DevaSayana
EkAdasii
(Deva-sayana - PadmA Ekadasi)
from Bhavishya-uttara Puran
The saintly king Yudhishthira Maharaj said, "Oh Keshava, what is the
name of that EkAdasii that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of
AshADha (June - July)? Who is the worshipable Deity for the auspicious day, and
what is the process for observing this event?
Lord Sri Krishna replied, "Oh caretaker of this Earthly planet, I shall
gladly tell you a wonderful historical event that the deva lord BrahmA once
narrated to his son NArad Muni.
"One day NArad Muni asked his father, ‘What is the name of the EkAdasii
that comes during the light part of the month of AshADha’, much as you did?
‘Kindly tell me how I should observe this EkAdasii and thus please the Supreme
Lord, Sri Vishnu.’
"Lord BrahmA replied, ‘Oh great saintly orator, O best of all sages, Oh
purest devotee of Lord Vishnu, your question is as usual excellent for all
mankind. There is nothing better than EkAdasii, the day of Lord Sri Hari, in
this or any other world. It nullifies even the worst sins if observed properly.
For this reason I shall tell you about this AshADha-shukla EkAdasii.
‘Fasting on this EkAdasii purifies one of all sins and fulfills all ones
desires. Therefore, whoever neglects to observe this sacred fast day is a good
candidate for entering into hell. AshADha-shukla EkAdasii is also famous as
PadmA EkAdasii. Just to please the Supreme Lord Hrishikesha, the master of the
senses, one should fast on this day. Listen carefully, Oh NArad, as I relate to
you a wonderful historical event that was recorded in the scriptures regarding
this EkAdasii. Just hearing this account destroys all kinds of sins, along with
all obstacles on the path to spiritual perfection.
‘Oh son, there was once a saintly king in the Surya Vamsha (Sun dynasty) whose
name was MAndhAtA. Because he always stood up for the truth, he was appointed
emperor. He took care of his subjects as though they were his very own family
members and children. On account of his piety and great religiosity, there was
no pestilence, drought, or disease of any kind in his entire kingdom. All his
subjects were not only free of all kinds of disturbances but also were very
wealthy. The king’s own treasury was free of any ill-gotten moneys, and thus
he ruled happily for many years.
‘Once, however, because of some sin in his kingdom, there was a drought for
three years. The subjects found themselves beset by famine also. The lack of
food grains made it impossible for them to perform the prescribed Vedic
sacrifices, offer oblations of grita (ghee) to their forefathers and to
the devas, engage in any ritualistic worship, or even study the Vedic
literatures. Finally, they all came before their beloved king in a great
assembly and addressed him thus, ‘Oh king, you always see to our welfare, so
we humbly beg your assistance now. Everyone and everything in this world needs
water. Without water, almost everything is rendered useless or dead. The Vedas
call water nAra, and because the Supreme Personality of Godhead sleeps
upon water, His another name is NArAyana. God makes His own abode on water and
takes His rest there.
It is said that three things cannot exist without water; pearls, human beings,
and flour. The essential quality of a pearl is its luster, and that is due to
water. The essence of a man is his semen, whose main constituent is water. And
without water, flour cannot be made into dough and then be cooked into various
forms of bread, offered and eaten. Sometimes water is called jala-nArAyaNa,
the Supreme Lord in the form of this life sustaining substance - water.
In His form as the clouds, the Supreme Lord is present throughout the sky and
pours forth rains, from which grow the grains that maintain every living entity.
‘ "Oh king, the severe drought has caused a great lack of valuable
grains; thus we are all miserable, and the population is decreasing as people
die off or leave your kingdom. Oh best ruler on Earth, please find some
solutions to this problem and bring us to peace and prosperity once again.
‘The king replied, "You speak the truth, for grains are like Brahman, the
Absolute Truth, who lives within grains and thereby sustains all beings. Indeed,
it is because of grains that the entire world lives. Now, why is there a
terrible drought in our kingdom? The Holy Scriptures discuss this subject very
thoroughly. If a king (or head of the country) is irreligious, both he and his
subjects suffer. I have meditated upon the cause of our problem for a long time,
but after searching my past and present character I can honestly say that I find
no sin. Still, for the good of all you subjects, I shall try to remedy the
situation. Thinking in this way, King MAndhAtA assembled his army and entourage.
