parivartini EkAdashi

- Contributed Phanindra Mankale on Sumadhwa forum

Significance:

This interesting ekadashi is also called Padma ekadashi. This Ekadasi is also referred as Vaman Ekadasi, Parsava Parivartini Ekadashi and Jaljhlini Ekadasi. Sri Hari is worshipped as Vaman roopi vishnu. The name of this Ekadasi varies from region to region. But the legend associated with this Ekadasi remains the same. It is said that Lord Vishnu who is sleeping during the Chaturmas period changes his sleep position on this Ekadashi day. Note how kings in those days dared to differ and question counselors respectfully.

Practice:

Bhadrapad Shukla dwadashi day people invite learned brahmanas and feed them with food especially "yogurt/curd" rice "mosaranna". They donate pots filled with curd rice to elders and learned people. They also donate new pot filled with water, covered with clothes (vastra), along with shoes and umbrella to a deserving brahmana.

Story from Puran:

Conversation between Yudhistira and Sri Krishna regarding this special ekadashi in the month of Bhadrapad. Sri Krishna recollects conversation between chatrumukha Brahma and Narada. Brahma explains the story to Narada,

Long time agao there was a just, brave and truthful emperor named Maandhata. He was a rajarishi. He took care of his subjects like his own children. There was no famine or any kind of natural disasters in his kingdom. All people were busy doing their chore per their varnashramas in the seva of Hari and vayu. People were happy with lots of shardha and bhakti. However after a long time because of king's past karmas, the kingdom didn't see any rainfall for three years. There was a big famine and all the subjects faced lots of diffculty and approached the King. They requested the king to do something so that they can get some rain. The king understood the peoples problems and thus went to the forests in search of a solution. There in the deep forests he saw the ashram of direct descendent of Brahma Agngirasa Rishi. King Maandhta paid his respects to the rishi and the rishi welcomed him to his ashra and asked him for the reasons for coming so deep into the forests.

King Maandhata said though I am ruling my kingdom as per the shastras and dharma, there is terrible famine in my kingdom. I don't know the reason for this, can you please help me.

Rishi Angirasa replied that this is kritayuga, people in this yug are righteous people and stick to their dharma. However in this yug there is a shudra who is doing tapsya in your kingdom and that is why there are no rains. Please get rid of him.

King Maandhata said Dear RIshi, what if he is a Shudra, he is only doing tapsya. Everyone has the right to do tapsya, so what is wrong with him doing it? He has not doing anything wrong and it would be unjust for me to punish him. Can you please suggest an alternative solution?

Muni Agnirasa was pleased with Kings's question and replied to this and said, please practice ekadashi vrat on Bhadrapad Shukla ekadashi day. This will solve all the problems you and your kingdom are facing. This is a sarva siddhi ekadashi. Everyone in the kingdom should do it.

King Maandhata came back to the kingdom. On the bhadrapad shukla ekadashi he practiced the ekadashi. Everyone in his kingdom irrespective of their varna and ashrama practiced this vrat for the sake of the kingdom. The kingdom had wonderful rains and there was overflow of wealth and happiness through out the kingdom for years to come.

namO namaste gOvinda budha shravNa sanjyaka |

aghagh sankshayam kratvA sarva soukhya pradObhava ||

bhukti mukti pradashaiva lOkaanaaM sukhadayaka |

from part-3 uttarkhanda 58th chapter of padma puran.