Krishna Seva

[Vasant Punjabi]

Dear Vallabhi Vaishnavs

Jai Shri Krishna,

November 27th Sunday is Utpati ekadashi so please share your knowledge with all of us under this topic which will really be appreciated.
Any connected articles on this topic will help.
_________________
Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----

[Sunita Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna Vallabhi Vaishnavs,

Please if any one knows any article on this, then please share with us or will request Vasantji to put it by next week as must know its importance as we want to observe this Ekadashi am I correct ?
_________________
Sunita Punjabi

Mero to Aadhar Shri Vallabh ke Charnarvind
Mere gale ko haar Shri Vallabh ke Charnarvind
Mero to shinghar Shri Vithal ke Charnarvind
Ga-o Varamvar Shri Vallabh ke Charnarvind Shri Vithal ke Charnarvind --------!!!!!!!

[Inaxi]

Jai Shree Krishna

This is Reeta Patel's domai, I hope she comes up with answer, me no know the answer, so can't post much. I like ekadashi when I see all the vaishnavs do ekadashi and make plenty of Phalahar and have constipation on Barasparna, isn't it wonderful?

I don't suppose our scriptures say that we have to have three times more Phalahar then our normal diet. Ahem... this is my observation and I find it amusing when on ekadashi we cook more sindhalu then in whole year.
_________________
Jai Shree Krishna
Aham rasam eva labdhiya anandi bhavati |
Inaxi

[shahhetp]

Jai Shri Krishna,

I don't hv any artical on the Utpati Ekadashi. I think Utapatti ekadashi is in relation to Katyayni vrat and Chirharan lila.

I hv read somewhere that GOPBALA/VARJKUMARIKA did KATYANI VRAT to get Shri THAKORJI as husband.
Vrajkumarika did pujan of Katyayni devi, who helps leaving tamas gun and gives Tanunavtva.


I may be wrong as I hardly have any knoledge of Pushti marg.

Sarve vaishnavne Jai Shri Krishna.

Hetal Shah.

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

“Utpati” means create, emerge or appear. Everything has been created by the Supreme God Shri Krishna.

There are reasons explained in the scriptures for the various creations of things in this universe. Even God needs a reason for Him to appear on earth, let alone anything else. Here, we will discuss what and who Ekadashi is? Where did Ekadashi come from? What is the need of Ekadashi? What greatness does Ekadashi possess?

The day of Kartik Vad 11 is the appearance (Utpati) day of Ekadashi

Ok vaishnavs now we have the meaning of "Utpati"
_________________
Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----

[kavita]

jai sri krishna

thanks for the meaning of utpati ekadashi. please explain further with a beautiful story.

kavita.
_________________
Jai Shree Krishna
Kavita Bhatia

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Well, well Kavitabhen, this the only beautiful story I know of ofcourse as usual more vaishnavs will put more information and share with us their knowledge.

The day of Kartik Vad 11 is the appearance (Utpati) day of Ekadashi.

Once Arjun asked Shree Krishna, O Prabhu! “Please pardon me with the knowledge of Ekadashi – its incarnation and majesty”

Shree Krishna answered, “Arjun! I hereby tell you the reason of Ekadashi and how she appeared. Once in the age of Satyug, the demon named Mur Daanav, the son of demon Naadijang won over the Kingdom of Swarag (Dev Loka) from the devtas. He started ruling and harassing the devtas from their abodes. The devtas went for help and protection from God.

The demon Mur was so powerful and had a huge army to defend him and the kingdom. God approached him and asked the demon to surrender and return the kingdom of Swarag to their owners, the devtas. Upon refusal and paying no attention to the request, a battle between Mur Danaav and God began.

The battle lasted for months and many more years. Once in the battle, Bhagwan went for a rest in the cave named Sinhvati in Badrikashram and the demon followed Him. Whilst God was resting, Mur Daanav was about to strike, and O behold! From the divine senses of God, appeared a beautiful woman with all sorts of divine artilleries in her hands.

