Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi or "Vinayak Chaturthi" is one of the major traditional festivals celebrated by the Hindu community. It is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Ananta Chaturdashi, and is traditionally celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha is the son of Shiva (The God of Destruction in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer) and Parvati (Shiva’s consort). The cutest and most lovable Indian God, Ganesha or Ganpati has the head of an elephant on which rests an elegant tiara, four podgy hands joined to a sizeable belly with each hand holding its own symbolic object - a trishul or a trident in one, an ankush or goad (made from his very own broken tooth) in another, a lotus in the third and a rosary (which is sometimes replaced by modaks, his favourite sweet) in the fourth. Revered as the deity of auspiciousness and wisdom, Lord Ganesha is also famous for being a trickster and for his profound sense of humour.

It is believed that Lord Ganesh was born on a fourth day (chaturthi) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Magh. Since then, an association between Ganesh and chaturthi has been established. Thus the festival dedicated to the worship of Lord Ganesha on this chaturthi day is named as Ganesh Chaturthi.

There is a curiously interesting tale about the birth of Ganesha. It is believed that once while Parvati was bathing, she created a human figure from some unguent and balm, gave him life and asked him to guard the door while she bathed. After a long period of meditation on Mountain Kailash (Lord Shiva’s abode), Shiva chose that very moment to drop by to see his better half, but was abruptly stopped by the man-god Parvati had posted at the door. Outraged by the cheek of this stranger, Shiva cut off his head only to discover moments later that he had killed Parvati’s son! For fear of enraging his wife, Shiva immediately dispatched his ganas (attendants) to get him the head of the first living creature they could find. Well, the first living creature happened to be an elephant. As instructed, the head was chopped off and brought back to Shiva, who placed it on Parvati’s son’s body, bringing him back to life. This elephant-headed god was welcomed into the first family of the Hindu heavens and named Ganesha or Ganapati, which literally means the chief of the ganas, or the attendants of Shiva. Ganesha is the foremost god of the Hindu pantheon. This brave guardian of the door to Parvati’s bath is beheld today as the most auspicious God of new beginnings. He is worshipped during every festival and before people undertake a journey or embark upon a new venture. You will also see him carefully guarding entrances to temples and homes, peeping out of calendars and happily gracing marriages and other such occasions.

It is not known when and how Ganesh Chaturthi was first celebrated. But according to the historian Shri Rajwade, the earliest Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations can be traced back to the times of the reigns of dynasties as Satavahana, Rashtrakuta and Chalukya. Historical records reveal that Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations were initiated in Maharashtra by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, the great Maratha ruler, to promote culture and nationalism. And it had continued ever since. There are also references in history to similar celebrations during Peshwa times. It is believed that Lord Ganapati was the family deity of the Peshwas. After the end of Peshwa rule, Ganesh Chaturthi remained a family affair in Maharashtra from the period of 1818 to 1892.

1857 was a landmark year for India and moreso in the context of Indian freedom. It was the year of Sepoy Mutiny, an armed rebellion against the ruling British Empire by the Indian soldiers. This was the first war that India waged to gain back her independence from her white rulers. Though unsuccesful, this battle marked the beginning of the Indian struggle for independence. Many orators, leaders and freedom fighters all over India teamed to put up a united resistance to the British domination. One of these eminent leaders was Bal Gangadhar Tilak, an Indian nationalist, social reformer and freedom fighter. Greatly esteemed by the Indian people, especially of Maharashtra, Tilak was commonly referred to as "Lokmanya" or "he who is regarded by the people". It was Tilak, who brought back the tradition of Ganesh Chaturthi and reshaped the annual Ganesh festival from private family celebrations into a grand public event.

