Teachers and saints · Vishnu, Vitthal (Vithoba) of Pandharpur
Ashadhi Ekadashi
The Ekadashi on which Vishnu is said to lie down to rest, and Maharashtra walks to Pandharpur.
Also known as: Devshayani Ekadashi, Maha Ekadashi, Padma Ekadashi, Harishayani Ekadashi
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
On the eleventh tithi (Ekadashi) of the bright fortnight (Shukla paksha) of the month of Ashadha. The fast is kept on the day the Ekadashi tithi is present at sunrise, and it is broken the next morning during the parana window.
About Ashadhi Ekadashi
Ashadhi Ekadashi is counted among the most sacred of the twenty-four Ekadashis of the year. By tradition, Lord Vishnu goes into a cosmic sleep on this day on the serpent Shesha in the milk ocean, and wakes on Prabodhini or Dev Uthani Ekadashi, four lunar months later.
Devotees fast, stay awake singing bhajans, and worship Vishnu. In Maharashtra the day is inseparable from the wari, a pilgrimage in which lakhs of warkaris walk for weeks, singing the abhangs of the saints, to reach the temple of Vitthal at Pandharpur by this Ekadashi.
Significance
The day marks the start of Chaturmas, the four-month period of the rainy season that is traditionally set aside for restraint, study, fasting and devotion. Many sadhus stop travelling and stay in one place, and several observances begin or are intensified from here.
In the Varkari tradition the Ekadashi represents equality in devotion. Pilgrims of all castes and backgrounds walk together, address one another as "Mauli" (mother), and put the simple repetition of the name of Vitthal above elaborate ritual.
Observing the Ekadashi fast
- 1Wake before dawn, bathe, and take the sankalp to keep the Ekadashi fast.
- 2Set up an image of Vishnu or Vitthal, bathe it with panchamrit or clean water, and dress it in yellow cloth.
- 3Offer tulsi leaves, yellow flowers, sandal paste, incense and a lamp, and chant the Vishnu Sahasranama or "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya".
- 4Observe the fast, avoiding grains and pulses; many take only fruit, milk or water, and some keep a complete fast.
- 5Read or listen to the Ekadashi katha and spend the day in bhajan and kirtan, staying awake at night if possible.
- 6Give alms, food or clothing to a Brahmin or the needy, according to your means.
- 7Break the fast the next morning, at parana time, with a simple sattvic meal after offering it to the deity.
The story
A well-known Puranic tale tells of King Mandhata, whose kingdom suffered a long drought. On the advice of the sage Angira, the Devshayani Ekadashi fast was observed with faith, and the rains are said to have returned. The story is told to show the merit attached to this fast.
The wari has its own history. The saints of Maharashtra, such as Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram and Namdev, sang of Vitthal as the compassionate Lord who stands on a brick waiting for his devotee Pundalik, who was serving his parents and told Him to wait. The pilgrimage carries the palkhis (palanquins) of the saints from Alandi and Dehu to Pandharpur.
What to do
- ✓Keep the fast with a sattvic mind and avoid grains and pulses.
- ✓Offer tulsi leaves to Vishnu and chant his names.
- ✓Spend time in bhajan, reading scripture or listening to the katha.
- ✓Break the fast only within the parana time next morning.
- ✓Give in charity according to your means.
What to avoid
- ✕Do not eat rice, wheat, pulses or similar grains during the fast.
- ✕Avoid onion, garlic, meat and alcohol on this day.
- ✕Many families avoid plucking tulsi leaves on Ekadashi and gather them a day before; customs differ, so follow your own tradition.
- ✕Avoid anger, gossip and idle talk.
- ✕Do not sleep through the day if you are keeping the vigil.
Around the country
- Maharashtra: the wari to Pandharpur, with palkhis of Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram, ends with the darshan of Vitthal and Rukmini.
- Odisha and Puri: the period is linked with the Jagannath tradition, and the yatra season falls around the same time.
- North India: observed as Devshayani Ekadashi with fasting, katha and charity.
- Gujarat and Rajasthan: many begin Chaturmas vows, such as giving up certain foods or taking a daily vow.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Devshayani?
Because Vishnu is believed to go into his yoga-sleep on this day, which is why it is also called Harishayani.
What is Chaturmas?
The four months from this Ekadashi to Prabodhini Ekadashi, traditionally kept for restraint, fasting and spiritual practice. Weddings and similar rites are generally avoided in this period.
Who are the warkaris?
Devotees of the Varkari sect of Maharashtra, who walk to Pandharpur every year, usually in groups called dindis behind the palkhi.