Looking at her, Mur Daanav got entangled to her sensational beauty, lost his own senses and asked her to marry him. The woman said, “Oh no! It is not easy to have me in marriage. I have a condition that whoever wins me in a battle will marry me.” Blinded in the beauty of the woman, another battle started between them. Mur Daanav did not realise that one of the two has to die in order for the other to win. Ultimately, Mur Daanav was killed in the war.

Bhagwan rose from His rest and saw the demon dead. Looking further He saw this divine beautiful lady standing beside the dead body. Bhagwan asked, “Who are you?” And she replied, “I am Ekadashi. I have incarnated from your divine luminosity and senses and I am responsible for killing this demon”. Upon hearing this Bhagwan said, “I am very pleased on you. Ask for a boon and I shall give it to you”. Ekadashi humbly said, O Prabhu! If you are pleased then pardon me with three boons:-

1. That I always be the chosen one and lovable to you
2. That I be the highest of all the horoscopic dates (Tithi’s); That I be the destroyer of all sins; That I grant the strength to people to live more in their life.
3. That I can grant good health, wealth and any wishes to those who complete a fast and follow the vrat Ekadashi with the three boons.

By hearing this, Bhagwan was exceptionally pleased and blessed Ekadashi with the three boons.Utpati Ekadashi is the first in the sequence of the twenty four Ekadashi’s in the year. Following the laid rules of performing this vrat will attain great happiness in this world and the next. The above is not a myth but facts in the scriptures. Many devotees have experienced great happiness in this world by following the vrat of Ekadashi.

So now we all know the importance of Ekadashi so start voting now who is going to keep vrat????
_________________
Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Pushtidasji, No one has voted to keep the fast well l will add one more article as this might help change their mind what do you say???

Suta Gosvami said, "O learned brahmanas, long ago Lord Shri Krishna, exlained the auspicious glories of Shri
Ekadasi and the rules and regulations governing each observance of
fasting on that holy day. O best of the brahmanas, whoever hears about
the origins and glories of these sacred fasts on the Ekadasi days goes
directly to the abode of Lord Visnu after enjoying many different kinds
of happiness in this material world.

Arjuna, the son of Prtha, asked the Lord, 'O Janardana, what are the
pious benefits of complete fasting, eating only supper, or eating but
once at midday on Ekadasi, and what are the regulations for observing
the various Ekadasi days? Kindly narrate all this to me.

The Supreme Lord, Shri Krisna, replied, 'O Arjuna, in the beginning of winter,
on the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of
Margasirsa [November-December], a novice should begin his practice of
observing a fast on Ekadasi. On Dasami, the day before Ekadasi. he
should clean his teeth nicely. Then, during the eighth portion of
Dasami, just as the sun is about to set, he should eat supper.

The next morning the devotee should make a vow, according to the rules
and regulations, to observe fasting. At midday he should bathe properly
in a river, lake, or small pond. A bath in a river is most purifying,
that taken in a lake is less so, and a bath in a small pond is the least
purifying. If neither a river, lake, nor pond is accessible, he may
bathe with well-water.

The devotee should chant this prayer containing the names of Mother
Earth: "0 Asvakrante! O Rathakrante! 0 Visnukrante! O Vasundhare! 0
Mrttike! O Mother Earth! Kindly remove all the sins I have accumulated
throughout my many past lives so that I may enter the sacred abode of
the Supreme Lord." As the devotee chants, he should smear mud over his
body.

During the day of fasting the devotee should not speak to those who are
fallen from their religious duties, to dog-eaters, to thieves, or to
hypocrites. He should also avoid speaking with slanderers; with those
who abuse the demigods, the Vedic literatures, or brahmanas; or with any
other wicked personalities, such as those who have sex with forbidden
women,' those who are known plunderers, or those who rob temples. If any
such person is spoken to or even seen during Ekadasi, one must purify
oneself by looking directly at the sun.

