Sayana Ekadasi

Ekadasi is starting from July 8

th
0558am and ends on July 9
th
early
morning 04.40 am. Since Ekadasi is associated July 9
th
Bramma
Muhurtha fasting has to be adopted on July 9
th
.
Sayana Ekadasi & Chaturmasaya vrata
Srila Prabhupada states in the Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita
Madhya lila 4.169 purport:

"The Chathurmasya period begins in the month of Asadha
(June-July) from the day of Ekadasi called Sayana-Ekadasi, in
the fortnight of the waxing moon(this year it is from 09.07.14).
The period ends in the month of Kartika (October-November)
on the Ekadasi day known as Utthana-Ekadasi, in the fortnight
of the waxing moon.
This four-month period is known as Chathurmasya. Some
Vaishnavas also observe it from the full-moon day of Asadha
until the full-moon day of Kartika. That is also a period of four
months. This period, calculated by the lunar months, is called
Chaturmasya, but others also observe Chaturmasya according
to the solar month from Sravana to Kartika."


Sayana Ekadasi
Chaturmasya should be observed by all sections of the
population.
It does not matter whether one is a Grihastha or a sannyasi.
The observance is obligatory for all asramas.
The real purpose behind the vow taken during these four
months is to minimize the quantity of sense gratification.
This is not very difficult.
In the month of Sravana one should not eat spinach, in the
month of Bhadra one should not eat yogurt, and in the
month of Asvina one should not drink milk. One should not
eat fish or other non vegetarian food during the month of
Kartika. ...
On the whole, during the four-month period of Chaturmasya
one should practice giving up all food intended for sense
enjoyment."


Sayana Ekadasi

Various vows and austerities during Chaturmasya and their respective
results.
"O King, one who is My devotee and is fixed in vow, whether man or woman,
for the purpose of Dharma, should accept these various austerities and
observances. I shall now describe to you all of them along with their
respective results.

01) No salt - One's voice becomes sweet.
02) No oil - One's life is prolonged and gets progeny.
03) No oil massages - One's body becomes beautiful.
04) No cooking with oil - One's enemies are vanished.
05) No licorice and oil - One becomes wealthy.
06) Give up wearing unoffered flowers - One becomes a
Vidyadhara in Devapura.
07) Give up six kinds of tastes (spice, sour, bitter, sweet, salty
and harsh)- One never becomes ugly, smelly, or obtains a bad
birth.
08) Practice of yoga - One goes to Brahmaloka.
09) No betel nuts - One becomes happy.
10) No cooked food (raw fruits & Vegetables) - One obtains
purity.
11) No honey - One becomes lustrous.
12) No yogurt or milk - One attains Goloka.
13) No cooking with earthen pots Good health
14) No hot food - One gets offspring with a long life.
15) Take rest on the ground or on stone - One becomes an
associate of Vishnu.
16) One who gives up meat & honey is a yogi and muni.
17) No intoxicating liquors - One becomes powerful and free
from disease.
18) Fast for one day - One is honoured in Brahmaloka
19) No cutting of hair and nails - One gets the benefit of taking
bath daily in Ganges.
.

.
20) No speaking of grama katha (nonsense) - One's order will
never be disobeyed.
21) Eat food on the ground without dish or plate - One obtains a
kingdom on Earth.
22) Chant the mantra Namo Narayana - One obtains the result of
giving in charity 100 times.
23) Offer prayers to the Lord - One gets the result of giving cows
in charity.
24) Touch the lotus feet of the Deity - One becomes a successful
person.
25) Clean the temple of the Lord - If one is king he remains so for
a Kalpa.
26) Circumambulating the temple three times offering prayers - At
the time of death one will mount a swan airplane and go to
Vaikuntha.
27) Singing or playing musical instruments in the temple of
the Lord - One goes to Gardharvaloka.
28) Take pleasure in studying the sastras - One goes to
Vishnuloka.
29) Sprinkle water in the temple - One goes to apsaraloka.
30) Take bath in a holy place - One's body becomes pure.
31) Worship Lord Vishnu with flowers - One goes to
Vaikuntha.
32) Eat panchagavya - One gets the result of observing
candrayana fasting.
33) Eat one meal a day - One gets the results of performing
an Agnihotra.
34) Eat at night only - One gets the result of going to all the
places of pilgrimage.
35) Eat at noon only - One attains Devaloka.
36) Take food not obtained by begging or any extraneous
endeavour - One gets the results of opening water stands
and digging wells.
37) Take bath daily - One will never see hell.
38) No eating on a plate - One gets the result of bathing at
Pushkara.
39) Eat on a leaf - One obtains the result of living at
Kurukshetra.
40) Eat on a stone - One obtains the result of bathing at
Prayog.
41) Giving up drinking to six hours - One will not be attacked
by diseases.
42) During the Chathurmasya, garlands, caranamrta,
candana and water from the conshell of the Lord,
mahaprasadam, Deity garlands must be accepted.

