated to the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. On this day, devotees observe a fast to pay ode to the Lord. The fast lasts 24 hours and starts from Chaitra Shukla Paksha dashami.
It is believed that the vrat helps in detoxifying the body and cleansing the mind. It is said that the observance of this fast leads to liberation from the cycle of birth and death. As such, it is believed to be one of the best ways to cleanse the body.
Devotees can follow a vegetarian diet on this day and only drink fruits. They also donate money to Brahmins and recite Vedic mantras in praise of Lord Krishna.
A few Hindu scriptures also mention abstinence from sex on this day. Keeping these rules in mind, a couple decided to observe the vrat. During the vrat, they asked a sage for help. Sage Shringi suggested the couple to fast on the day of Ekadashi.
As a result, the couple was blessed with a child. This is the reason why people believe that observing a fast on Kamada Ekadasi is beneficial. People can be cured of demonic curses, remove guilt, and gain happiness by observing the fast.
Utapanna Ekadashi
Utapanna Ekadashi is a holy Hindu festival that is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This festival is celebrated in the month of Margashirsha. In the Hindu calendar, it falls on the eleventh day of Krishna Paksha.
The word Ekadashi means 'to stay close to the Supreme Lord'. Hence, observing a fast on Utpanna Ekadashi is an act of dedication towards the Supreme Lord. It is believed that fasting on this particular day will remove any sins that you may have committed in the past or in the present.
There are many ways to keep the Utpanna Ekadashi fast. You can donate money to the poor, give gifts to your family, or offer a prayer. Another option is to offer a sacred bhog to the deities.
Devotees who observe the fast on this day wear clean clothes. They also light lamps and perform aarti.
During the worship, 108 names of Lord Vishnu are chanted. Prasad is also offered to the deities. After the worship, the devotees take a bath.
It is believed that performing aarti on Utpanna Ekadashi will grant people with good health and a prosperous life. However, you must do this with the intention of worshipping the deity without ill intentions.