Then the devotee should respectfully worship Lord Shri Krishna with
high class food, flowers, and so forth. In his home he should offer the
Lord a lamp in pure devotional consciousness. He should also avoid
sleeping during the daytime and should completely abstain from sex.
Fasting from all food and water, he should joyfully sing the Lord's
glories and play musical instruments for His pleasure throughout the
night. After remaining awake all night in pure consciousness, the
worshiper should give charity to qualified brahmanas and offer his
humble obeisances unto them, begging their forgiveness for his offenses.

Those who are serious about devotional service should consider the
Ekadasis that occur during dark fortnights to be as good as those that
occur during bright fortnights. 0 king, one should never discriminate
between these two kinds of Ekadasi.

Please listen as I now describe the results obtained by one who observes
Ekadasi. in this way. Neither the merit one receives by taking a bath in
the sacred place of pilgrimage known as Sankhoddhara where the Lord
killed the Sankhasura demon, nor the merit one receives upon seeing Lord
Gadadhara directly is equal to one sixteenth of the merit one obtains by
fasting on Ekadasi. It is said that by giving charity on a Monday when
the moon is full, one obtains a hundred thousand times the results of
ordinary charity. O winner of wealth, one who gives charity on the day
of the sankranti [equinox] attains four hundred thousand times the
ordinary result. Yet simply by fasting on Ekadasi one obtains all these
pious results, as well as whatever pious results one gets at Kuruksetra
during an eclipse of the sun or moon. Furthermore, the faithful soul who
observes complete fasting on Ekadasi achieves a hundred times more merit
than one who performs an Asvamedha-yajna [horse sacrifice]. One who
observes just a single Ekadasi fast perfectly earns the same merit as
one who feeds a hundred thousand mendicants each day for sixty thousand
years. And a person who properly observes Ekadasi just once earns ten
times more merit than a person who gives a thousand cows in charity to a
brahmana learned in the Vedas.

A person who feeds just one brahmacari earns ten times more merit than
one who feeds ten good brahmanas in his own house. But a thousand times
more merit than is earned by feeding a brahmacari is achieved by
donating land to a needy and respectable brahmana, and a thousand times
more than that is earned by giving away a virgin girl in marriage to a
young, well-educated, responsible man. Ten times more beneficial than
this is educating children properly on the spiritual path, without
expecting any reward in return. Ten times better than this, however, is
giving food grains to the hungry. Indeed, giving charity to those in
need is the best of all, and there never has been or ever will be a
better charity than this, 0 son of Kunti, all the forefathers and
demigods in heaven become very satisfied when one gives food grains in
charity. But the merit one obtains by observing a complete fast on
Ekadasi cannot be measured. 0 Arjuna, best of all Kurus, the powerful
effect of this merit is inconceivable even to the demigods, and half
this merit is attained by one who eats only supper on Ekadasi.

One should therefore observe fasting on Lord Hari's day either by eating
only once at midday, abstaining from grains and beans; by eating only
once in the evening, abstaining from grains and beans; or by fasting
completely. The processes of staying in places of pilgrimage, giving
charity, and performing fire sacrifices may boast only as long as
Ekadasi has not arrived. Therefore anyone afraid of the miseries of
material existence should observe Ekadasi. On Ekadasi one should not
drink water from a conchshell, kill living entities such as fish or
pigs, Dr eat any grains or beans. Thus I have described to you, 0
Arjuna, the best of all methods of fasting, as you have inquired from Me.

Arjuna then asked, '0 Lord, according to You, a thousand Vedic
sacrifices do not equal even one Ekadasi fast. How can this be? How has
Ekadasi become the most meritorious of all days?

"Lord Shri Krishna replied, 'I will tell you why Ekadasi is the most
purifying of all days. In the Satya-yuga there once lived an amazingly
fearsome demon called Mura. Always very angry, he terrified all the
demigods, defeating even Indra, the king of heaven; Vivasvan, the
sun-god; the eight Vasus; Lord Brahma; Vayu, the wind-god; and Agni, the
fire-god. With his terrible power he brought them all under his control.

Lord Indra then approached Lord Siva and said, "We have all fallen from
our planets and are now wandering helplessly on the earth. 0 lord, how
can we find relief from this affliction? What will be the fate of us
demigods?"