In this way one who performs this Vrata for the satisfaction of
Lord Kesava and Lord Gauranga becomes satisfied himself.
O best of the Pandavas, among My devotees, he who accepts
these vows and austerities during the Chaturmasya goes to
my abode at the time of death.





Vishnu Rahasya - Lord Brahma to Narada Muni.
If one accepts all these Vaisnava austerities and
observances with devotion, one attains the supreme
destination .
O Narada. One who desires within himself to execute
all these Vaisnava austerities and vows, his sins
obtained within one hundred births is destroyed.
If one is exclusively devoted, peaceful, takes daily
bath, is fixed in vow and worships the Lord during
these four months, he goes to the abode of the Lord.
He who accepts the austerity of sleeping on the
ground this time when the Vishnu Deity is sleeping in
yoga Nitra underwater, he goes to the abode of Laxmi.


Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita. Madhya-lila 4.169. purport

"One should carefully give up attachment for material assets. People in
general have spontaneous attachment for house, household paraphernalia,
clothes, ornaments, wealth, wife and children's health, their own health,
eatables, trees, and animals. Some people are so addicted to smoking,
chewing pan, eating fish and meat, and drinking alcohol that their practice of
spiritual life is obstructed.

The procedure for giving up grief is explained in the Padma Purama:

sokamarsadibhir bhavair akrantam yasya manasam
katham tasya mukundasya sphurttih sambhavana bhavet(8)

Within the heart of one who is full of anger or pride, or lamentation on the
state of his wife or sons, there is no possibility of Krsna and Gauranga being
manifest.

One should accept only those things necessary for his devotional life, as
stated in the Naradiya Purama:
As one progresses in this way he offers prayers similar to Prahlada
Maharaja's in the Srimad Bhagavatam (7.9.39):

naitan manas tava kathasu vikuntha-natha
sampriyate durita-dustam asadhu tivram
kamaturam harsa-soka-bhayaisanartam
tasmin katham tava gatim vimrsami dinah (11)

My dear Lord of the Vaikuntha planets, where there is no
anxiety, my mind is extremely sinful and lusty, being
sometimes so-called happy and sometimes so-called
distressed. My mind is full of lamentation and fear, and it
always seeks more and more money.

Thus it has become most polluted and is never satisfied in
topics concerning You. I am therefore most fallen and poor. In
such a status of life, how shall I be able to discuss Your
activities? O Krsna! How will I get attachment for topics
concerning You?And how will I meditate on Your pastimes?
In the Skanda Purana, Caturmasya-mahatmya, it is said:

"O best of brahmanas, a person who four times circumambulates the Lord
attains the result of circumambulating the entire universe filled with moving
and unmoving beings. He attains a result better than going on all
pilgrimages.
Text 399
tatraivanyatra
pradaksinam tu yah kuryat
harim bhaktya samanvitah
hamsa-yukta-vimanena
visnulokam sa gacchati



In the Caturmasya-mahatmya it is also said:
"A person who with devotion circumambulates Lord Hari flies on a swan to
Lord Visnu's world.

