Devshayani Ekadashi 2020

Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi is known as Devshayani or Ashadhi Ekadashi. It marks the traditional beginning of Vishnu's Yoga Nidra and Chaturmas. A familiar vrat-katha told on this day concerns King Mandhata.

There was once a king of the Solar dynasty named Mandhata. He stood by the truth and cared for his people as his own family. They lived happily in his kingdom. Then a time came when no rain fell for three years in a row. Grain stopped growing in the fields, and drought spread across the kingdom. Food became hard to find. Along with everyday life, sacrifices and other religious observances began to suffer.

The distressed people came to their king. They described their hardship and begged him to lead them out of the crisis. Mandhata was troubled by what he heard. He wondered whether he had made some mistake as king. He could remember no deliberate injustice. Even so, he accepted responsibility for relieving his people's suffering and decided to seek a solution.

With his companions, the king entered the forest. He travelled from one sage's hermitage to another, asking for guidance. At last he reached Angira's ashram. Seeing the sage, he dismounted and bowed. Angira asked after the king and his kingdom. Mandhata then explained how there had been no rain for three years and how his people were going hungry. He asked what could be done.

In this old account, Angira answers according to the caste beliefs attributed to that age. He says that a man of the Shudra caste is practising austerities in the kingdom, although, in his view, that right belongs to Brahmins. He blames the drought on that man's practice and tells the king to kill him.

Mandhata refused. He said, 'How can I kill an innocent person absorbed in spiritual practice? Please show me another way.' He wanted to ease his people's distress, but would not take an innocent life to do so. Angira then advised him to observe Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi. He said that worshipping Vishnu and keeping this vrat with his family and people would relieve the kingdom's crisis.

Mandhata bowed to the sage and returned to his kingdom. He told the people about the vrat. When Ekadashi came, the king, his family and people from the different castes observed it together. The story says that rain then returned. Crops grew again, the shortage of grain ended and the people found relief. Happiness returned to the kingdom.

Devshayani Ekadashi begins Chaturmas, a period devoted to worship, study, charity and self-discipline. Mandhata's care for his people and his refusal to kill an innocent person have a special place in its vrat-katha.

Devotees worship Vishnu, sing bhajans, read sacred texts and give in charity. Temples celebrate the Lord's retiring to rest. According to tradition, Vishnu enters Yoga Nidra upon Shesha in the Ocean of Milk and awakens on Kartika Shukla Ekadashi. The intervening period is known as Chaturmas.

Many devotees begin a daily reading, service or a discipline of their choice on this day. These observances differ by family and religious tradition.

The Ekadashi vrat is kept according to health and family practices. Many avoid grains and pulses and take fruit-based fasting food. The fast ends on Dwadashi the following day, during the parana period given in the local panchang. Any Chaturmas discipline is chosen according to one's ability.

In Maharashtra, the day is widely known as Ashadhi Ekadashi. Warkari devotees and the palkhis carrying the padukas of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram reach Pandharpur. Darshan of Vitthal and Rukmini, devotional singing and kirtan are central to the celebration.

In Gujarat and other regions, Vishnu worship and Chaturmas observances begin. Smarta and Vaishnava fasting dates can sometimes differ. The tithi is checked according to the local panchang and one's own tradition.