Lokamanya saw how Lord Ganesha was worshipped by the upper stratum as well as the rank and file of India. The visionary that he was, Tilak realized the cultural importance of this deity and popularised Ganesha Chaturthi as a National Festival "to bridge the gap between the Brahmins and the non-Brahmins and find an appropriate context in which to build a new grassroots unity between them" in his nationalistic strivings against the British in Maharashtra. He knew that India couldn't fight her rulers until she solved the differences within her own. Hence, to unite all social classes Tilak chose Ganesha as a rallying point for Indian protest against British rule because of his wide appeal as "the god for Everyman".

It was around 1893, during the nascent stages of Indian nationalism, that Tilak began to organize the Ganesh Utsav as a social and religious function. He was the first to put in large public images of Ganesha in pavilions and establish the tradition of their immersion on the tenth day. The festival facilitated community participation and involvement in the form of learned discourses, dance dramas, poetry recital, musical concerts, debates, etc. It served as a meeting place for common people of all castes and communities, at a time when all social and political gatherings were forbidden by the British Empire for fear of conspiracies to be hatched against them. An important festival during the Peshwa era, Ganesha Chaturthi acquired at this time a more organized form all over India largely due to Lokmanya's efforts.

Since then, Ganesh Chaturthi has been celebrated throughout Maharashtra as also in other states with great community enthusiasm and participation. With the independence of India in 1947, it was proclaimed to be a national festival.

Today, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and many other parts of India. The festival is so popular that the preparations begin months in advance. Days before the actual worship, homes are cleaned and marquees erected at street corners to house the idols of the Lord. Elaborate arrangements are made for lighting, decoration, mirrors and flowers. The artisans who make the idols of Ganesh vie with each other to make bigger and better sculptures. The sizes of the relatively larger ones range anywhere from 10 meters to 30 meters in height. These are installed in marquees and in homes prior to the Puja (worship). During the festival days, the Lord is worshipped with great devotion and prayer services are performed daily. The duration of the Lord's stay varies from place to place; once the worship is complete, the statues are carried on decorated floats to be immersed in the sea after one, three, five, seven and ten days. Thousands of processions converge on the beaches to immerse the holy idols in the sea. This procession and immersion is accompanied with dancing and the sound of exciting drum-beats, devotional songs and exploding firecrackers. As the idol is immersed amidst loud chants of "Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai!" (Hail Lord Ganesh), the festival comes to an end with pleas to the Lord to return the next year with chants of "Ganpati bappa morya, pudcha varshi laukar ya" (Hail Lord Ganesh, return again soon next year). Tourists from all over the world come to witness this wonderful event in the sun kissed beaches of Goa and Mumbai.

While celebrated all over India, Ganesh Chaturthi festivities are most elaborate in states like Maharashtra, Goa (It is the biggest festival for Konkani people all over the world), Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and other areas which were former states of the Maratha Empire. Outside India, it is celebrated in Nepal by the Newars.


Lord Ganesha is worshipped with all sixteen rituals along with chanting of Puranik Mantras during Ganesha Chaturthi Puja which is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi Puja. Worshipping Gods and Goddesses with all 16 rituals is known as Shodashopachara Puja.

Although Ganesha Puja can be done during Pratahkala, Madhyahnakala and Sayankala but Madhyahnakala is preferred during Ganesha Chaturthi Puja.

If you have Lord Ganesha installed at your home and is worshipped daily then Avahana and Pratishthapan should be skipped as these two rituals are done for newly bought statues of Lord Ganesha either made of clay or made of metal. It should be noted that pre-installed statue of Lord Ganesha at home are not given Visarjan but given Utthapana at the end of Puja.

It is Prohibited for Moon Sighting on Ganesha Chaturthi day. It is believed that no one should sight the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi. Sighting moon on Ganesh Chaturthi creates Mithya Dosham or Mithya Kalank which means a false accusation of stealing something.

