Kathmandu, November 15
The Haribodhini Ekadashi festival is being celebrated today on the day of Kartik Shukla Ekadashi with the marriage of Damodar and Tulsi as a symbol of Lord Vishnu and special worship. As Vishnu awakens in the ocean of milk on Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi or Harishyani Ekadashi, today’s Ekadashi is also called Haribodhini or Prabodhini Ekadashi. From Harishyani to Haribodhini Ekadashi, devotees of Vishnu fast for four months and perform special pooja.
As Vishnu is sleeping in the ocean of milk, there is a tradition of not doing good deeds like marriage, bartabandha during these four months. At this time, it is considered auspicious not to travel due to fear of floods and landslides in rivers and streams. On the day of Harishyani Ekadashi, a special pooja is performed in the house. As Tulsi is Vishnupriya, it is customary to marry Damodar with Tulsi on this day. Nigala’s penis is worshiped as a symbol of Vishnu near the Tulsi monastery. There is a religious belief that all the deities reside in Tulsi during the month of Kartik. The glory of Tulsi, which has been a tradition of worship since time immemorial, has also been scientifically proven to be beneficial. Therefore, the house where the Tulsi monastery is located is considered as a pilgrimage. It is said that the fragrance of Tulsi purifies the ten directions. Due to the belief that even Yamadutas do not enter the house where Tulsi is worshiped, Hindus build a Tulsi monastery at home. The juice of basil leaves, stalks, or flowers is used to treat ailments, including colds and malaria. Applying this juice on the body while sleeping, mosquitoes do not bite. Poisonous snakes do not come around the place where Tulsi monastery is located. The wind that blows around the monastery destroys the poisonous germs. Basil is considered to be a great medicine for all creatures throughout the autumn. Basil tea is considered to be suitable for enhancing immunity in human body. It is believed that the desire is fulfilled by wearing a garland of Tulsi in the month of Kartik and offering one lakh Tulsi leaves to Vishnu. According to the Garuda Purana, offering a tulsi leaf to Lord Vishnu in this month is equivalent to donating 10,000 cows. Nowadays, it is customary to carry the idol of Lord Vishnu in a chariot.
Farmers plant sugarcane in the monastery. It is believed that grains are not to be eaten on this day so, Sakharkhand, Pindalu and Vantarul are boiled and fruits are eaten. There is a religious belief that fasting in this way destroys sins and increases virtue and attains salvation. Today’s Ekadashi varta, also known as Thulo Ekadashi, has the classical belief that the fruit of a thousand Ashwamedha Yajnas and Rajsuya Yajna is equal to the fruit.
In the month of Kartik, the devotional remembrance of Lord Vishnu, bathing, alms, chanting and burning of the fruit and liberation from the sins of a hundred births are described in various scriptures. Today, special fairs are held at Char Narayan of Kathmandu Valley, Changunarayan of Bhaktapur, Bishangkhunarayan of Lalitpur, Shesh Narayan of Kathmandu and Ichangunarayan .
Those who are unable to visit here are believed to get the same reward by visiting and worshiping the four Narayans while visiting Budhanilkantha Narayansthan in the north of Kathmandu. Today, this festival is celebrated with special worship in Narayan temples across the country.
Shyam Bahadur Khatri, chairman of Dakshinkali Municipality-5, who is also the chairman of the temple management committee, said that special arrangements have been made for the Shesh Narayan Temple in Dakshinkali as many visitors come to worship on one day of the year.
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