The Significance of Ekadasi Vrata.

                   

The significance & benefits of keeping a fast on Ekadasi is explained in the Uttara Khanda of the Padma Purana. On Ekadasi the mind must be firmly fixated on Narayana only.

Before narrating the origins of Ekadasi, Shri Krishna explains to Yudhisthira the benefits to be had by keeping a fast on Ekadasi. Krishna says the one who keeps a fast on Ekadasi accrues more punya than performing the Ashvamedha.Krishna says keeping a fast on Ekadasi is 100 times more meritorious than giving Gau-dhana to a Brahmana who has mastered the Vedas. Krishna says those who fast on the Ekadasi day are equal to those in whose bodies live the three deities Brahma, Vishnu & Maheshwara.

Krishna says to Yudhisthira that even the performance of a thousand Yajnas is not equal to keeping the Ekadasi Vrata. Such is the power of keeping a fast on Ekadasi.

To Yudhisthira's query on the origins of Ekadasi, Shri Krishna goes on to narrate the story of the extremely powerful asura Murasura, in whose slaying lies the origins of Ekadasi. Mura who lived during the Satya yuga had taken away by force Indra's abode.

Indra turns to Lord Shiva for help. Shiva in turn directs Indra to approach the "Eagle-bannered"(गरुडध्वजः) god i.e. Maha Vishnu. Indra promptly approaches Vishnu as advised.

In the above Shlokas, Indra praises Vishnu to the hilt. Addresses Vishnu by his many names like मधुसूदन, भक्तवत्सल, पुंडरीकाक्ष, जगन्नाथ while describing to him the atrocities committed by Mura.

Indra then proceeds to list out the atrocities committed by Mura, the son of asura Talajangnha who lived in a place called Candravati. Mura is accused of forcibly expelling all Devas from Devaloka & installing in their place Mura's own versions of Indra, Vayu, Agni & Varuna.

Vishnu assures Indra that he shall slay the evil asura. He along with other Devas immediately set out to Candravati where Mura was. Except Maha Vishnu all other Devas were defeated again. They all flee in 10 different directions while Vishnu stood alone to take Mura head on.

Vishnu wielding the Sudarshana Chakra kills the whole of the army of asuras of Mura. Everyone except Mura is defeated. Then a direct battle between Vishnu & Mura ensues. This battle is described as having lasted for a 1000 years. With no end in sight Vishnu devises a plan.Vishnu goes to बदरिकाश्रमम्/Badarikashrama (Badrinath). While there he enters a cave called सिंहावती/Simhavati. In there Vishnu goes to sleep. Meanwhile Mura bent on killing Vishnu pursues him to this cave.

Ekadasi emerging out of a sleeping Maha Vishnu to slay Murasura.

Out of the sleeping Maha Vishnu emerges a divine feminine form. She is described as very beautiful & auspicious, wielding all kinds of weapons. At once she slays Murasura by burning him down to ashes.

Meanwhile Maha Vishnu wakes from his sleep & is amazed to find out that Mura has been vanquished. Vishnu says whoever has killed Mura has committed a great deed & enquirers who had done this. The divine feminine form informs to Vishnu that it was her who slayed Mura.

This divine feminine form that emerged out of the sleeping Maha Vishnu came to be known as Ekadasi. The Delighted & pleased Maha Vishnu asks what boon she'd like for having performed this great deed of slaying the evil asura Mura. 

Devi Ekadasi makes just one wish. She says "O Vishnu, give wealth, righteousness and moksha to your devotee who observes a उपवासं (fast) on the day sacred to me" (i.e Ekadasi).

Maha Vishnu gladly grants Ekadasi her wish. There are 25 Ekadasi Vratas mentioned in the Padma Purana. The foremost of them being Mokshada Ekadasi which is observed during Shukla Paksha of the Margashirsha maasa.

Ekadasi is all about keeping our thoughts firmly fixed on Shriman Narayana & following the procedure of Vrata diligently with devotion.

Reference:

Padma purana

The Significance of Vaikunta Chaturdashi Vrata

Shankaranarayana

Vaikuntha Chaturdashi is a day dedicated to both Lord Shiva & Maha Vishnu. The significance of this day and the vratha to be observed is described in a very detailed manner in the Kartikamasa mahatmya of the Vaishnava khanda in the Skanda puranam.