Lord Siva replied, "0 best of the demigods, go to that place where Lord
Visnu, the rider of Garuda, resides. He is Jagannatha, the master of all
the universes and their shelter as well. He is devoted to protecting all
souls surrendered to Him."'

"Lord Krishna continued, '0 Arjuna, winner of wealth, after Lord Indra
heard these words of Lord Siva's, he proceeded with all the demigods to
the place where Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the universe, the protector
of all souls, was resting. Seeing the Lord sleeping upon the water, the
demigods joined their palms and, led by Indra, recited the following
prayers and requested for help

Well that story was told above.
_________________
Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----

[kavita]

jai sri krishna.

thanks for the beautiful story. i am fasting tomorrow. please keep writting such stories of sri krishna. thanks a lot.
_________________
Jai Shree Krishna
Kavita Bhatia

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

These were the prayers in details

"0 Supreme Personality of Godhead, all obeisances to You. 0 Lord of
lords, 0 You who are praised by the foremost demigods, 0 enemy of all
demons, 0 lotus-eyed Lord, 0 Madhusudana [killer of the Madhu demon],
please protect us. Afraid of the demon Mura, we demigods have come to
take shelter of You. 0 Jagannatha, You are the doer of everything and
the creator of everything. You are the mother and the father of all
universes. You are the creator, the maintainer, and the destroyer of
all. You are the supreme helper of all the demigods, and You alone can
bring peace to them. You alone are the earth, the sky, and the universal
benefactor.

"You are Siva, Brahma, and also Visnu, the maintainer of the three
worlds. You are the gods of the sun, moon, and fire. You are the
clarified butter, the oblation, the sacred fire, the mantras, the
rituals, the priests, and the silent chanting of japa. You are the
sacrifice itself, its sponsor, and the enjoyer of its results, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Nothing within these three worlds,
whether movable or immovable, can exist independent of You. 0 Supreme
Lord, Lord of lords, You are the protector of those who take shelter of
You. 0 supreme mystic, O shelter of the fearful, please rescue and
protect us. We demigods have been defeated by the demons and have thus
fallen from the heavenly realm. Deprived of our positions, O Lord of the
universe, we are now wandering about this earthly planet."

"Lord Krishna continued, 'Having heard Indra and the other demigods speak
these words, Sri Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, replied,
"What demon possesses such great powers of delusion that he has been
able to defeat all the demigods? What is his name, and where does he
live? Where does he get his strength and shelter? Tell Me everything, O
Indra, and do not fear."

Lord Indra replied, "0 Supreme Godhead, 0 Lord of lords, 0 You who
vanquish the fear in Your pure devotees' hearts, 0 You who are so kind
to Your faithful servants, there was once a powerful demon of the
Brahman dynasty whose name was Nadijangha. He was extraordinarily
fearsome and wholly dedicated to destroying the demigods, and he begot
an infamous son named Mura.

Mura's great capital city is Candravati. From that base the terribly
evil and powerful Mura demon has conquered the whole world and brought
all the demigods under his control, driving them out of their heavenly
kingdom. He has assumed the roles of Indra, the king of heaven; Agni,
the fire-god; Yama, the lord of death; Vayu, the wind-god; Isa or Lord
Siva Soma, the moon-god; Nairrti, the lord of the directions; and Pa§i,
or Varuna, the watergod. He has also begun emanating light in the role
of the sun-god and has turned himself into the clouds as well. It is
impossible for the demigods to defeat him. 0 Lord Visnu, please kill
this demon and make the demigods victorious."

Hearing these words from Indra, Lord Janardana became very angry and
said, "0 powerful demigods, all together you may now advance on Mura's
capital city of Candravati." Encouraged thus, the assembled demigods
proceeded to Candravati with Lord Hari leading the way.

When Mura saw the demigods, that foremost of demons started roaring very
loudly in the company of countless thousands of other demons, who were
all holding brilliantly shining weapons. The mighty-armed demons struck
the demigods, who began abandoning the battlefield and fleeing in the
ten directions. Seeing the Supreme Lord Hrsikesa, the master of the
senses, present on the battlefield, the furious demons rushed toward Him
with various weapons in their hands. As they charged the Lord, who holds
a sword, disk, and club, He immediately pierced all their limbs with His
sharp, poisonous arrows. Thus many hundreds of demons died by the Lord's
hand.

