Welcome to the Ekadashi which falls on the Krishna Paksha of Shrawan, this holy Ekadashi is divinely named Kamika Ekadashi. One who fasts this day and honors Lord Vishnu gets rid of sins and attains lord Vishnu after death.
Salvation is the eventual pursuit of Sanatana philosophy, the attaintment of Lord Hari or Vishnu is salvation and every Ekadashis are the divine doors to do so.
Today I would like to turn the pages of Brahma Bivarta Purana on the auspicious occasion of this year's Shravan Krishna Ekadashi i.e. Kamika Ekadashi. It is written in the Ekadashi Mahapurana that one who listens to this Ekadashi Vrata Katha with devotion attains Baikuntha.
Here is the context in which Yudhisthira himself asks
Krishna. O Gobind Dev, please tell me the story of Kamika Ekadashi.
Krishna answers,
O King Yudhisthira, the truth-teller, and the great sage, of course, I will tell you in detail about this Ekadashi, about its vows which also bring about the remission of all sins.
I would like to add another context, where Narad Muni once asked the creator Brahma about this Ekadashi. Although each Ekadashi has its own significance, the significance of this Ekadashi Kamika in the dedication of agriculture and rain of Shravan month is vividly different.
The result obtained after fasting this Ekadashi is as equivalent as performing Ashwomegha Yagya, the ultimate and herculean Yagya which takes a huge effort and sacrifice to get accomplished.
The fruit of this Ekadashi fast is more than taking a morning dip in the Ganges of Kashi or doing penance in the forest of Naimishrayan or Puskar. The importance of this Ekadashi for human welfare and salvation is actually described in several scriptures.
In Krishna's words "
It is said that fasting on Ekadashi is more fruitful than bathing in Kurukshetra on the day of the solar eclipse, more than bathing in Gandaki river where Shaligram resides, more than bathing in Godavari, donating cows and calves".
The spiritual relevance
The biggest disease and contagion in life is when we don't admit the mistake we have made, we fight with ourselves and laugh at our self-esteem. This Ekadashi has appealed to the devotees to come to the path of devotion by confessing their sins or mistakes and fast with devotion and dedication.
Even more than the study of the entire Vedas, Gita, and Puranas, the one who admits his mistake and fasts on this Ekadashi gets more salvation integrals. It is said that devotion to Lord Vishnu, the Lord of the Universe, and Hari, by offering basil leaves in devotion to this God, is associated with virtue on this Ekadashi. While worshiping Lord Hari, the leaves and buds of Tulsi are given the same status as gold, silver, or diamonds and the leaves and buds of Tulsi are equally important in this Ekadashi.
Even Yamaraj (God of the death) could not reckon the death of a devotee who offered water to Tulsi with devotion, such people have a higher spiritual consciousness. There is not much motivation to go to rivers or lakes in this Ekadashi, perhaps due to the increased and water level and dangers associated with it.
The use of grains and salt is forbidden in this Ekadashi. Although the importance of Ekadashi is so great, this Ekadashi Vrata Katha is not as special as other Ekadashis. However, let me write a summary of Vrakakatha, a rich man from a certain village accidentally kills a Brahmin by mistake.
He is liberated by fasting on Kamika Ekadashi, as the sages say, in order to atone for sins and atonement, even for murder. This Ekadashi is a wonderful Ekadashi, wishing a clean mind, a healthy body, and a peaceful earth. May this Ekadashi neutralize all unwanted harmful microorganisms and reestablish the devotion.
Karkat Sakranti
The corn at our backyard has now grown bigger, the pleasure of eating roasted or boiled corns in the moist of Shrawaan beholds a specific nostalgia for a Nepali. Shrawaan memory is an asset of an average Nepali life, May the blessed clouds bless everyone.
Even in the Shiva Purana, it is mentioned that Lord Shiva, who walked along the river Ganga on his forehead, became water himself. Shrawaan is the month of water and its feature, Shrawaan is the month of Shambhu and his followers, from Kailash Parwat till the north pole, from the dead sea, will the south pole, may Shrawan prevail the goodies and purity, may Lord Shiva reside in every hearts.
The month of Shravan or July has started after the end of Asar. This month is also called Pavas Ritu as it rains heavily. There are many important festivals like Haritalika Teej, Rakshabandhan, Nagpanchami etc. on different dates of this month. Shrawaan, is the month of Lord Shiva, which is why every Monday of this month, Sanatan women fast and worship Shiva to get a good bride. Devotees offer patram pushpam and falam-toyam to Shiva linga in this month.
|Mythological interpretation on the month of Shravan states that "Samundra Mantha" ocean churning happened this month and then Halahal poison was released. It is mentioned that Lord Shiva went to the Himalayas after consuming the poison, to save the world. Lord Shiva, who swallowed the poison, went to sleep in Gosaikunda located in Nepal, and reduced the effect of poison.
Throughout this month, the Kanvars reach the Shivasthali of their choice, without even wearing sandals on their feet until the water recedes. This religious group journey and pilgrimage is called Kanvar or the Bolbom. Bombom pilgrim travels in their specific attire, every pilgrims wear yellow clothes as this is a favorite color of Lord Shiva. The Sun changes the sign of Cancer from Gemini today. Cancer Solstice is also called Shrawan solstice or Saune solstice.The month of Shravan is the holy month of the followers of the Vedic Sanatan Hindu religion and every Monday of this month has a special and exclusive significance. Clouds roar in this month, welcoming all of us in this super romantic month of the year, welcome to Shrawaan.
Today is also considered as luto falne di, let me deliver a precise focus into this prospect. As the Sun is in Cancer during the month of Shravan, the heat is extreme and it is constantly raining, so people are more likely to get drenched in the water when moving around. This is not an indoor month, irrigation and plantation is done underneath the open sky where people have to play with mud, water, and natural integrals.
Therefore, this effect of heat and rain during the rainy months, skin, and skin-related diseases such as rashes, herpes, scabies, or sores are very likely to occur. In this context, Saune Sankranti is also considered as a day of curing or eliminating scabies or luto. People take a dip in rivers, apply medicinal soils to body and medicinal herbs to eliminate scabies or probable skin diseases. May this day deliver healthy skin and pure heart, may you smile and chant Lord Shiva.
Dakshinayan starts
The position of the sun changes twice a year. These two changes are understood as "Uttarayana and Dakshinayana". When the Sun appears from Capricorn to Gemini during 6 months, the time when the Sun enters from Cancer to Sagittarius is called Dakshinayan.
During Dakshinayan, we can see that the path of the Sun's orbit is gradually moving towards the south. According to the scriptures, Dakshinayan is considered a symbol of negativity and Uttarayana is considered a symbol of positivity.
According to the scriptures, 6 months of Uttarayan is one day for the gods and 6 months of Dakshinayan is one night for the gods, the relative time calculation for human and gods are defined differently in scriptures. Our years are merely a minimal fraction of a day in the time calculation of god's universe, the administrator of our and several other universes.
Legend has it that people who die during Uttarayan attain salvation, while those who die during Dakshinayan must be reborn, which is why these two positions of the sun are considered the path to salvation from the human world.
During Dakshinayan, nights are long and days are short. In Dakshinayan, it is not considered appropriate to do special auspicious deeds like marriage, house entry, fasting etc. But since desires and pleasures increase during this time, it is believed that fasting and worship performed at this time will eradicate disease and grief. During Dakshinayan, there are rainy, autumn and winter seasons, so in Dakshinayan, the sky is surrounded by clouds. May all be well at this time, which is considered the best for fasting and worship. May this Dakshinayan detach us from all our greed and grids.
Suyog Dhakal
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