On this very day during the Sathya yuga Lord Maha Vishnu went to Kashi to have a darshana of Mahadeva. Before proceeding for the darshana he took a bath at the Manikarnika ghat & in the process took a 1000 golden Lotus flowers with him to worship Shiva.

Vishnu took a 1000 lotus flowers to perform the Sahasranama for Shiva (1 lotus for 1 name). In order to test Vishnu's devotion, Shiva secretly takes away 1 lotus before the worship. Nearing the end of the Sahasranama, Vishnu realizes he is short by 1 lotus. Vishnu wondered if the shortfall in the lotuses was due to a error in counting of the lotuses or error in reciting of the 1000 names. He concluded there has been no mistake in reciting the 1000 names. The mistake must've been the in counting the lotuses. Vishnu had resolved at the outset for a worship with a 1000 lotuses. "How shall Mahadeva be worshiped when lotuses are short by one. If I go to fetch one, I will have to break the rule of continuous sitting. Now what should be done?" Vishnu was worried with this thought.

Vishnu praised as Pundarikaksha by the Rishis i.e. the Lotus eyed one. In a stunning display of devotion, Shri Maha Vishnu proceeds to dislodge his own lotus shaped eye with his index finger & offers it to Shiva in place of the missing lotus.

Mahadeva moved by Maha Vishnu's gesture says there is no one in the 3 worlds that is as devoted to him as Vishnu is & declares him as the protector of the 3 worlds. Shiva also declares that those who worship him but not Maha Vishnu will certainly fall into Naraka.

Vishnu asks: "O Maheshvara, the duty of protecting the three worlds has been assigned to me. Daityas are very haughty. They have enormous strength. How can they be killed by me?"

To which Shiva answers : "This discus Sudarśana is capable of cutting down the great Daityas. It is given to you by me. O Lord Viṣṇu, accept this. Work a havoc among Daityas with this, O Lord." Shiva then hands the Sudarshana Chakra to Shri Maha Vishnu.

Shiva gifting the Sudarshana Chakra to Vishnu

Since then Lord Shiva came to be known as Chakradanamurthi. It is one among the 25 manifestations of Lord Shiva known as Panchavimshatalilamurti. This event is depicted in stone at the Srikanteshwara swamy temple at Nanjangudu. I have written a post on this which can be read HERE

Now regarding the details of the Vrata. Lord Shiva says : "In the year named Hemalamba, on the 14th day in the bright half of the glorious month of Karttika at the time of dawn, on the Tithi pertaining to Mahadeva (i.e. the 14th one) in the Brahma Muhurta you (Vishnu) took your bath in Manikarnika after coming here from Vaikuntha. Then the Linga of Vishveshvara was worshipped with a thousand lotuses. Hence it will become a favourite of mine. It shall be famous in all the worlds as Vaikuntha Chaturdashi"

Shiva says: Vishnu worship should be performed by persons of all castes. They shall observe fast during the day & perform Vishnu's worship in the evening. Afterwards Shiva's worship is to be performed. Otherwise Shiva's worship shall be futile.

For the purpose of the worship of Vishnu, the Chaturdashi extending to the night should be taken. The devotee shall worship Shiva at the time of dawn.

Devotees who worship Vishnu at the outset with a thousand lotuses and then Shiva afterwards are indeed living liberated souls.

Lord Shiva gives more details regarding the Vrata (this is mainly centered around Punya Teerthas in Kashi). "After taking the bath in the evening in Pancanada (Panchaganga ghat), the devotee should worship Bindumadhava (original temple destroyed by barbarian aurangzeb).

He who takes his bath in Vishnukanchi shall worship Anantasena. Thereafter he shall take his bath in Rudrakanchi and worship Pranavesha.

First the devotee should take bath in Vaniteertha & then worship Narayana. Thereafter he should take bath in Retodaka & worship Kedaresha. 

At the outset the devotee should take bath in Yamuna & worship Venimadhava. Then he should take bath in Ganga & worship Sangamesha.

This is the significance of Vaikunta Chaturdashi. This is followed by Kartika purnima. It is on Kartika purnima that Lord Shiva assumes the form of Tripurantakamurthi & slays evil asuras Tarakaksha, Vidyunmali & Kamalaksha (collectively known as Tripurasura)

Vaikunta Chaturdashi is the perfect occasion to chant the Vishnu Sahasranama followed by Shiva Sahasranama. The benefits to be had by performing them today increase by several manifolds. This is said by Lord Shiva himself.

References

Skandapuranam