Varuthini ekadashi Vrat Date is 5 may 2013 on Varuthini ekadashi.
About Varuthini Ekadashi Vrat
Varuthini Ekadashi takes place on the 11th day during the waning phase of the moon (Krishna Paksha) in the month of Chaitra/Vaisakha in the traditional Hindu calendar. In the North Indian calendars, this Ekadashi is observed during the Krishna Paksha in Adhik Vaisak month while in other regions, it is practiced in the Chaita Krishna Paksha. The followers of Varuthini Ekadashi vrat believe that by observing the Varuthini Ekadashi fast, they can successfully cleanse their sins and seek blessings of happiness, prosperity and wealth. Some even consider that they can attain the ability of performing various types of charities. Know more on the method of observing the Varuthini Ekadashi fast.
Varuthini Ekadashi Vrat Katha
Once King Yudhisthira asked Shree Krishna – “Oh Madhusudan, Please describe to me the Ekadashi of the krishna paksha of the month of Vaisakha (April-May), including its name, specific merits and influence.”
Lord Shree Krishna replied, “Oh King, in this world and the next, the most auspicious and magnanimous Ekadashi is Varuthini Ekadashi, which occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Vaisakha.
Whosoever observes a complete fast on this sacred day has his sins completely removed, obtains continuous happiness, and achieves all good fortune.
Fasting on Varuthini Ekadashi makes even an unfortunate woman fortunate. Upon anyone who observes it, this Ekadashi bestows material enjoyment in this life and liberation after the death of this present body. It destroys the sins of all and saves people from the miseries of repeated rebirth.
“By observing this Ekadashi properly, King Mandhata was liberated.” Whatever merit one obtains by performing austerities and penances for ten thousand years is achieved by a person who observes Varuthini Ekadashi. ”
The merit one achieves by donating a great amount of gold during a solar eclipse at Kurukshetra is gained by one who observes this one Ekadashi with love and devotion, and certainly attains his goals in this life and the next. In short, this Ekadashi is pure and very enlivening and the destroyer of all sins.
“Better than giving horses in charity is giving elephants, and better than giving elephants is giving land. But better still than giving land is the giving of sesame seeds, and better than that is giving of gold. Still better than giving gold is giving food grains – for all the forefathers, demigods (devtas), and human beings become satisfied by eating grains. Thus there is no better gift of charity than this in the past, present or future.”
“Yet learned scholars have declared that giving away a young maiden in marriage to a worthy person is equal to giving away food grains in charity. Moreover,giving cows in charity is equal to giving food grains. Still better than all these charities is teaching spiritual knowledge to the ignorant. Yet all the merits one can attain by performing all these acts of charity are attained by one who fasts on the Varuthini Ekadashi.”
“One who lives off the wealth of his daughters suffers a hellish condition until the inundation of the entire universe, therefore one should be especially careful not to use the wealth of his daughter. Oh best of kings, any householder who takes his daughter’s wealth out of greed, who tries to sell his daughter, or who takes money from the man to whom he has given his daughter in marriage – such a householder becomes a lowly cat in his next life. Therefore it is said that whoever, as a sacred act of charity, gives away in marriage a maiden i.e. does kanyadaan. That very same merit, however, can be easily achieved by one who fasts on the Varuthini Ekadashi.
“The following things should be given up on the Dashami, (the tenth phase of the Moon), the day before the Ekadashi: (1) eating on bell-metal plates, (2) eating any kind of urid-dahl, (3) eating red-lentils, (4) eating chick-peas, (5) eating kondo (a grain that is primarily eaten by poor people and that resembles poppy seeds or agarpanthas seeds), (6) eating honey, (7) eating in another person’s house/home, (8) eating more than once, (9) eating Channa and (10) participating in sex of any kind.
“On the Ekadashi itself one should give up the following: gambling, sports, sleeping during the daytime, betal nuts and its leaf, brushing one’s teeth, spreading rumours, faultfinding, talking to the spiritually fallen, anger, and lying.
“On the Dwadashi the day after Ekadashi (the twelfth phase of the Moon), one should give up the following: eating on bell-metal plates, eating urad-daal, red-lentils, or honey, lying, strenuous exercise or labor, eating more than once, any sexual activity, shaving the body, face or head, smearing oils on one’s body, and eating in another’s home.”
Lord Sri Krishna continued, “Whoever observes the Varuthini Ekadashi in this way becomes free from all sinful reactions and returns to the eternal, spiritual abode. One who worships Lord Madhusudan (Krishna) on this Ekadashi by staying awake throughout the entire night, also becomes free from all his previous sins and attains to the spiritual abode. Therefore, Oh king, he who is frightened of his accumulated sins and their attendant reactions, and thus of death itself, must observe Varuthini Ekadashi by fasting very strictly.
“Finally, he who hears or reads this glorification of the sacred Varuthini Ekadashi obtains the merit earned by donating one thousand cows in charity, and at last attains heaven.”
Varuthini Ekadashi Vrat vidhi (Process)
The following things should be given up on the Dashami, (the tenth phase of the Moon), the day before the Ekadashi
Eating on bell-metal plates
eating any kind of urid-dahl
Eating red-lentils,
eating chick-peas
eating kondo (a grain that is primarily eaten by poor people and that resembles poppy seeds or agarpanthas seeds)
eating honey
Eating in another person’s house/home
Eating more than once
Eating Channa and
participating in sex of any kind.
Varuthini Ekadashi Vrat Importance
Mentioned in numerous Puranas, Ekadashi is also known as ‘Harivasara’
and ‘Hari din’. The significance of Ekadashi fasting has been listed
even in the Padma Purana and Skanda Purana. A bimonthly occasion,
Ekadashi is generally observed by the Vaishnavas, though it is open to
non-Vaishnava followers as well. All Vishnu devotees observing the
Ekadashi fasts strictly refrain from consuming grains, beans, cereals,
and certain vegetables and spices. The Ekadashi vrat is observed with
regional variations. Preparations for the vrat begin on the Dasami day,
that is, a day before Ekadashi. Devotees who intend to observe this vrat
wake up early in the morning on Dasami and take a ritual bath. They
also perform the other daily routines required to deliver the pujas or
prayers. On this day, they take up only a single meal and keep away from
salt.
He most preferred food consumed during this vrat includes
fresh and dried fruits, milk products, vegetables and nuts. In western
parts of India, Sabundana Khichdi, made from sabudana, potatoes and
ground nuts, is consumed. However, it does not contain onion and garlic.
Furthermore, alcohol, non-vegetarian food and sex are also avoided.
Additionally, some Puranas state the abstinence from dal and honey also
on Dasami day. The next day is Ekadashi day which is meant for complete
fasting. The entire day is spent in worshipping Lord Vishnu through
pujas, prayers and mantras. Some devout devotees even keep awake during
the night by hearing religious speeches and performing Aartis.
The
day after Ekadashi is called Dwadashi day. The routine followed on
Dasami day is practiced on this day as well. After taking a bath,
prayers are offered to Lord Vishnu and a lamp is lit. The fast is broken
with the food prepared eaten on Dasami day. One should avoid
overeating. Moreover, the food consumed on Dwadashi should be prepared
at home. Medically speaking, fasting on Ekadashi cleanses the body and
gives the much required rest to the digestive organs. As for people
suffering from various ailments, those on medications, pregnant women
and those who have just delivered a baby should avoid fasting. If
intending to observe the vrat, such people should consult a doctor prior
fasting.