Pooja Requirements

• A Clay image of Lord Ganesha.
• Red flowers
• Druva Grass blades
• Modak (jaggery filled sweet)
• Coconut
• Red chandan (Sandalwood paste)
• Incense dhoop sticks

The Puja

• First clean the house and take a bath.
• A Clay image of Lord Ganesha is installed in a raised platform.
• Pray to Lord Ganesh and you can recite mantras or bhajans dedicated to Lord Ganesha.
• Next step is to invoke Ganesha into the image. This is known as pran-prathishta. The Pran Prathista mantra in Sanskrit to be invoked is found in the Rig Veda and is part of Ganesh Suktha.
• Offer 21 blades of Druva Grass.
• Offer 21 modakas
• Offer red flowers
• Apply a tilak using red Sandalwood paste.
• Break the coconut or just keep it along with the idol. You can also keep fried grains. (The food of the rat – the vehicle of Ganesha).
• You can also recite the 108 salutations dedicated to Lord Ganesha or read the Ganesha Upanishad or just simply pray.

The number 21 signifies - the five organs of perception, five organs of action, five vital airs (pranas), five elements, and the mind.

While performing Ganesha Puja at home, you can always be flexible. The strict rituals are meant for Vedic priests. All you need to be careful is to perform the pujas with a clean body and clean mind.

What is more important is devotion not the ritual.

Hartalika Teej

Hartalika Teej is seen as a major festival and is celebrated on the third day of the bright half of the North Indian Lunar month of Bhadrapad. In this festival women fast throughout the day and pray Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, remembering their wedding and staying up all night listening to prayers. The fast (also called nishivasar nirjala vrat) commences during the evening of Hartalika Teej and is broken the next day after a full day's observance which involves women not even drinking water. The focus is on praying to Goddess Parvati whom Shiva desired should be worshiped under the name Hartalika.

Hartalika is a combination of "harit" and "aalika" which means "abduction" and "female friend" respectively. According to the legend of Hartalika Teej, Goddess Parvati, incarnated as Goddess Shailaputri, was the daughter of himalaya who promised her hand in marriage to Lord Vishnu, at the suggestion of Narada. Upon hearing this, Goddess Parvati told her friend of her father's decision whereupon the friend took Goddess Parvati to the thick forest so that her father would not marry her to Lord Vishnu against her wish.

On the third day of the bright half of Bhadrapud, Goddess Parvati made a Shiva lingam out of her hair and prayed. Lord Shiva was so impressed that he gave his word to marry Goddess Parvati. Eventually, Goddess Parvati was united with Lord Shiva and was married to him with her father's blessing. Since then, the day is referred to as haritalika teej as Goddess Parvati's female (aalika)friend had to abduct (harit) her in order for the Goddess to achieve her goal of marrying Lord Shiva.

Though the rituals of Hartalika Teej are same as other Teej Vrat. But, some of the differences are as follows:

Rituals Of Hartalika Teej:


Females observe Hartalika Teej Vrat on the day of Hartalika Teej.
A Nirjala Vrat (without water) is observed on Hartalika Teej.
People who observe a fast on Teej stay awake the whole night.
Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva are worshiped on Hartalika Teej.


These are some of common rituals that are performed while observing Hartalika Teej. Let’s see what is the benefit of observing Hartalika Teej.

Benefit Of Hartalika Teej

It is believed that those who observe the fast of Hartalika Teej, Lord Shiva fulfills all the desires of those devotees.

The states in which Hartalika Teej is celebrated on a large scale are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.


Teej : Legend Of Teej Festival

The legend of Teej festival is related to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed that Goddess Parvati admired Lord Shiva and wanted to marry Him. Hence, Goddess Parvati prayed to Lord Shiva with full devotion and dedication, for a period of 108 years. Post which, She was accepted by Lord Shiva as his wife. Since then, the festival of Teej is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, who is also known as ‘Teej Mata’. The divine reunion of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva for a blissful marriage remains to be the prime reason for celebrating Teej.

Teej : Significance Of Teej Festival

Teej is one of the most popular festivals among the married women. This festival during the Shravan Maas (month) is considered extremely important for females. The festival of Teej signifies the devotion of a woman toward her husband. It is believed that through severe dedication, a woman can attain the eternal blessings of Almighty.

