Aamalaki ekaadasi 2018

Dear Members:

The auspicious Aamalaki Ekaadasi is to be observed on February 26, 2018 throughout the world.  Exception:  Those living in USA, Canada, and other countries of the North and South American continents, and observing Smaartha traditions must observe this on February 25, 2018 itself.

This fast is known to eradicate all great sins and bestow great destiny, and hence it is also observed as Paapanaasini Ekaadasi. Puranaas speak of how a hunter who witnessed the performance of this fast and night-long prayers under the Amla tree (Indian gooseberry tree) by a king and his retinue in the forest, was blessed to be born as a king named VasUratha in his next life. Such is the glory of this vrata - the mere witnessing of which confers great merit!

Once that person (the hunter born as King VasUratha in next birth) lost his way in the forest and being exhausted fell asleep under a tree. Tribesmen who were his enemies tried to kill him in that unconscious state; but none of their weapons could harm the sleeping king. Then, a beautiful maiden with Divine Powers manifested from the sleeping king's body and slayed all the tribesmen. On waking up, the King was wondering how this could have happened and who could have saved him thus from his sworn enemies. Then a voice from the sky said 'You ask who helped you. Well, who is that person who alone can help anyone is distress? He is none other than Sri Keshava, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He who saves all who take shelter of Him without any selfish motive.'

Such is the greatness of the Aamalaki Ekaadasi. This was narrated by Sage Vasishta to the Surya vamsa king Maandaatha.

On this day it is customary to worship the avatar Lord Parasuraama and Aamla tree (those who have such trees may perform the worship under the tree; others can just meditate on that tree and Lord Parasuraamaa).

picture of Lord Parasuraama courtesy: www.scienceofhinduisim.blogspot.com

(I - Pt. Dakshinamoorthi - the writer of this article - am not aware of any copyright restrictions with regard to use of this image, but I guess using this for informative purposes and illustrative purposes must be alright).

Prayers to Lord Parashuraama:

'Oh Lord ParashurAma, Oh son of RenukA, Oh all-pleasing one, Oh liberator of the worlds, kindly come beneath this holy Amalakii tree and accept our humble obeisances.'

Prayer to Aamalakii tree: (Aamalakii tree is Indian Goosberry tree)

'Oh Amalakii, Oh offspring of Lord BrahmA, you can destroy all kinds of sinful reactions. Please accept our respectful obeisances and these humble gifts. O Amalakii, you are actually the form of Brahman, and you were once worshiped by Lord RAmachandra Himself. Whoever circumambulates you is therefore immediately freed of all his sins.'

May our members observe this fast and become recipients of Divine Grace.

Best regards,

Blessed be.
Pandit R DAKSHINA MOORTHI.

Vijaya Ekaadasi 2018

The auspicious Vijaya Ekaadashi falls on February 10/ February 11, 2018.

Schedule of observance of the fast for different regions of the world:

a) Places in USA, Canada and other countries that observe Alaska Standard time, Hawaii time, and Pacific standard time must observe this on February 10, 2018.

b) Those living in places that fall under Mountain standard time and Central standard time and following Smaartha traditions must observe this on February 10, 2018. People living in these places and observing Vaishnava traditions must observe this on February 11, 2018.

c) Those living in Eastern time zone of USA, Canada, and other places of North and South American continents must observe this on February 11, 2018.

d) People living in other parts of the world except the above-mentioned places - including those living in India - must observe this fast on February 11, 2018.

This ekaadashi - as the name implies - gives success in all ventures. Puranas say that Lord Ramachandra observed this ekaadashi on the instructions of the sage Bagadalbhya, and gained the power to cross the ocean with his army of vanaras, and to defeat the mighty demon Raavana.

(My note: It is not as if Lord Vishnu manifest in Raama did not possess the Divine Powers to cross the ocean or to defeat Ravana; it is only that He was acting as a normal human being in that Incarnation and hence avoided manifesting His Divine Maaya and Yogic powers; moreover, He - The Maryaada Purusha - Ideal Being, observed the vrattam just as an example to all of us!)

The skanda purana details the manner in which Shri Ramachandra Murthi observed the Vijaya Ekaadashi fast along with His commanders on the specific instructions of Sage Bakadalbhya.....

A kalasha is to be made ready for worship on the day before the ekaadashi. A pot of clay, copper, silver, or gold is to be filled with water; the opening of the pot covered with mango leaves, and above that, in the concave portion, pomogrenate, barley crop, and coconut are to be placed; the kalash is to be placed on a mound of seven grains and decorated with sandalwood paste and garlands. Above this, a golden image of Lord Narayana is to be placed, and duly worshipped all night (on the night before ekaadashi fast). The next day morning, again special prayers are to be offered; night vigil is to be maintained near the kalash on the ekaadashi night also. At dawn-break on Dwaadashi day, the kalash is to be taken to a sea-shore or river bank, and it is to be donated to a vedic expert.

Now-a-days many of those rituals might be difficult for us to observe in modern life (especially maintaining two continuous nights without sleep, and finding a suitable vedic expert in river bank to donate the kalash with the golden idol!). But, nevertheless, observance of this fast with devotion in a manner that is convenient to us will definitely help us to gain victory life.

Lord Krishna says that observance of this ekaadashi can give merit that is equivalent to merit obtained by performance of Aswamedha sacrifice!

A suggested austerity on this day:  Since Lord Ramachandra observed this vratam per Skanda Puranam and gained the means/ strategy to cross the ocean, it would be auspicious to recite Sundara Kaandam or other chapters of Shrimad Ramayana or do a Raama Parivaara homam - if possible on this day if you are surrounded by obstacles and are seeking Divine Intervention to solve your issues that seem insurmountable by human effort.

If by God's Grace your life situation is smooth enough, still recital of Sundara Kaandam or Samkshepa Raamaayanam or Raama Pattabhishekam can help in crossing the Samsaara Saagara (Ocean of mundane existence) and attain Salvation.  Afterall our worldly life here is only in preparation for our Grand Union with the Universal Being, and for that crossing the ocean of Maaya that is keeping us away from our real Inner Potential is to be transcended, and worship of Shri Raama by reciting Raamayana chapters is one of the recommended ways for that process!

May our members observe this to the best of their abilities and become recipients of Divine Grace.

Blessed be.

Pandit R.DAKSHINAMOORTHI
Astrological and Remedial consultant

dakshinastrologer@yahoo.co.in