Srimate Ramanujaya Namah
Srimate Baladhanvi Mahagurave Namah
Srimad Varvara Munaye Namah
SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF KAISHIKA EKADASI
(Sri U.Ve. Mahavidhwan Elayavilli Srinivasa Bhuvarahachariar Swamy)
M.A (Retd) Prof of Sanskrit, Alwar Thirunagari
In our Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya every Ekadasi (the 11th day of
bright & black fortnight) has a special name accordingly during this
Krittika month, the Ekadasi during the bright fortnight is called
Kaishika Ekadasi (some used to day Koushika Ekadasi). But it is
wrong. Vishwamitra has nothing to do with this Ekadasi. Kaishika is
a raga in music. How is this raga related with this Ekadasi will
become clear in the course of this article.
Sri Varaha Puranam has this episode in its body. Once upon a
time the earth got submerged in water. Lord Sriman Narayana assumed
the garb of a wild boar and which would never hesitate to enter
muddy water brought out the earth from the deluge. Sri Bhoomi
Piratti, who is the presiding deity, was very much upset by this
tragic event. She was consoled and comforted by Lord Sriman
Narayana, keeping Her on His lap. At that time she was very much
worried about Her children on the earth. Their sufferings gave Her
great sorrow and She very much desired to know a means (Upaya) for
their deliverance from the worldly bondage. The Lord narrated the
episode that took place in the village Thirukkurungudi near
Thirunelveli in South India and assured Her that the soul means of
salvation is singing His glory (Gana Rupa Upayam).
The story is as follows: Once there lived a man at
Thirukkurungudi. He was fondly called "Nampaduvan" (We do not know
his Original name). He was born in a Chandala family who were known
for their merciless nature and activities. But quite contrary to his
family behavior he was very pious and deeply devoted to Lord Sriman
Narayana. He used to fast during every Ekadasi day. Getting up very
early in the morning, the next day he used to go to the vicinity of
the temple with his veena in his hands and remaining at a distance
from the temple as per the prescription of the shastras he used to
sing songs in praise of the Lord going around the temple.
Once during the month of Krittika on a bright fortnight
Dwadasi i.e the 12th day he went to the temple early in the morning
as usual. On the way he was met by a Brahma Rakshasa who was very
hungry and who therefore expressed his desire to eat him up.
Nampaduvan was very happy to offer his body for the food of Brahma
Rakshasa. That was because his suffering in this world would come to
an end and he would reach the abode of the Lord. But he prayed to
the Brahma Rakshasa to spare some time so that he may go to the
temple and sing the songs and return. But the Rakshasa was not ready
to grant his request, as he would never return having made this
false excuse. But Nampaduvan made 18 oaths to the effect that he
would certainly return.
If I do not return as per my promise let me get the sin of a man who
is a liar.
Let me get the sin of a person who commits adultery, if I don't
return.
While eating in the company of a person if a man differentiates in
menu (i.e. serving inferior or less quantity of food to the guest),
he gets greater sin (Papam). Let me get that sin, if I don't return.
If a man donates a piece of an earth to a Brahmin and gets it back
after some time he will certainly accrue sin. Let me get that sin,
if I don't return.
If a man enjoys the company of a woman during her youthful age and
subsequently he rejects her while she became old he is sure to get
sin. Let me get that sin, if I don't return.
Having performed ablution rite (Tharpanam) on Amavasya day and has
recourse (sexual relationship) to his wife the same day, he will
entertain great sin. Let me get that sin, if I don't return.
Having dined delicious dishes in the house of a host if a person
showers heaps of abuse on him he is sure to meet with great sin. Let
me get that sin, if I don't return.
A man makes a solemn promise that he would give away his young
daughter in marriage to a youth but later on breaks his promise,
which would entertain sin. Let me get that sin, if I don't return.
A man is prohibited from eating without taking bath on Shashti (the
sixth day of both fortnight), Ashtami (the eighth day), Chaturdashi
(the fourteenth day) and Amavasya (the fifteenth day of bright
fortnight). Let me get that sin, if I don't return.
A man promises to donate something to another man but he doesn't
keep up his promise. Let me get the sin of breach of promise if I
fail to come back.
If a person tries to allure the wife of a friend who has helped him
in manifold ways, he is sure of reaching hell. I will get that sin,
if I fail to return.
A person, afflicted by lust, enjoys the company of his revered
teacher's wife who is responsible for his salvation and so also the
company of the wife of a king who endows all worldly pleasure to
him; he will be the worst sinner. I will suffer that sin by not
keeping up my promise.
A man marries two girls without being impartial to both of them. If
he evinces greater pleasure in the company of one rejecting the
other he is sure to accrue very great sin. Let me get that sin, if I
don't keep up my promise.
A man divorces his wife who is very chaste and has no one to care
for her. He will become a sinner. Let me be equated to him for not
returning.