Sayana Ekadasi

Sayana Ekadasi - Deva-Shayani Ekadasi Ashada Ekadasi
Sayana Ekadasi Deva Sayani Ekadasi Padma Ekadasi from
the Bhavishya-uttara Purana.
The saintly king Yudhishthira Maharaj said, Oh Kesava, what
is the name of that Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight
of the month of Ashada (June July)? Who is the worship able
Deity for the auspicious day, and what is the process for
observing this event?
Lord Sri Krishna replied, Oh caretaker of this Earthly planet, I
shall gladly tell you a wonderful historical event that the Deva
lord Brahma once narrated to his son Narada Muni.
One day Narada Muni asked his father, What is the name of
the Ekadasi that comes during the light part of the month of
Ashada, much as you did? Kindly tell me how I should observe
this Ekadasi and thus please the Supreme Lord, Sri Vishnu.


Sayana Ekadasi
Fasting on this Ekadasi purifies one of all sins and fulfills all ones
desires. Therefore, whoever neglects to observe this sacred fast day is
a good candidate for entering into hell. Ashadha-shukla Ekadasi is also
famous as Padma Ekadasi. Just to please the Supreme Lord Hrishikesha,
the master of the senses, one should fast on this day. Listen carefully,
Oh Narada, as I relate to you a wonderful historical event that was
recorded in the scriptures regarding this Ekadasi. Just hearing this
account destroys all kinds of sins, along with all obstacles on the path to
spiritual perfection.
Oh son, there was once a saintly king in the Surya Vamsha (Sun
dynasty) whose name was Mandhata. Because he always stood up for the
truth, he was appointed emperor. He took care of his subjects as though
they were his very own family members and children. On account of his
piety and great religiosity, there was no pestilence, drought, or disease
of any kind in his entire kingdom. All his subjects were not only free of
all kinds of disturbances but also were very wealthy. The kings own
treasury was free of any ill-gotten moneys, and thus he ruled happily for
many years.
Sayana Ekadasi
Once, however, because of some sin in his kingdom, there was a drought
for three years. The subjects found themselves beset by famine also. The
lack of food grains made it impossible for them to perform the prescribed
Vedic sacrifices, offer oblations of grita (ghee) to their forefathers and to the
devas, engage in any ritualistic worship, or even study the Vedic literatures.
Finally, they all came before their beloved king in a great assembly and
addressed him thus, Oh king, you always see to our welfare, so we humbly
beg your assistance now. Everyone and everything in this world needs
water. Without water, almost everything is rendered useless or dead. The
Vedas call water JalaNayana, and because the Supreme Personality of
Godhead sleeps upon water, His another name is NARAYANA. God makes
His own abode on water and takes His rest there.
It is said that three things cannot exist without water; pearls, human beings,
and flour. The essential quality of a pearl is its luster, and that is due to
water. The essence of a man is his semen, whose main constituent is water.
And without water, flour cannot be made into dough and then be cooked into
various forms of bread, offered and eaten. Sometimes water is called jala-
Narayana, the Supreme Lord in the form of this life sustaining substance
water.

Sayana Ekadasi
Oh king, the severe drought has caused a great lack of
valuable grains; thus we are all miserable, and the population
is decreasing as people die off or leave your kingdom. Oh best
ruler on Earth, please find some solutions to this problem and
bring us to peace and prosperity once again.
The king replied, You speak the truth, for grains are like
Brahman, the Absolute Truth, who lives within grains and
thereby sustains all beings. Indeed, it is because of grains
that the entire world lives. Now, why is there a terrible
drought in our kingdom? The Holy Scriptures discuss this
subject very thoroughly. If a king (or head of the country) is
irreligious, both he and his subjects suffer. I have meditated
upon the cause of our problem for a long time, but after
searching my past and present character I can honestly say
that I find no sin. Still, for the good of all your subjects, I
shall try to remedy the situation.
Sayana Ekadasi:

.
Thinking in this way, King Mandhata assembled his army and entourage. Paid
his obeisance's to me, and then entered the forest. He wandered here and
there, seeking great sages in their Ashrams and inquiring about how to
resolve the crisis in his kingdom. At last he came upon the ashram of one of
my other sons, Angirasa Muni, whose effulgence lit up all directions.
Seated in his hermitage, Angirasa looked like a second Brahma. King
Mandhata was very pleased to see that exalted sages, whose senses were
completely under control.

The king immediately dismounted his horse and offered his respectful
obeisance's at the lotus feet of Angirasa Muni. Then the king joined his
palms and prayed for the Munis blessings. That saintly person
reciprocated by blessing the king with sacred mantras; then he asked him
about the welfare of the seven limbs of his kingdom.

