English
Devutthana Ekadashi: Vishnu Wakes from His Yogic Sleep
Source: Popular vrat katha (Prabodhini Ekadashi); the Chaturmas observance is described in the Puranas
In the Ocean of Milk, Lord Vishnu reclines on the serpent Shesha, with Goddess Lakshmi at his feet. As the sustainer of the universe, the Lord cares for every corner of creation.
The story says that once Lord Vishnu kept no rule. Sometimes he stayed awake for ages without blinking, tending to the work of creation, and when he did sleep, he sank into deep sleep for millions upon millions of years.
During those long sleeps the balance of creation would falter. And in the long stretches of waking, the gods found no chance to see him, and Lakshmi found no rest.
One day, lovingly pressing the Lord's feet, Goddess Lakshmi said, “My Lord, you stay awake day and night, and when you sleep, it is for ages. Creation is troubled by it, and so are those who serve you.”
“If you rested by a rule, for a set time every year, I too would have the joy of serving you, the gods would get some rest, and the order of creation would stay steady.”
Lord Vishnu was silent for a few moments. Then he smiled. Lakshmi's words held not her own comfort alone but the good of all creation.
The Lord said, “Devi, you are right. From today I make a rule…”
The Lord said, “Every year on Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi I will go into yogic sleep, and four months later, on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, I will wake. This will be a short sleep, not the great sleep of dissolution.”
“Devotees who live with restraint during these four months, remember me and sing my name and stories, in their homes I will dwell together with you.”
Since then Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi has been called Devshayani Ekadashi, and these four months Chaturmas. In these months sadhus stay in one place and practise austerity, and householders do not hold big auspicious ceremonies such as weddings. In these days devotees give special attention to chanting, charity, fasting and listening to sacred stories.
The four months pass, and Kartik Shukla Ekadashi arrives: Devutthana or Prabodhini Ekadashi. Tradition says that on this day the gods, sages and devotees wake the Lord with conches, bells, drums and Vedic hymns of praise.
On earth too every home celebrates. The Lord's footprints are drawn in the courtyard with red ochre and rice flour, a canopy of sugarcane is set up, and the new harvest, water chestnuts, ber fruit and sweet potatoes are offered.
Then, beating plates and lighting lamps, the women sing together: “Utho deva, baitho deva…” (“Rise, O Lord, sit up, O Lord…”), as if lovingly waking a dear one from sleep.
As soon as the Lord wakes, an auspicious season begins again in creation. On that day or the next, Tulsi is married to the Shaligram, and after that the wedding season returns.
So Devutthana Ekadashi is not just a fast but a festival of reunion after waiting: of the Lord with his devotees, and of the devotees with their Lord.
What this story teaches
Rest too is part of the order of creation. And in a home where the Lord is lovingly woken, auspiciousness itself awakens.
On Devutthana Ekadashi devotees fast, and in the evening they draw the Lord's footprints in the courtyard, set up a sugarcane canopy and wake Lord Vishnu with conches and bells, and perform Tulsi Vivah. The Chaturmas and the Lord's sleep are described in the Puranas; this story of Lakshmi's request is part of popular tradition. In some regions the Lord's sleep is also linked to King Bali, at whose door the Lord stays for four months.
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