Upon the quest of Yudhisthira, Vasudeva answers by elaborating Vaisakha Ekadashi (Dark Fortnight) and includes its merits and influence in his words.
Lord Krishna defines this Varuthini Ekadashi as a holy Ekadashi with a magnanimous impact upon its observers. He links this world and the next one in explaining this holy marking. Fasting this Ekadashi brings fortunes and washes away sins, it bestows material enjoyment in this life and grants a liberation after the death of this present body. This Ekadashi is peculiar because it also liberates from the misery of repetitive birth. Lord Vasudeva also links the liberation of ancient King Mandata with the mercy of this Ekadashi.
King Dhumdhumara from Ikshvaku dynasty was cursed by Lord Shiva and he had leprosy which was later cured by observing fasting in Varuthini Ekadashi. These stories are alive by "Shruti" means a listener says story to others and thus these stories transfer from generations to generations since thousands of years. Bringing a disease as a curse and giving it a straight remedy by just a one day fasting sounds more like an effect of Chinese whisper game but logically explanations prove this Ekadashi as a very holy and auspicious day to observe fast, perform rituals and dedicate offerings and commitments to god. Ekadashis are discipline which leads to a pure and spiritual life. Donating grains is the highest form of donating, this day people donate grains to needed and offer foods to hungry and homeless. Summarizing this Ekadashi description by presenting words of Lord Vasudeva himself, Therefore, Oh king Yudhisthira, he who is frightened of his accumulated sins and their attendant reactions, and thus of death itself, must observe Varuthini Ekadasi by fasting very strictly.
"Finally, Oh noble Yudhisthira, he who hears or reads this glorification of the sacred Varuthini Ekadasi obtains the merit earned by donating one thousand cows in charity, and at last, he returns home, to the Supreme abode of Lord Vishnu in the Vaikuntha.
World Heritage Day 
While sitting in Kathmandu Basantapur Durbar area, drinking tea in the evening, the Durbar area used to smile and explain history to me, there are stories carved into those old walls. Thinking that our ancestors built this heritage, that one day these walls would remain the same and that I would grow old. Ironically, we are losing these heritages as we are not being able to pay the required attention to those heritages. We can never construct them if we have to, they are the biggest gift and asset our elders left to us. Every heritages in this globe are at the risk, bricks are decreasing, wooden crafts are being stolen and we are losing our identity.
Our Nepali heritages which couldn't withstand the 2015 earthquake are still lying on the ground, sometimes I feel that those grounded infrastructures shout at us and seeks for the help to stand again. Are we able to stand them straight? Societies and governments must ask this question to themselves, how able are they to preserve and protect these ancient assets? |
This globe celebrates "International day for monuments and sites" on April 18 of every year, celebrating the joint history and heritage of the human race.
Can the statues of Buddha destructed by the Taliban in Afghanistan's Bamiyan Valley be restored?
Kathmandu is named after Kasthamandap, ironically Kasthamadap and Dharahara both turned to dust and we still are silent and effortless. There were so many temples and heritages destructed by the earthquake of 1934 AD, which we have no clue of?
Life and civilization are unlike the water boat which persistently erases its footprints in water, Human being must preserve and protect their monuments and heritages to protect and preserve their identity.
Every piece of brick and wooden part are invaluable, it's our responsibility to protect them.
Nepal is a prehistoric nation consisting of ancient cities and traditional civilizations, sadly our temples are hiding besides huge commercial hoarding boards and our silence? Cultural heritages are transformed into commercial buildings and shops, do we have guts to bring them back into their original shape?
Leaving this question to the government, leaders and each one of us reading this, my wishes for a meaningful heritage day.
Suyog Dhakal
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