Paid his obeisances to me, and then entered the forest. He wandered here and
there, seeking great sages in their Ashrams and inquiring about how to resolve
the crisis in his kingdom. At last he came upon the ashram of one of my other
sons, AngirA Muni, whose effulgence lit up all directions. Seated in his
hermitage, AngirA looked like a second BrahmA. King MAndhAtA was very pleased to
see that exalted sages, whose senses were completely under control.
‘The king immediately dismounted his horse and offered his respectful
obeisances at the lotus feet of AngirA Muni. Then the king joined his palms and
prayed for the Muni’s blessings. That saintly person reciprocated by blessing
the king with sacred mantras; then he asked him about the welfare of the seven
limbs of his kingdom. The seven limbs of a king’s domain are
‘After telling the sage how the seven limbs
of his kingdom were situated, King MAndhAtA asked the sage about his own
situation, and if he was happy. Then AngirA Muni asked the king why he had
undertaken such a difficult journey into the forest, and the king told him of
the affliction his kingdom was suffering. The king said, "Oh great sage, I
am ruling and maintaining my kingdom while following the Vedic injunctions, and
thus I do not know the reason for the drought. To solve this mystery, I have
approached you for help. Please help me relieve the suffering of my subjects.
‘ANgira Rishi said to the king, ‘The present age, Satya yuga, is the best of
all ages, for in this age Dharma stands on all four legs (Truthfulness,
Austerity, Mercy, and Cleanliness). In this age everyone respects Brahmins as
the topmost members of society. Also, everyone fulfills his occupational duties,
and only twice-born Brahmins are allowed to perform Vedic austerities and
penances. Although this is a standard, Oh lion among kings, there is one shudra
(uninitiated, untrained person) who is unlawfully performing the rites of
austerity and penance in your kingdom. This is why there is no rain in your
land. You should therefore punish this laborer with death, for by so doing you
will remove the contamination inflicted by his actions and restore peace to your
subjects.
‘The king then replied, "How can I kill an offense-less performer of
austerity and sacrifice? Please give me some spiritual solution.
‘The great sage ANgirA Muni then said, "Oh king, you should observe a
fast on the EkAdasii that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of
AshADha. This auspicious day is named PadmA EkAdasii, and by its influence
plentiful rains and thus grains and other foodstuffs will surely return to your
kingdom. This EkAdasii bestows perfection upon its faithful observers, removes
all kinds of bad elements, and destroys all obstacles on the path to perfection.
Oh king, you, your relatives, and your subjects should all observe this sacred
EkAdasii fast. Then everything in your kingdom will undoubtedly return to
normal. ‘Upon hearing these words, the king offered his obeisances and then
returned to his palace. When the PadmA EkAdasii arrived, King MAndhAtA assembled
all the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and shudras in his kingdom and instructed
them to strictly observe this important fast day. After they had observed it,
the rains fell, just as the sage had predicted, and in due course of time there
were abundant crops and a rich harvest of grain. By the mercy of the Supreme
Lord Hrishikesha, the master of the senses, all the subjects of King MAndhAtA
became extremely happy and prosperous.
‘Therefore, Oh Narada, everyone should observe this EkAdasii fast very
strictly, for it bestows all kinds of happiness, as well as ultimate liberation,
upon the faithful devotee’
Lord Sri Krishna concluded, "My dear Yudhishthira, PadmA Ekadasi is so
powerful that one who simply reads or hears its glories becomes completely
sinless. Oh PANDava, one who wishes to please Me should strictly observe this
EkAdasii, which is also known as Deva-sayani EkAdasii
Deva-sayani, or Vishnu-sayani, indicates the day when Lord Vishnu goes to sleep
with all the devas (demigods). It is
said that after this day one should not perform any new auspicious ceremonies
until DevotthAni EkAdasii (Haribodhini (Probodhini) Devotthaani (Utthana)
EkAdasii), which occurs during the month of KArtika (October - November),
because the devas (demigods), being asleep, cannot be invited to the sacrificial
arena and because the Sun is traveling along its Southern course (Dakshinayanam).
"Lord Sri Krishna continued, "Oh lion among kings, Yudhishthira
Maharaj, whoever wants liberation should regularly observe a fast on this
EkAdasi which is also the day when the Chaturmasya fast begins.
Thus ends the narration of the glories of the AshADha-shukla EkAdasii - also
known as PadmA EkAdasii or Deva-sayani EkAdasii - from the Bhavishya-uttara
PurANa.