So, on this Teej, don’t forget to please Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, for attaining the man of your dreams.

Teej Vrat Rituals

Just like any other festival, the Teej festival has some important rituals. Some of the important rituals that are to be followed during the Teej festival are as follows:


Married women are presented with items of Shringaar (make up) by her in-laws. This Shringaar includes Kumkum (vermilion), Henna (mehndi tattoo), Bindi (decorative mark on forehead), bangles, and Sari (traditional attire).

During the festival of Teej, females observe a Nirjala (without water) fast. So, if you plan to observe the Teej Vrat, you should eat a day prior to Teej festival.
As a part of the Teej festival rituals, women visit the nearest temple and pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

During the fast, females dress up elegantly, wearing the Shringaar items and apply Mehendi (Henna) to their hands. This ritual is a depiction of a blissful married life.
In the evening, women pray to Goddess Parvati and listen or recite the Teej Vrat Katha.

Special prayers are offered during the night while observing the Moon.

During the festival of Teej, special folk dances are performed and Teej songs are sung. These are some of the important rituals that are followed during the Teej festival. So, this Teej, don’t forget to follow these rituals.

Teej Celebrations

During the Teej festival, there is no part of the country which is left behind. The celebration of the Teej festival can be seen in the states of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh., Haryana, and Punjab. Not only in India, but also outside, the festival of Teej is celebrated with a lot of joy, enthusiasm, and vibrancy.

During the festival of Teej, special fares are also conducted. Women across the country dress up in different vibrant colored sarees, suits, and Lehengas (traditional attire for women).

Varaha Avatar

Varaha is the avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu in the form of a boar. Varaha is listed as third in the Dashavatara, the ten principal avatars of Vishnu. When the demon Hiranyaksha stole the earth (personified as the goddess Bhudevi) and hid her in the primordial waters, Vishnu appeared as Varaha to rescue her. Varaha slew the demon and retrieved the Earth from the ocean, lifting it on his tusks, and restored Bhudevi to her place in the universe.

Varaha may be depicted completely as a boar or in an anthropomorphic form, with a boar's head and human body. His consort, Bhudevi, the earth, is often depicted as a young woman, lifted by Varaha. The earth may be depicted as a mass of land too.

Varaha has four arms, two of which hold the Sudarshana chakra (discus) and shankha (conch), while the other two hold a gada (mace), a sword, or a lotus or one of them makes the varadamudra (gesture of blessing). Varaha may be depicted with all of Vishnu'a attributes in his four hands: the Sudarshana chakra, the shankha, the gada and the lotus. Sometimes, Varaha may carry only two of Vishnu's attributes: a shankha and the gada personified as a female called Gadadevi. Varaha is often shown with a muscular physique and in a heroic pose. He is often depicted triumphantly emerging from the ocean as he rescues the earth.

Legends

The earliest versions of the Varaha legend are found in the Taittiriya Aranyaka and the Shatapatha Brahmana. They narrate that the universe was filled with the primordial waters. The earth was the size of a hand and was trapped in it. The god Prajapati (the creator-god Brahma) in the form of a boar (varaha) plunges into the waters and brings the earth out. He also marries the earth thereafter. The Shatapatha Brahmana calls the boar as Emusha. The epic Ramayana and the Vishnu Purana - considered sometimes as the oldest of the Puranic scriptures - are the first to associate Varaha with Vishnu. Various Puranic scriptures including the Agni Purana, the Bhagavata Purana, the Devi Bhagavata Purana, the Padma Purana, the Varaha Purana, the Vayu Purana and the Vishnu Purana narrate the legend of Varaha with some variations.

One day Lord Vishnu was resting in his palace, when Lord Brahma’s four sons came to meet him. They were stopped at the entrance by two guards, Jaya and Vijaya. They did not allow them to enter as their master was resting, Brahma’s sons were very angry and cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be born as humans on earth and to leave their godly status.