If a man causes obstruction to the cattle that are afflicted by very
much thirst to drink water he will get a sin. Let me also get that
sin by breaking your faith in me.
Brahminicide, addiction to liquor, stealing gold, breaking a vow are
all considered to be heinous crimes. Severe punishments are
prescribed for a sinner, who commits all these crimes. Let me suffer
all these punishments in case I fail to get back to you.
If some people worship only other deities and Sri Vasudeva who is
easily accessible to His votaries and is Omnipresent.
Sriman Narayana is the supreme deity. He is the inner soul for all
created beings, both sentient and insentient. He is worshipped by
all karmas (i.e. by all holy rites prescribed by the Shastras). He
is to be meditated by all who are desirous of liberation. He alone
has the ability to grant salvation. He is to be reached by all the
liberated souls. Having understood the supreme qualities of the
Lord, if a man equates Him to all other angels who are bound by
karma, He will be born in this world again and again. Let me get
that sin by breach of promise.
(Note: All these promises did not convince or satisfy the Brahma
Rakshasa), but the 18th one totally convinced him about the
certainty of Nampaduvan's return. We therefore have to understand
that the last sin is the greatest sin of all sins. Hence it is to be
meticulously avoided).
The Brahma Rakshas became pleased by all these promises and
saluted Nampaduvan and bade him farewell so that he may fulfill his
vow and come back to him.
Accordingly Nampaduvan went to the neighborhood of the temple
and sang the songs as usual.
Afterwards the day dawned having completed the vow pertaining
to Ekadasi (i.e. spending sleepless night) Nampaduvan surrendered to
the Lord. With great speed, he returned to the Rakshas as his heart
was filled up with pleasure owing to his desertion of his body,
which was inimical to his attaining salvation.
On his way a person met him. That man questioned him "Hello,
where are you going with double speed?" Nampaduvan replied him in a
sweet manner ? "I am going to Brahma Rakshas. If I don't find him
there, where I met him before and departed having made several
promises, I will go in search of him and offer my body as food for
him."
That man desired to test his mind on hearing his steadfast resolve.
He said there stands a Rakshasa by birth. He is not righteous minded
like Vibeeshana but a worst criminal. He cannot escape from his
cruel clutches, as he is a cannibal. "Don't go to that strong devil."
Though exhorted by that man, Nampaduvan refused to listen to
him and was very adamant in keeping up his promise. That stranger,
who obstructed him and advised him, was none other than Sri Varaha
(God Himself). Nampaduvan found Brahma Rakshas at the same place and
offered his body as a carcass (meat) for him, but the Rakshas,
remembering his previous birth did not accept it. He narrated his
previous life history. He was a Brahmin by name Somasarma in his
former birth. While performing a sacrifice, he committed all sorts
of blunder, as he was a niggardly magnet. Moreover a fatal disease
in the course of performing sacrifice afflicted him. The result was
his birth as Brahma Rakshasa.
Having given a detailed account of his previous life the
Rakshasa knelt before Nampaduvan to grant him the merit of all these
songs that he sang in praise of the Lord for a long time but the
songster refused sternly. Finally being moved by pity he granted him
the merit (Punya) of one song, which he sang that day morning which
was in the raga named "Kaishika". The Brahma Rakshas was relieved of
his bond. Later he was born in a family of Vaishnava and at the end
of the birth he reached Vaikunta.
This is the story narrated by Sri Varaha Perumal to Sri Bhoomi
Devi. The whole episode as found in "Sri Varaha Puranam", is taken
up by Sri Parasara Bhattar for an elaborate commentary in Tamil.
Every year the whole episode with all Sanskrit shlokas and
commentary of Sri Bhattar is read out in all the Vishnu temples
especially at Thirukkurungudi where the event actually took place.
This is enacted on the stage even today. Those who take part in the
festival or who hear the episode will be rid of their sins. Hence I
gave this story in an abridged version.
What do we understand from this episode? Somasarma though a
Brahmin became a Rakshasa, but Nampaduvan though a Chandala was able
to expiate him of all his sins. Hence caste is not a criterion for
us to worship a man. His deep devotion to the Lord, knowledge of the
Lord etc and a total renunciation of all worldly pleasures are very
important criteria. The caste is physical. It does not belong to the
soul. Hence Nampaduvan was elevated to the highest order. In case of
such holy men of that high order, consideration of the caste is an
offence. They are equal to Nityasooris. Hence our Acharyas equate
Nampaduvan with Vishwamitra, Sri Vishnuchitta and ThondarAdiPodi
Azhwar , who sang divine songs in order to wake up the Lord
(Tiruppalliezhuchi). The Lord (Sri Varaha) also showered on him love
and affection and called him Nampaduvan (My Singer). Let us
therefore be very careful in not committing Bhagavata Apachara. This
is what we learn from Kaishika Puranam.
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