"At last the chief demon, Mura, began fighting with the Lord. Mura used
his mystic power to render useless whatever weapons the Supreme Lord
Hrsikesa unleashed. Indeed, to the demon the weapons felt just like
flowers striking him. When the Lord could not defeat the demon even with
various kinds of weaponswhether those that are thrown or those that are
held-He began fighting with His bare hands, which were as strong as
iron-studded clubs. The Lord wrestled with Mura for one thousand
celestial years and then, apparently fatigued, left for Badarikasrama.
There Lord Yogesvara, the greatest of all yogis, the Lord of the
universe, entered a very beautiful cave named Himavati to rest. 0
Dhananjaya winner of wealth, that cave was ninety-six miles in diameter
and had only one entrance. I went there out of fear, and also to sleep
There is no doubt about this, 0 son of Pandu, for the great fight made
Me very tired. The demon followed Me into that cave and, seeing Me
asleep, started thinking within his heart, "Today I will kill this
slayer of all demons, Hari."

While the wicked-minded Mura was making plans in this way, from My body
there manifested a young girl who had a very bright complexion. O son of
Pandu, Mura saw that she was equipped with various brilliant weapons and
was ready to fight. Challenged by that female to do battle, Mura
prepared himself and then fought with her, but he became very astonished
when he saw that she fought him without cessation. The king of the
demons then said, "Who has created this angry, fearsome girl who is
fighting me so powerfully, just like a thunderbolt falling upon me?"
After saying this, the demon continued to fight with the girl.

Suddenly that effulgent goddess shattered all of Mura's weapons and in a
moment deprived him of his chariot. He ran toward her to attack her with
his bare hands, but when she saw him coming she angrily cut off his
head. Thus the demon at once fell to the ground and went to the abode of
Yamaraja. The rest of the Lord's enemies, out of fear and helplessness,
entered the subterranean Patala region.

Then the Supreme Lord woke up and saw the dead demon before Him, as well
as the maiden bowing down to Him with joined palms. His face expressing
His astonishment, the Lord of the universe said, "Who has killed this
vicious demon? He easily defeated all the demigods, Gandharvas, and even
Indra himself, along with Indra's companions, the Maruts, and he also
defeated the Nagas [snakes], the rulers of the lower planets. He even
defeated Me, making Me hide in this cave out of fear. Who is it that has
so mercifully protected Me after I ran from the battlefield and went to
sleep in this cave?"

The maiden said, "It is I who have killed this demon after appearing
from Your transcendental body. Indeed, 0 Lord Hari, when he saw You
sleeping he wanted to kill You. Understanding the intention of this
thorn in the side of the three worlds, I killed the evil rascal and thus
freed all the demigods from fear. I am Your great mahd-sakti, Your
internal potency, who strikes fear into the hearts of all Your enemies.
I have killed this universally terrifying demon to protect the three
worlds. Please tell me why You are surprised to see that this demon has
been killed, 0 Lord."

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said, "0 sinless one, I am very
satisfied to see that it is you who have killed this king of the demons.
In this way you have made the demigods happy, prosperous, and full of
bliss. Because you have given pleasure to all the demigods in the three
worlds, I am very pleased with you. Ask any boon you may desire, 0
auspicious one. I will give it to you without a doubt, though it be very
rare among the demigods."

The maiden said, "0 Lord, if You are pleased with me and wish to give me
a boon, then give me the power to deliver from the greatest sins that
person who fasts on this day. I wish that half the pious credit obtained
by one who fasts will accrue to one who eats only in the evening
[abstaining from grains and beans], and that half of this pious credit
will be earned by one who eats only at midday. Also, may one who
strictly observes a complete fast on my appearance day, with controlled
senses, go to the abode of Lord Visnu for one billion kalpas after he
has enjoyed all kinds of pleasures in this world. This is the boon I
desire to attain by Your mercy, my Lord. 0 Lord Janardana, whether a
person observes complete fasting, eats only in the evening, or eats only
at midday, please grant him a religious attitude, wealth, and at last
liberation."

