So, here comes another Ekadashi Tithi and I am fasting today.
The word Aja in Sanskrit means unborn, that which exists eternally but neither takes birth, nor dies. That is how Vishnu is often described. In the Vishnu Sahasranama (which translates to Thousand Names of Vishnu), some of the names described of Vishnu are:
Ekadashi fasts are always performed to worship Vishnu and like all other Ekadashi fasts, this one too has a story.
Sri Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "Oh Janardana, protector of all living entities, please tell me the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September)."
The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, then replied, "Oh King, hear Me attentively. The name of this sin-removing, sacred Ekadasi is Aja. Any person who fasts completely on this day and worships Hrishikesha, the master of the senses, becomes free of all reactions to his sins. Even one who simply hears about this Ekadasi is freed from his past sins. Oh King, there is no better day than this in all the earthly and heavenly worlds. This is true without a doubt.
There once lived a famous king named Harishchandra, who was the emperor of the world and a person of great truth and integrity. His wife's name was Chandramati, and he had a son named Lohitashva. By the force of destiny, however, Harishchandra lost his great kingdom and sold his wife and son. The pious king himself became a menial servant of a dog-eater, who made him guard a crematorium. Yet even while doing such menial service, he did not forsake his truthfulness and good character, just as soma-rasa, even when mixed with some other liquid, does not lose its ability to bestow immortality.
The king passed many years in this condition. Then one day he sadly thought, "What shall I do? Where shall I go? How can I be delivered from this plight?" In this way he drowned in an ocean of anxiety and sorrow.
One day a great sage happened by, and when the king saw him he happily thought, "Ah, Lord Brahma has created brahmins just to help others." Harishchandra paid his respectful obeisances to the sage, whose name was Gautama Muni. With joined palms the king stood before Gautama Muni and narrated his pitiful story.
Gautama Muni was astonished to hear the king's tale of woe. He thought, "How has this mighty king been reduced to collecting clothes from the dead?" Gautama Muni became very much compassionate toward Harishchandra and instructed him on the process of fasting for purification. Gautama Muni said, "Oh king, during the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada there occurs an especially meritorious Ekadasi named Aja (Annada), which removes all sins. Indeed, this Ekadasi is so auspicious that if you simply fast on that day and perform no other austerity, all your sins will be nullified. By your good fortune it is coming in just seven days. So I urge you to fast on this day and remain awake through the night. If you do so, all the reactions of your past sins will come to an end. Oh Harishchandra, I have come here because of your past pious deeds. Now, all good fortune to you in the future!" So saying, the great sage Sri Gautama Muni immediately disappeared from his vision.
King Harishchandra followed Gautama Muni's instructions concerning fasting on the sacred day of Aja Ekadasi. Oh Maharaja Yudhisthira, because the king fasted on that day, the reactions to his previous sins were completely destroyed at once. Oh lion among kings, just see the influence of this Ekadasi fast! It immediately vanquishes whatever miseries one may be suffering as a result of past karmic sinful activities. Thus all Harishchandra's miseries were relieved. Just by the power of this wonderful Ekadasi, he was reunited with his wife and son, who had died but were now revived. In the heavenly regions the devas (demigods) began beating on their celestial kettledrums and showering down flowers upon Harishchandra, his queen, and their son. By the blessings of the Ekadasi fast, he regained his kingdom without difficulty. Moreover, when King Harishchandra left the planet, his relatives and all his subjects too, went with him to the spiritual world.
Oh Pandava, whoever fasts on Aja Ekadasi is surely freed from all his sins and ascends to the spiritual world. And whosoever hears and studies the glories of this Ekadasi achieves the merit gained by performing a horse sacrifice."
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Bhadrapada-krishna Ekadasi, or Aja Ekadasi, from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.
