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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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