Āṣāḍhī Ekādaśī | Nivṛtti, Pravṛtti of Prabhu Viṣṇu through His Supreme Amśa of Viṭṭhala

Āṣāḍhī Ekādaśī (आषाढ एकादशी) signifies a time-space in which Prabhu Viṣṇuji enters a state of Nivṛtti (in which he appears to sleep) in Kṣīrasāgara (the cosmic ocean of milk) on the cosmic serpent Śeṣanāga. It falls on the 11th lunar day (Ekādaśī) of the bright fortnight (Śukla Pakśa) of the Vedic month of Āśadha (June – July). It is additionally known as Śayani Ekādaśī, Mahā Ekādaśī, Prathama Ekādaśī, or Padma Ekādaśī.

This holy day is of significance to Vaiṣṇavites. Through this day and night, they oblate ritualistically the Murti of Prabhu Viṣṇuji and Mā Lakṣmī. The saṅkalpa of Caturmāsa, or 4-month ritualistic fasting priorly undertaken, is imbibed on this day. Post Caturmāsa, Prabhu Viṣṇuji becomes pravṛtta (appears to wake up) on Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, the 11th day of bright fortnight in the Vedic month of Kārtika (October-November).

This day is of great importance in Mahārāṣṭra. The taditional yātrā to Śrī Viṭṭhala (the supreme aṃśa of Prabhu Viṣṇuji) Temple in Panḍharpur culminates here. The pilgrims are famously known to us as Warkaris, while the yātrā is known as Panḍharpurchi-wāri.

Through these lesser traditions of ritual and yātrā, we can infer a micro blueprint of prāṇic flow exchange. Prabhu Viṣṇuji floating on Śeṣanāga over Kṣīrasāgara depicts the eternal prāṇa, the energy stability that sustains the cosmos. The sleep signifies the internalisation or harnessing of energy which slowly purifies itself of leaks and wastes over the four months through the marma points of the Gaṇeśa festival, Pitṛpakṣa, Navarātri and, finally, Nāraka Caturdaśī (Diwali | Dīpāvali), post which Prabhu Viṣṇuji externalises - as waking from his sleep. The entire sequence depicts an algorithm of synchronous stabilisation of cosmic prāṇa with the internal prāṇa of each manifestation, executed through the movement of Vāyu and transmuted through Agni. Hence, the internalisation of prāṇa through the yogic methods of yantra, Tantra and bhakti meditation on this day commences the process of marma purification, arresting leaks and resulting in the fortification of the prāṇic path of Kuṇḍalinī. Fasting rituals help harness energy and prevent leaks as well the creation of wastes. Meditating on the supreme bīja of Prabhu Śrī Rāma in these months, Śrī Hanumāna fortifies the inner 5 vāyus of the body. The Āyurveda basti karma hence is also recommended in this Ṛtu. The vāyu balances out, giving optimal sensory output. This transition therefore is an important time for Haṭha yogis and for Tantra adepts who seek to balance the inner yantra with the cosmic yantra.

This day is marked from the standpoint of environmental logistics, as well. Āṣāḍhī Ekādaśī coincides with the onset of monsoons in India. In this season, the entire land is full of water. All activities cease. Fasting ensures that the stored grains last. No agrarian activities are done, and one does not disturb the cycle of nature that cleanses toxins and fortifies the soil. In Āyurveda, herb collection is hence prohibited in this season. In monsoons, the river flow is at maximum. A water body purifies through flow. Venomous creatures too release their poisons, hence the exogenous and endogenous toxins flow away. The circulation of Vāyu is stabilised, which further circulates cosmic prāṇa in all manifestations. Agni fortifies at all levels of transformation. Through the cosmic marma points or energy exchange locations of the Gaṇeśa festival, Pitṛpakṣa, and Navarātri, cosmic prāṇa is dispersed, exchanged, and fortified without leaks in the system which has a balanced Agni. Finally, on Prabodhini Ekādaśī, Prabhu Viṣṇuji projects, bringing forth awareness, once again… the cycle restores.

Vithala Vithala.