Ever wondered why most Ekadashi Vrats promise freedom from sin? Lets try to understand the Sanskrit words for Sin to understand this. The root Pa means 'to drink' while 'āpa' is described as the water element. When we suffer due to sins, it is actually the waters retained in our body that cause the suffering experienced by the mind and body. Grains and Beans are known to retain water and hence are avoided during ekadashi fasting. Common Table Salt also leads to water retention and is hence reduced or avoided during fasting. Fruits also contain water but are not known to cause water retention the way grains (and refined foods) do, so they are permitted during fasting. Fruits have detox and diuretic properties due to the fact that it contains a lot of potassium but little sodium, which helps the body cleanse itself.
There are two outcomes of fasting that are often discussed and emphasized in this story of Aja Ekadashi. One is of regaining lost honor or sovereignity and two is gaining the benefits of a horse sacrifice also known as Ashwamegh or Ashwamedha Yagñā.
According to many western scholars and translators, ashwa in Sanskrit means Horse and Medha is sacrifice in its most commonly understood forms. Yet the words have much deeper meanings.
Ashwa comes from the word ash which means to pervade. The Shatpath Brahmana mentions that Ashwa besides meaning horse is also the name of the all pervading God. The same scriptures also mentions "Rashtram va asvamedhah". Ashwamedha here means to manage or run the affairs of the rashtra (country) in a befitting manner. In this sense, you could decipher the purpose of this fast as gaining the wisdom to run the affairs of our lives in an efficient manner (by coming to terms with the mistakes committed in the past). And we do this by worshiping that which is unborn (Aja) or in other words by connecting to our souls, connecting to Vishnu (the allpervading protector of dharma).
Interestingly another name of Vishnu is:
It is only when we believe in Ishvara that the Nirguna Brahmana (Nirguna - without quality) becomes Saguna Brahmana (Saguna - having qualities). This transformed entity is known in Sanskrit as Ishvara. Ishvara is Ish (meaning to have power)+ Vara (meaning boon or blessing or desirable state). Ishvara thus is the (manifested or unmanifested) form of our most powerful desires. Some call it God but Ishvara is also Maya.
The entire universe, along with the dynamic processes underlying it, is said to stem from Ishvara (Man's most powerful desires). For example, when Ishvara creates the universe, he is called Brahma, when he protects, he is called Vishnu, and when he destroys, he is called Shiva. The three together constitute the trinity, which controls the universe and all its functions, our self being one part of this universe.
If after reading this you ask me if God exists, I'll still tell you yes he does and he is separate from what you consider your self or your soul.
The word Aja in Sanskrit means unborn, that which exists eternally but neither takes birth, nor dies. That is how Vishnu is often described. In the Vishnu Sahasranama (which translates to Thousand Names of Vishnu), some of the names described of Vishnu are:
- Svayambhūḥ: One who exists by Himself, uncaused by any other.
- Anāndi-nidhanaḥ: The one existence that has neither birth nor death.
- Śāśvataḥ: One who exists at all times.
- Ajah: One who has no birth.
Sri Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "Oh Janardana, protector of all living entities, please tell me the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September)."
The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, then replied, "Oh King, hear Me attentively. The name of this sin-removing, sacred Ekadasi is Aja. Any person who fasts completely on this day and worships Hrishikesha, the master of the senses, becomes free of all reactions to his sins. Even one who simply hears about this Ekadasi is freed from his past sins. Oh King, there is no better day than this in all the earthly and heavenly worlds. This is true without a doubt.
There once lived a famous king named Harishchandra, who was the emperor of the world and a person of great truth and integrity. His wife's name was Chandramati, and he had a son named Lohitashva. By the force of destiny, however, Harishchandra lost his great kingdom and sold his wife and son. The pious king himself became a menial servant of a dog-eater, who made him guard a crematorium. Yet even while doing such menial service, he did not forsake his truthfulness and good character, just as soma-rasa, even when mixed with some other liquid, does not lose its ability to bestow immortality.