The seven limbs of a kings domain are the king himself; the ministers; his
treasury; his military forces; his allies; the Brahmins; the sacrificial
performances performed in the kingdom and the needs of the subjects
under his care.
Sayana Ekadasi
After telling the sage how the seven limbs of his kingdom were situated,
King Mandhata asked the sage about his own situation, and if he was happy.
Then Angirasa Muni asked the king why he had undertaken such a difficult
journey into the forest, and the king told him of the affliction his kingdom
was suffering. The king said, Oh great sage, I am ruling and maintaining my
kingdom while following the Vedic injunctions, and thus I do not know the
reason for the drought. To solve this mystery, I have approached you for
help. Please help me relieve the suffering of my subjects.
Angirasa Rishi said tot he king, The present age, Satya yuga, is the best
of all ages, for in this age Dharma stands on all four legs (Truthfulness,
Austerity, Mercy, and Cleanliness). In this age everyone respects Brahmins
as the topmost members of society. Also, everyone fulfills his occupational
duties, and only twice-born Brahmins are allowed to perform Vedic
austerities and penances. Although this is a standard, Oh lion among kings,
there is one shudra (uninitiated, untrained person) who is thus unlawfully
performing the rites of austerity and penance in your kingdom. This is why
there is no rain in your land. You should therefore punish this labourer
with death, for by so doing you will remove the contamination inflicted by
his actions and restore peace to your subjects.
Sayana Ekadasi
The king then replied, How can I kill an offense less performer of
austerity and sacrifice? Please give me some spiritual solution.
The great sage Angirasa Muni then said, Oh king, you should observe a
fast on the Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of
Asadha. This auspicious day is named Padma Ekadasi, and by its influence
plentiful rains and thus grains and other foodstuffs will surely return to
your kingdom. This Ekadasi bestows perfection upon its faithful
observers, removes all kinds of bad elements, and destroys all obstacles
on the path to perfection. Oh king, you, your relatives, and your subjects
should all observe this sacred Ekadasi fast. Then everything in your
kingdom will undoubtedly return to normal.
Upon hearing these words, the king offered his obeisance's and then
returned to his palace. When the Padma Ekadasi arrived, King Mandhata
assembled all the Brahmins, Kshatriya, Vaishyas and Sudras in his kingdom
and instructed them to strictly observe this important fast day. After
they had observed it, the rains fell, just as the sage had predicted, and in
due course of time there were abundant crops and a rich harvest of grain.
By the mercy of the Supreme Lord Hrishikesha, the master of the
senses, all the subjects of King Mandhata became extremely happy and
prosperous.
Therefore, Oh Narada, everyone should observe this Ekadasi fast very
strictly, for it bestows all kinds of happiness, as well as ultimate liberation,
upon the faithful devotee
Lord Sri Krishna concluded, My dear Yudhishthira,PadmaEkadasi is so
powerful that one who simply reads or hears its glories becomes completely
sinless. Oh Pandava, one who wishes to please Me should strictly observe
this Ekadasi, which is also known as Deva-sayani Ekadasi
Deva-sayani, or Vishnu-sayani, indicates the day when Lord Vishnu goes to
sleep with all the devas (demigods). It is said that after this day one
should not perform any new auspicious ceremonies until Devotthani Ekadasi
(Haribodhini (Prabodhini) Devotthaani (Uttana) Ekadasi), which occurs
during the month of Kartika (October November), because the devas
(demigods), being asleep, cannot be invited to the sacrificial arena and
because the Sun is travelling along its Southern course (Dakshinayanam).
Lord Sri Krishna continued, Oh lion among kings, Yudhishthira Maharaj,
whoever wants liberation should regularly observe a fast on this Ekadasi
which is also the day when the Chaturmasya fast begins.
Thus ends the narration of the glories of the Ashadha-shukla Ekadasi
also known as Padma Ekadasi or Deva-sayani Ekadasi from the Bhavishya-
uttara Purana.


