Shayani Ekadashi
DevShayani ekadashi is the first ekadashi in the Chaturmas, the holy four-month period of monsoon season. Maha ekadashi, Padma ekadashi, Shayana ekadashi or Tholi Ekadashi(Telugu). Lord Vishnu goes into slumber period beginning this ekadashi and wakes four months later on Prabodhini ekadashi.
Shayani Ekadashi Date 2023
Thu , 29th Jun 2023
On this day, Vishnu devotees go on pilgrimage to Pandharpur, Maharashtra. They gather in groups and begin their yatra or religious procession of 17 long days called Ashadi Ekadasi Waari Yatra that culminates at Vitthal temple, Pandharpur. Some devotees carry Palkhis (palanquins) with images of Lord Vitthal or Vithoba and other important saints of Maharashtra.
Ekadashi Vrat rituals
The best way to celebrate Ekadashi is to observe fast and chant Vedic mantras. Ekadashi fasting means spiritual cleansing, a spiritual detoxification of all senses. People refrain from consuming solid food, grains, pulses or lentils on this day. According to ancient Vedic scriptures, the Ekadashi fast spans for about three days. The day prior to Ekadasi, i.e On Dashami, devotees relish one healthy balanced meal around the afternoon or before sunset to ensure no residual food remains in the body during Ekadashi. On Ekadashi, devotees observe a sincere, clean fast and break the fast after sunrise of the next day. This has been the ritualistic fasting process. In today’s world people follow different types of fast-
Nirjala Ekadashi: ultimate fast. Fast the whole day without eating and drinking water.
Sajala Ekadashi: similar to a juice fast. Consume water and fruit juices.
Farali Ekadashi: Fruit diet that is commonly followed. Consume Fruits and Milk only.
Wake up in the brahma muhurat, take bath and clean sacred live space at home for pooja and bhajan ceremonies. We can recite or meditate on Vishnu Sahasranama during this time. Or be with the mantra “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaaya” all day, learn more Vishnu Mantras. Choose a fast that suits your schedule for the day or activities for the day. It is generally preferred to avoid grains and pulses, or lentils, tubers on Ekadesi. Eat fruits, positive prana foods like coconut, coconut water, dairy products, peppercorn, honey and nuts. Stay mindful of your every thought and action. Offer flowers and light a lamp for Tulsi plant. We can participate in bhajan or homa remedy ceremonies. Temple visits, offerings and donations are advised since they can deepen the sense of devotion. Refrain from negative emotions like hate, anger, greed, jealously and violence choose happier, inclusive attributes like empathy, care, faith, integrity.
Pregnant women, elderly people can skip fasting and rather chant & internalise Lord Vishnu Mantras. Children below the age of 12 can also avoid fasting since they are in the assimilation phase of their life.
We also suggest other modes of fasting like gadget free fast- taking a break from social media for a day, staying away from watching television, or mobile phone or even gaming gadgets and other distractive media. This can also create a significant amount of awareness and mindfulness.
Magnanimity of Ekadashi Vrat
Bhagavad Gita says that this Ekadashi Vrat was revealed by Lord Krishna to King Arjuna and all the Pandavas followed this fast all their lifetime. Vrat doesn’t necessarily mean denial of food, it’s the compulsive nature that is moderated during the Vrat. Ekadashi Vrat aims at making everything, a conscious process. When we do not act based on compulsive nature, we become conscious, when we are conscious, we choose; choose our reactions, our words and actions. This is the cycle the Vrat taps into, by making a shift in our very nature, from compulsive to conscious. We go on collecting data or memories based on day-to-day life, things we see, read and eat. Ekadashi creates a window to reflect on this memory pile, reevaluate data fetched to our system, a hard reboot. It is also believed that full stomach causes lethargy and dullness, and a light stomach keeps the mind sharp and alert. This Vrat is considered to be of incomparable power and benefits. There is a famous sloka on Ekadashi Vrat that goes,
“Na Gayathrya para mantram:
Na Mathu para dhaivatham:
Na Ganagasya paramam theertham:
Na Ekadasya samam vratham”
There is no mantra superior to Gayathri Mantra; there is no God superior to one’s mother; there is no holy water superior to River Ganga and there is no vrata superior to the Ekadasi vrat.
According to Srimad Bhagavad Purana, this Ekadashi Vrat earns the same merit as equivalent to performing an aswamedha homa, 10 times the merit of donating 1000 cows to a temple or an ashrama and the merit of feeding 1000 sages or spiritual seekers.
Benefits
Tithi Timing and Puja Muhurat for Ashadhi Ekadashi 2023
Sunrise | 29 June, 2023 05:48 AM. |
Sunset | 29 June, 2023 07:12 PM. |
Ekadashi Tithi Begins | 29 June, 2023 03:19 AM. |
Ekadashi Tithi Ends | 30 June, 2023 02:42 AM. |
Hari Vasara End Moment | 30 June, 2023 08:21 AM. |
Dwadashi End Moment | 01 July, 2023 01:17 AM. |
Parana Time | June 30, 08:21 AM - June 30, 08:29 AM |
Shayani Ekadashi festival dates between 2020 & 2030
Year | Date |
---|---|
2020 | Wednesday, 1st of July |
2021 | Tuesday, 20th of July |
2022 | Sunday, 10th of July |
2023 | Thursday, 29th of June |
2024 | Wednesday, 17th of July |
2025 | Sunday, 6th of July |
2026 | Saturday, 25th of July |
2027 | Wednesday, 14th of July |
2028 | Sunday, 2nd of July |
2029 | Saturday, 21st of July |
2030 | Thursday, 11th of July |
Other Related Festivals
- Apara Ekadashi
Mon , 15th May 2023 - Jaya Ekadashi
Wed , 1st Feb 2023 - Kamika Ekadashi
Thu , 13th Jul 2023 - Nirjala Ekadashi
Wed , 31st May 2023 - Papamochani Ekadashi
Sat , 18th Mar 2023 - Parama Ekadashi
Sat , 12th Aug 2023 - Pausa Putrada Ekadashi
Mon , 2nd Jan 2023 - Rama Ekadashi
Thu , 9th Nov 2023 - Shat Tila Ekadashi
Wed , 18th Jan 2023