A little while later Lord Vishnu arrived at the spot and apologized for Jaya and Vijaya’s behaviour as they were merely doing their duty. So as a compensation Brahma’s sons said that curse would be lifted when Jaya and Vijaya in human forms would meet their death at Lord Vishnu’s hands.

So Jaya and Vijaya were born as humans on Earth. They were named Hiranya­kashyap and Hiranyaksh. When they were born both the earth and the heaven shook violently. Indra went to Lord Vishnu and said, “At their birth itself, there is so much chaos. What will happen when they’ll grow up?”

“Don’t worry, Indra,” said Lord Vishnu. “I’ll kill them when the time comes and no harm will come to anybody.”

Many years went by and Hiranyaksha became a young man. He was a great devotee of Lord Brahma. He gave a lot of time in penance when Lord Brahma appeared and gave him a boon. According to the boon, no God, human, Daitya or Asura would be able to kill him. So Hiranyaksha started displaying his strength as he was assured of his immortality.

He turned his waist side to side and began churning the sea. Due to this, waves lashed the sea. Varun Dev got very scared on seeing such a scene. He started searching for a place to hide. But Hiranyaksh confronted him and challenged him. At this, Varun Dev accepted his defeat and declared that he could not defeat Hiranyaksha as he was the strongest of all. And then Hiranyaksha was filled with pride. He went on churning the sea waters and walked through the sea. Then he met Narad Muni. Hiranyaksh asked him,” “Is there anyone as strong as or stronger than me?” Narad Muni said, “Yes, Lord Vishnu is the strongest.” Hiranyaksha searched for Lord Vishnu everywhere but could not find him. Then he gathered the whole Earth into a round ball and went underwater to Pataal Lok to search for Lord Vishnu. All the Gods were worried. They got together and rushed to Lord Vishnu for help. They said, “Lord please save us. Hiranyaksh has taken Earth and disappeared.”

“Don’t worry. I know he has taken Earth to Pataal Lok. I’ll soon get Earth back at its position.”

Then Lord Vishnu took the form of a Varaha, a wild boar with two tusks. He went to Pataal Lok and challenged Hiranyaksha so they had a fierce fight. Hiranyaksha used many weapons to strike Varaha but they had no effect on him. Lastly, Hiranyaksha wound his strong, muscled arms round the wild boar’s neck to strangle him. At that very moment, Lord Vishnu left his Varaha form and appeared in his true self.


And then Vishnu directed his chakra at Hiranyaksha . The chakra separated his head from his body. Hiranyaksha died then and there. Then Lord Vishnu again took the Varaha form. He picked the Earth, which was like a ball, balanced on his two tusks and left Pataal Lok through the sea. He placed Earth at its original position and again appeared in his true form.

Further, the earth goddess Bhudevi falls in love with her rescuer Varaha. Vishnu - in his Varaha form - marries Bhudevi, making her one of the consorts of Vishnu. In one narrative, Vishnu and Bhudevi indulge in vigorous embraces and as a result, Bhudevi becomes fatigued and faints, sinking a little in the primordial ocean. Vishnu again acquires the form of Varaha and rescues her, reinstating her in her original position above the waters. Some scriptures state that Bhudevi gives birth to Varaha's son, an asura called Narakasura.

The scripture Varaha Purana is believed to be narrated by Vishnu to Bhudevi, as Varaha. The Purana is devoted more to the "myths and genealogies" connected to the worship of Vishnu.


Temples

The most prominent temple of Varaha is the Sri Varahaswami Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the shores of a temple pond, called the Swami Pushkarini, in Tirumala, near Tirupati; to the north of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (another temple of Vishnu in the form of Venkateswara). The region is called Adi-Varaha Kshestra, the abode of Varaha. The legend of the place is as follows: at the end of Satya Yuga (the first in the cycle of four aeons; the present one is the fourth aeon), devotees of Varaha requested him to stay on earth, so Varaha ordered his mount Garuda to bring his divine garden Kridachala from his abode Vaikuntha to Venkata hills, Tirumala. Venkateswara is described as having taken the permission of Varaha to reside in these hills, where his chief temple, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, stands. Hence, pilgrims are prescribed to worship Varaha first and then Venkateswara. In the Atri Samhita (Samurtarchanadhikara), Varaha is described to be worshipped in three forms here: Adi Varaha, Pralaya Varaha and Yajna Varaha. The image in the sanctum is of Adi Varaha.

