Dev Uthani Ekadashi is a day devoted to Lord Vishnu. As per popular beliefs, Lord Vishnu woke up on this day after sleeping on Dev Shayani Ekadashi. Read on to know more about this auspicious day !
| Ekadashi Tithi begins | 11:21 AM | 10 November 2016 |
| Ekadashi Tithi Ends | 09:12 AM | 11 November 2016 |
| Ekadashi Parana Muhurat | 06:41 AM to 08:51 AM | 12 November 2016 |
Dev Uthani Ekadashi
Dev Uthani Ekadashi or Prabodhini Ekadashi is believed to be a very propitious day. Prabodhini Ekadashi, literally meaning ‘the awakening eleventh’, is celebrated on the Ekadashi tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik. This day is devoted to Lord Vishnu and is celebrated to acknowledge the end of his sleep which had begun on Dev Shayani Ekadashi. The legend associated with this day has given it many names like Dev Uthani Ekadashi, Dev-Prabodhini and Deothan.
Dev Uthani Ekadashi: Date & Timing
This year, Dev Uthani Ekadashi will be celebrated on the 10th of November which is the Ekadashi tithi of Shukla Paksha of the month of Kartik. The fast of Dev Uthani Ekadashi should ideally be broken at Parana Muhurat and should be terminated by Dwadashi Tithi which falls on the succeeding day.
The Muhurat timing for Ekadashi Parana Muhurat is 06:41 AM to 08:51 AM on 12 November 2016. Ekadashi Tithi begins at 11:21 AM on 10 November 2016. Ekadashi Tithi Ends at 09:12 AM on 11 November 2016.
Dev Uthani Ekadashi: Legend
According to the popular legend, the irregular sleeping pattern of Lord Vishnu was leading to a lot of problems on Prithvi Lok and for the Devas. Sometimes Lord Vishnu would sleep for days incessantly and sometimes he wouldn’t sleep at all. This made Goddess Lakshmi upset and concerned. Because of Lord Vishnu’s erratic sleeping pattern Devas had to wait for days to meet him. Moreover, the Asuras were taking advantage of this fact and were spreading Adharma on Prithvi Lok. After consistent requests by Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu decided to come up with a solution for this problem.
In the meantime, Devas informed Lord Vishnu of the theft of Vedas by a demon called Sankhyayan. After fighting for days on end, Lord Vishnu defeated Sankhyayan and got back the Vedas from him. After the exhausting fight and reacquisition of Vedas, Lord Vishnu slept on Ashadha Ekadashi for four months uninterruptedly and woke up on Kartik Ekadashi. Hence, the day of Kartik Ekadashi is also known as Prabodhini Ekadashi. This legend gave birth to the celebrations of Dev Uthani Ekadashi.
Dev Uthani Ekadashi: Celebration
On the day of Dev Uthani Ekadashi, devotees take a holy bath, early in the morning, and perform the ritual of marriage of Tulsi plant and Lord Vishnu. This ritual is also called Tulsi Vivah.
The fast of Prabodhini Ekadashi begins on Dashmi, a day before Ekadashi, and continues till Dwadashi, which is the day after the day of Ekadashi. The fast should be broken on Dwadashi, as per the Parana Muhurat.
Dev Uthani Ekadashi: Significance
It is believed that Dev Uthani Ekadashi is one of the ways to attain salvation. If one celebrates Dev Uthani Ekadashi with utmost sincerity and follows all the rituals with absolute devotion, then he/she will receive Moksha after death and will be able to reach Vishnu Lok. The day of Dev Uthani Ekadashi is also known to have the boon to give Moksha to the souls of one’s ancestors.
This day is observed in different ways all over the country. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
Dev Uthani Ekadashi: Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, the day of Dev Uthani is devoted to a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, Lord Vithoba. This day is celebrated with much fervor at Pandharpur where devotees assemble in huge numbers for a period of five days. The prayers and festivities held at Pandharpur are also known as Sarkari Puja.
Dev Uthani Ekadashi: Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, Dev Uthani Ekadashi takes a more fun avatar. Devotees celebrate this auspicious day in the form of Pushkar Mela at Pushkar in Rajasthan. The festivities beginning on Ekadashi end by Kartik Purnima. Pushkar Mela is organised to worship Lord Brahma and to put together Asia’s largest Camel Fair. It is believed that taking a holy bath in Pushkar lake on this particular day brings one closer to attaining Moksha.
Dev Uthani Ekadashi: Gujarat
In Gujarat, it is believed that Lord Vishnu resides around Mt. Girnar during Dev Uthani Ekadashi. Hence, the devotees organise a two day long parikrama around the mountain to pay their respect and ardor. Every year, about 80,000 devotees gather around Mt. Girnar for worshipping Lord Vishnu on this particular day.
Make the most of this Dev Uthani Ekadashi by performing all the rituals with utmost dedication and at accurate Muhurats. May Lord Vishnu bless you with his choicest blessings!
We at Astrosage, wish you a very Happy Dev Uthani Ekadashi!
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