The king passed many years in this condition. Then one day he sadly thought, "What shall I do? Where shall I go? How can I be delivered from this plight?" In this way he drowned in an ocean of anxiety and sorrow.
One day a great sage happened by, and when the king saw him he happily thought, "Ah, Lord Brahma has created brahmins just to help others." Harishchandra paid his respectful obeisances to the sage, whose name was Gautama Muni. With joined palms the king stood before Gautama Muni and narrated his pitiful story.
Gautama Muni was astonished to hear the king's tale of woe. He thought, "How has this mighty king been reduced to collecting clothes from the dead?" Gautama Muni became very much compassionate toward Harishchandra and instructed him on the process of fasting for purification. Gautama Muni said, "Oh king, during the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada there occurs an especially meritorious Ekadasi named Aja (Annada), which removes all sins. Indeed, this Ekadasi is so auspicious that if you simply fast on that day and perform no other austerity, all your sins will be nullified. By your good fortune it is coming in just seven days. So I urge you to fast on this day and remain awake through the night. If you do so, all the reactions of your past sins will come to an end. Oh Harishchandra, I have come here because of your past pious deeds. Now, all good fortune to you in the future!" So saying, the great sage Sri Gautama Muni immediately disappeared from his vision.
King Harishchandra followed Gautama Muni's instructions concerning fasting on the sacred day of Aja Ekadasi. Oh Maharaja Yudhisthira, because the king fasted on that day, the reactions to his previous sins were completely destroyed at once. Oh lion among kings, just see the influence of this Ekadasi fast! It immediately vanquishes whatever miseries one may be suffering as a result of past karmic sinful activities. Thus all Harishchandra's miseries were relieved. Just by the power of this wonderful Ekadasi, he was reunited with his wife and son, who had died but were now revived. In the heavenly regions the devas (demigods) began beating on their celestial kettledrums and showering down flowers upon Harishchandra, his queen, and their son. By the blessings of the Ekadasi fast, he regained his kingdom without difficulty. Moreover, when King Harishchandra left the planet, his relatives and all his subjects too, went with him to the spiritual world.
Oh Pandava, whoever fasts on Aja Ekadasi is surely freed from all his sins and ascends to the spiritual world. And whosoever hears and studies the glories of this Ekadasi achieves the merit gained by performing a horse sacrifice."
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Bhadrapada-krishna Ekadasi, or Aja Ekadasi, from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.
Ever wondered why most Ekadashi Vrats promise freedom from sin? Lets try to understand the Sanskrit words for Sin to understand this. The root Pa means 'to drink' while 'āpa' is described as the water element. When we suffer due to sins, it is actually the waters retained in our body that cause the suffering experienced by the mind and body. Grains and Beans are known to retain water and hence are avoided during ekadashi fasting. Common Table Salt also leads to water retention and is hence reduced or avoided during fasting. Fruits also contain water but are not known to cause water retention the way grains (and refined foods) do, so they are permitted during fasting. Fruits have detox and diuretic properties due to the fact that it contains a lot of potassium but little sodium, which helps the body cleanse itself.
There are two outcomes of fasting that are often discussed and emphasized in this story of Aja Ekadashi. One is of regaining lost honor or sovereignity and two is gaining the benefits of a horse sacrifice also known as Ashwamegh or Ashwamedha Yagñā.
According to many western scholars and translators, ashwa in Sanskrit means Horse and Medha is sacrifice in its most commonly understood forms. Yet the words have much deeper meanings.
Ashwa comes from the word ash which means to pervade. The Shatpath Brahmana mentions that Ashwa besides meaning horse is also the name of the all pervading God. The same scriptures also mentions "Rashtram va asvamedhah". Ashwamedha here means to manage or run the affairs of the rashtra (country) in a befitting manner. In this sense, you could decipher the purpose of this fast as gaining the wisdom to run the affairs of our lives in an efficient manner (by coming to terms with the mistakes committed in the past). And we do this by worshiping that which is unborn (Aja) or in other words by connecting to our souls, connecting to Vishnu (the allpervading protector of dharma).