"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare"

One who hears
Bhagavatam on
the Ekadasi day
is assured of long
life, and one who
recites it with
careful attention
while fasting is
purified of all
sinful
reactions. SB
12/12/60
Astrological view on
chaturmasaya
Sannyasi observe Chaturmasya and stay at one place to
meditate on lord Vishnu to know the Absolute Reality and
instruct their disciples in the spiritual lore.
The mendicant Sage , except in the rainy season, may stay
one night in a village and five nights in a city;
During the rains, he may stay four months in a village or town.
He shall not stay for two nights in a villages; if he stays,
affection, lust, etc., may find scope to deflect him and thereby
he may go to hell. In the outskirts of a village, in a secluded
spot, he may pitch his camp .
During the rains, he shall stay at one place.
If, during the rainy season, the Sannyasis move from one place
to another, they may cause injury to many insects and worms
that breed and move about on the ground during the season.
Sannyasis have taken the vow of non-injury to all creatures
(Ahimsa and Abhaya), they should refrain from causing harm to
any living being. Moreover, constant travel will also come in the
way of Sannyasis having any time for Atma -vichara or for
continued profound meditation; (So, they halt at one place once
in a year for four months and engage themselves in the
meditation of the Supreme Lord Vishnu , in the company of their
Gurus and other Sannyasis, clearing their doubts on complex
metaphysical problems.
This General view, Astrologically the Rasi involved for
Chaturmasya are Kataka(moksha),Simha(Dharma) and Kanya or
virgo (Artha) and Thula or libra(Kama).
In astrology Jupiter and Venus are Two Gurus showing
two different paths to get liberation. anything which give
happiness and pleasure is Venus, enjoy the materialistic
happiness and understand its limitation and surrender to
the Lord is Venus Policy.
Devotion, morality, wisdom, compassion, spirituality as
per Parampara and connection with the universe is the
policy of Jupiter.
Chaturmasaya period rasi lords are Moon,Sun,Mercury
and venus.
The centre of Chaturmasya period is Kanya Rasi where
Kama-Krodha-Lobha-Moha-Mada- Matsaras or of Desire-
Anger-Greed-Infatuation-Arrogance and Envy are stored
thats why mars indicator of strength is getting wrong
direction in kanya Rasi .with respect of centre of kanya
Rasi one side Jupiter is getting wrong direction in the
rasis of simha and kataka and other side of kanya rasi
Venus is getting wrong direction in Tula and viruchika.




So Sun and Moon helps is required to make the Two teachers to
the correct path.
Astrologically Jupiter path is recommended to get liberation
because sun and moon are loosing its strength while transiting in
Libra and viruchika respectively.
The Jupiter path is always recommended that means following
the Parampara system to get surrender to the Supreme lord. As
per Srila Prabhupada The Parampara system means...
Just like we claim Parampara system from Krishna.
So whatever Krishna says or He said 5,000 years ago, we are
repeating the same thing. That is called Parampara system. Not
that "The world has changed. Scientific advancement is very
great. Now we can interpret in this way and that way." This is all
not correct. Simply we have to follow what our previous gurus
preached.

Compiled by Pitchumani Krishnan,Vedic astrologer,Chennai




We cannot change a single alphabet. They are all unmistakable. They
cannot be changed. So that is niscayam atmanah.
If we want to know positively, what is God, then we should take lesson from
a self-realized soul who has understood, who has seen. Jnaninas tattva-
darsinah. Just like here it is tattva-niscayam atmanah. So tattvam, the truth,
so one must have seen the truth, realized the truth. That is guru. Means one
who has seen the truth. How he has seen the truth? Through
the Parampara system. Krishna said this, and then Brahma said the same
thing, then Narada said the same thing, Vyasadeva said the same thing, and
then disciplic succession, If we want to know positively, what is God, then we
should take lesson from a self-realized soul who has understood, who has
seen. So astrologically when sun transit through four signs that is kataka
,simha, Kanya and Libra are highly auspicious period for spiritual practices.,
because all gurus directly connecting themselves to the supreme lord Vishnu
(who is in yoga Nitra during the period) to get blessing and enrich their
knowledge during this Chaturmasya period.
Adopting various rituals and fasting suggested in the Chaturmasya Vrata
may help the come out from the clutch of Maya.

OM Hreem Kleem Shreem Sivaya Brammanay Namaha


Breaking Fast

Break the fast on 10.07.2014, Thursday between 06.00 to 0900HRS