Another important temple is the Bhuvarahaswami Temple in Srimushnam town, to the northeast of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. It was built in the late 16th century by Krishnappa II, a Thanjavur Nayak ruler. The image of Varaha is considered a swayambhu (self manifested) image, one of the eight self-manifested Swayamvyakta Vaishnava kshetras. An inscription in the prakaram (circumambulating passage around the main shrine) quoting from the legend of the Srimushna Mahatmaya (a local legend) mentions the piety one derives in observing festivals during the 12 months of the year when the sun enters a particular zodiacal sign. This temple is venerated by Hindus and Muslims alike. Both communities take the utsava murti (festival image) in procession in the annual temple festival in the Tamil month of Masi (February–March). The deity is credited with many miracles and called Varaha saheb by Muslims.

Varaha shrines are also included in Divya Desams (a list of 108 abodes of Vishnu). They include Adi Varaha Perumal shrine Tirukkalvanoor, located in the Kamakshi Amman Temple complex, Kanchipuram and Thiruvidandai, 15 km from Mahabalipuram.

In Muradpur in West Bengal, worship is offered to an in-situ 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) zoomorphic image of Varaha (8th century), one of the earliest known images of Varaha. A 7th century anthropomorphic Varaha image of Apasadh is still worshipped in a relatively modern temple. Other temples dedicated to Varaha are located across India in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana Pradesh at Baraha Kalan, Karnataka at Maravanthe and Kallahalli, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha at Yajna Varaha Temple, and Lakhmi Varaha Temple, Rajasthan at Pushkar, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

अजा एकादशी

भाद्रपद के कृष्ण पक्ष में आने वाली एकादशी को अजा एकादशी कहते हैं। इस बार पड़ने वाली एकादशी को अन्नदा एकादशी भी कहते हैं। कहते हैं कि इस विधिपूर्वक व्रत तथा रात्रि जागरण करने से समस्त पाप नष्ट हो कर स्वर्गलोक को प्राप्‍ति होती है। 

इस व्रत में एकादशी की कथा सुनने भर से ही अश्वमेध यज्ञ का फल प्राप्त होता है। यदि आप भी भगवान विष्‍णु जी का आर्शीवाद प्राप्‍त करना चाहते हैं इस तिथि और मुहूर्त के हिसाब से ही पूजा करें।

अजा एकादशी के बारे में अर्जुन ने भगवान श्रीकृष्ण से कहा कि, 'हे प्रभु! आप मुझ अजा एकादशी के बारे में बताएं. इस पर श्रीकृष्ण ने अर्जुन से कहा कि अर्जुन भाद्रपद में कृष्णपक्ष में आने वाली एकादशी को अजा एकादशी कहते हैं. यह एकादशी सभी पापों को नष्ट करने वाली और अत्यंत शुभ फल देने वाली है. इसदिन व्रत रखकर विष्णु भगवान और मां लक्ष्मी की पूजा करने वालों की हर मनोकामना पूरी होती है. 

राजा हरिश्चन्द्र को वापस मिल गया था राजपाट

सतयुग में सूर्यवंशी चक्रवर्ती राजा हरिश्चंद्र हुए जो बड़े सत्यवादी थे. एक बार उन्होंने अपने वचन की खातिर अपना सम्पूर्ण राज्य राजऋषि विश्वामित्र को दान कर दिया. दक्षिणा देने के लिए अपनी पत्नी एवं पुत्र को ही नहीं स्वयं तक को दास के रूप में एक चाण्डाल को बेच डाला. इस विपरीत परिस्थिति में भी राजा हरिश्चंद्र ने सत्य और धर्म का रास्ता नहीं छोड़ा.