Interestingly another name of Vishnu is:
- Hṛṣīkeśaḥ: The word Hrsika means senseorgans and Hrsikesah then means master of the senses or He under whose control the senses subsist.
The obsolete word Hrisheeka also means the ‘rays’ or that which gives the joy’. Thus the term Hrisheekas can mean “the Lord of the rays”: the sun and moon. This way interpreted, commentators point out that the term Hrisheekesah means He who has Himself becomes the Sun and the Moon.
In His manifestation as the Sun and the Moon, the Lord Himself whips the world to wakeful activities and sends the world to sleep and rest. Thus Hrisheekesa in its deeper significance, is, to all contemplative hearts, the Lord, who becomes Himself the world, exhausts Himself in His activities, and ultimately packs His toys and goes to rest at the time of dissolution. If you remember the Devashayani Ekadashi, Vishnu, the preserver is supposed to be sleeping during this stage of the chaturmaas period, the period of dissolution. Notice that in most personified imagery of Vishnu, the lord is often shown reclining or asleep as he awaits the next annihilation and renewal of the world which is carried out by Shiva. The Shravan Somvaar Vrat that I also observe is usually dedicated to Shiva.
However, the idea of fasting during this period doesnot mean sleeping a lot. It is important that by fasting, we focus on reducing our body's demand for energy, not depriving it of energy. What devotees are also encouraged to do is read or listen to mythological stories of the gods. These stories are creative intelligence at its best and have their own importance, however absurd they may sound to the western educated mind, they have their significance and benefits if you listen to them with devotion.
Interestingly, in the Bhagwat Geeta's translation, Prabhupada talks a lot about Bhakti Yog which is the Yoga of devotional service to the lord and Buddhi Yoga which is also devotional service to the lord. This is a very sensible interpretation by Prabhupada that Buddhi Yoga is infact Bhakti Yoga. True intelligence lies not in being critical of another man's belief but be willing to view it from his point of view before forming opinions.
So, 'Devotion' is the means of ones intelligence. Devotion is the force behind the Indian creativity, that makes abstract concepts intelligible to ordinary mortals like you and me. It is these various forms of deities that help make the ultimate, formless reality of our universe comprehensible.However, the idea of fasting during this period doesnot mean sleeping a lot. It is important that by fasting, we focus on reducing our body's demand for energy, not depriving it of energy. What devotees are also encouraged to do is read or listen to mythological stories of the gods. These stories are creative intelligence at its best and have their own importance, however absurd they may sound to the western educated mind, they have their significance and benefits if you listen to them with devotion.
Interestingly, in the Bhagwat Geeta's translation, Prabhupada talks a lot about Bhakti Yog which is the Yoga of devotional service to the lord and Buddhi Yoga which is also devotional service to the lord. This is a very sensible interpretation by Prabhupada that Buddhi Yoga is infact Bhakti Yoga. True intelligence lies not in being critical of another man's belief but be willing to view it from his point of view before forming opinions.
It is only when we believe in Ishvara that the Nirguna Brahmana (Nirguna - without quality) becomes Saguna Brahmana (Saguna - having qualities). This transformed entity is known in Sanskrit as Ishvara. Ishvara is Ish (meaning to have power)+ Vara (meaning boon or blessing or desirable state). Ishvara thus is the (manifested or unmanifested) form of our most powerful desires. Some call it God but Ishvara is also Maya.
The entire universe, along with the dynamic processes underlying it, is said to stem from Ishvara (Man's most powerful desires). For example, when Ishvara creates the universe, he is called Brahma, when he protects, he is called Vishnu, and when he destroys, he is called Shiva. The three together constitute the trinity, which controls the universe and all its functions, our self being one part of this universe.
If after reading this you ask me if God exists, I'll still tell you yes he does and he is separate from what you consider your self or your soul.
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