Varuthini Ekadashi वरूथिनी एकादशी
Vishnu · Full-day vrat
Varuthini Ekadashi falls on the Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of Vaishakha month and is glorified by Shri Krishna himself to Yudhishthira in the Bhavishyottara Purana as the bestower of varutha — divine armour and protection. The vrata commemorates the rescue of King Mandhata, who while performing tapasya was seized by a bear; Vishnu appeared as Varaha-rupa and not only delivered the king but, in compassion, granted moksha to the bear as well. Observed across Vaishnava sampradayas from Vrindavan to Udupi, the ekadashi is particularly associated with charitable giving of grain, gold and cow (godana) to qualified brahmanas at sunrise on dwadashi.
Rituals (vidhi)
- 1.Nirjala or phala-ahara fast from dashami sunset through dwadashi parana
- 2.Predawn snana and Tulsi-archana followed by Vishnu Sahasranama parayanam
- 3.Jagarana through ekadashi night with bhajan, kirtan and Bhagavatam recitation
- 4.Listening to the Varuthini Ekadashi mahatmya from Bhavishyottara Purana
- 5.Dana of til (sesame), gold, cloth and cow to a deserving brahmana at dwadashi
- 6.Parana at the prescribed dwadashi muhurta with tulsi-jal and akshata
Significance
Varuthini Ekadashi is extolled in the Bhavishyottara Purana as equivalent in merit to ten thousand years of tapasya, and Krishna declares its phala superior to surya-grahana snana at Kurukshetra, horse-sacrifice, and the gifting of a thousand cows. The phala-shruti promises that observers are freed from the gravest papas including brahma-hatya and stri-hatya, are armoured (varutha) against misfortune in this life, attain beauty, fortune and progeny, and after death ascend to Vaikuntha. Even hearing the mahatmya with shraddha is said to dissolve the sins of a thousand births.
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