चाण्डाल का सेवन करते हुए एक दिन राजा यह सोचने लगे कि इस परिस्थिति से मुझे कब छुटकारा मिलेगा. वह इस प्रकार चिंतन में थे कि उनके सामने एक दिन गौतम ऋषि आ गए. राजा ने उनसे अपनी पूरी व्यथा सुनाई. गौतम ऋषि राजा की पूरी बात सुनी और बहुत दुखी हुए. उन्होंने राजा को अजा एकादशी करने की सलाह दी. उन्होंने राजा से कहा, हे राजन- भाद्रपद में कृष्णपक्ष की एकादशी व्रत का अनुष्ठान विधि पूर्वक करो और समस्त रात्रि जागरण करके भगवान का स्मरण करो. इस व्रत के प्रभाव से तुम्हारे सभी पाप क्षय हो जाएंगे. और तुम सभी प्रकार के कष्टो से छूट जाओगे.

इस प्रकार राजा को उपदेश देकर गौतम ऋषि वहां से चले गए. गौतम ऋषि ने जिस प्रकार राजा को व्रत करने की विधि बताई थी, उसी प्रकार राजा ने व्रत का अनुष्ठान किया और सारी रात जागरण करते हुए भगवान के नाम का स्मरण करते रहे. इस प्रकार राजा को अपना राजपाट, पत्नी और बच्चा सब वापस मिल गया और वह सुखी-सुखी जीवन व्यतीत करने लगा.

इस दिन व्रत रखने का भी विधान है. कहते हैं कि व्रत में एकादशी की कथा सुनने भर से ही अश्वमेध यज्ञ का फल प्राप्त हो जाता है. यदि आप भी भगवान विष्‍णु जी का आर्शीवाद प्राप्‍त करना चाहते हैं तो तिथि और मुहूर्त के हिसाब से ही पूजा करें. जानें, अजा एकादशी व्रत की विधि और शुभ मुहूर्त....

तिथि और मुहूर्त:

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ऐसे रखें अजा एकादशी का व्रत

नित्यक्रिया से मुक्त हो कर घर की साफ-सफाई करें. उसके बाद शरीर पर तिल और मिट्टी का लेप लगा कर कुशा से स्नान करें. नहाने के बाद भगवान विष्णु जी की पूजा करें.

अजा एकादशी पूजा विधि

आज भगवान श्री विष्णु जी की पूजा की जाती है. पूजा करने के लिए सबसे पहले एक साफ जगह चुन कर वहां धान्य रखें और फिर उस पर कुम्भ स्थापित करें. कुम्भ को लाल रंग के वस्त्र से सजा कर स्‍थापित करें. इसके बाद कुम्भ की पूजा करें और इसके पश्चात कुम्भ के ऊपर श्री विष्णु जी की प्रतिमा स्थापित करें. इस दौरान व्रत का संकल्प करें. संकल्प लेते वक्‍त धूप, दीप और पुष्प से भगवान श्री विष्णु की पूजा करें.

ना करें ये काम

एकादशी के दिन चावल नहीं खाना चाहिए. मन चंचल होता है और प्रभु भक्ति से एकाग्र हटता है. पान, तम्बाकू, जर्दा, सुपारी, शराब आदि नशीली वस्तुओं का सेवन ना करें. दातुन वर्जित होता है. पेड़ की डाली ना तोड़ें. एकादशी की रात सोना नहीं चाहिए. बैठकर भजन कीर्तन करना चाहिए. रात्रि जागरण के नाम पर जुआ ना खेलें. झूठ ना बोलें. क्रोध ना करें. उपवास करें या नहीं, पर ब्रह्मचर्य का पालन जरूर करें. छोटी या बड़ी किसी भी प्रकार की चोरी ना करें. किसी प्रकार हिंसा या चुगली ना करें.