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said, "O most auspicious lady, what
you have requested is granted. All My devotees in this world will surely
fast on your day, and thus they will become famous throughout the three
worlds and finally come and stay with Me in My abode. Because you, My
transcendental potency, have appeared on the eleventh day of the waning
moon, let your name be Ekadasi. If a person fasts on Ekadasi, I will
burn up all his sins and bestow upon him My transcendental abode.

These are the days of the waxing and waning moon that are most dear to
Me: Trtiya [the third day], Astami [the eighth day], Navami [the ninth
day], Caturdasi [the fourteenth day], and especially Ekadasi [the
eleventh day].

The merit one attains by fasting on Ekadasi is greater than that
achieved by observing any other kind of fast or by going to a place of
pilgrimage, and even greater than that achieved by giving charity to
brahmanas. I tell you most emphatically that this is true."

Having thus given the maiden His benediction, the Supreme Lord suddenly
disappeared. From that time onward the Ekadasi day became most
meritorious and famous all over the universe. 0 Arjuna, if a person
strictly observes Ekadasi, I kill all his enemies and grant him the
highest destination. Indeed, if a person observes this great Ekadasi
fast in any of the prescribed ways,' I remove all obstacles to his
spiritual progress and grant him the perfection of life.

Thus, 0 son of Prtha, I have described to you the origin of Ekadasi.
This one day removes all sins eternally. Indeed, it is the most
meritorious day for destroying all kinds of sins, and it has appeared in
order to benefit everyone in the universe by bestowing all varieties of
perfection.

One should not discriminate between the Ekadasis of the waxing and
waning moons; both must be observed, and they should not be
differentiated from Maha-dvadasi. Everyone who fasts on Ekadasi should
recognize that there is no difference between these two Ekadasis, for
they comprise the same tithi.

Whoever completely fasts on Ekadasi, following the rules and
regulations, will achieve the supreme abode of Lord Visnu, who rides
upon Garuda. They are glorious who devote themselves to Lord Visnu and
spend all their time studying the glories of Ekadasi, One who vows not
to eat anything on Ekadasi, but to eat only on the next day achieves the
same merit as one who executes a horse sacrifice. Of this there is no doubt.

On Dvadasi, the day after Ekadasi, one should pray, "O Pundarikaksa, O
lotus-eyed Lord, now I will eat. Please shelter me." After saying this,
the wise devotee should offer some flowers and water at the Lord's lotus
feet and invite the Lord to eat by chanting the eight-syllable mantra
thrice.' If the devotee wants to gain the fruit of his fast, he should
then drink water taken from the sanctified vessel in which he offered
water at the Lord's lotus feet.

On Dvadasi, one must avoid sleeping during the day, eating in another's
home, eating more than once, having sex, eating honey, eating from a
bell-metal plate, eating urad dal, and rubbing oil on one's body. The
devotee must give up these eight things on Dvadasi. If he wants to speak
to an outcaste on that day, he must purify himself by eating a tulasi
leaf or an amalaki fruit. 0 best of kings, from noon on Ekadasi, until
dawn on Dvadasi, one should engage himself in taking baths, worshiping
the Lord, and executing devotional activities, including the giving of
charity and the performance of fire sacrifices. If one finds himself in
difficult circumstances and cannot break the Ekadasi fast properly on
Dvadasi, one can break it by drinking water, and then one is not at
fault if he eats again after that.

A devotee of Lord Visnu who day and night hears these all-auspicious
topics concerning the Lord from the mouth of another devotee will be
elevated to the Lord's planet and reside there for ten million kalpas.
And one who hears even one sentence about the glories of Ekadasi is
freed from the reactions to such sins as killing a brahmana. There is no
doubt of this. For all eternity there will be no better way of
worshiping Lord Visnu than observing a fast on Ekadasi.
_________________
Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----