Dev Uthani Ekadashi vrat katha: why the Lord sleeps, and the man who c देवउठनी एकादशी व्रत कथा: भगवान क्यों सोते हैं, और वह सेवक जिसने उनके लिए भोजन बनाया

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Prabodhini Ekadashi falls in the bright half of Kartik. The DharmikVibes festival calendar confirms Saturday 21 November for the Vaishnava fast. Many Smarta households keep it a day earlier; please check your own panchang. In most homes it is simply Dev Uthani, the day the Lord wakes.

## Why the Lord sleeps

On the Ekadashi of the bright half of Ashadha, called Devshayani, Vishnu is said to go into yoga nidra, a sleep that is really a deep stillness, on the serpent Shesha in the ocean of milk. For four months, Chaturmas, families hold back from weddings, housewarmings and other new beginnings, and many take on a small discipline for the season. On Prabodhini Ekadashi he wakes, and the year's auspicious work begins again. The very next days bring Tulsi Vivah and, in many families, the first weddings of the season.

The Padma Purana, in its chapters on the Ekadashis, has Brahma describe this day to the sage Narada. He speaks of keeping awake through the night with songs, music and stories of the Lord, of offering flowers, fruit and lamps, and of the joy of the waking. He praises the fast highly. We have kept to that outline here rather than quote lines we cannot give you exactly.

## How families wake him

In the evening many homes draw the Lord's feet in rice paste or chalk near the place of worship, set up a small canopy of sugarcane, and place seasonal things before him: water chestnut, sweet potato, ber, amla, sugarcane. Then they ring a bell, clap or play a plate like a drum, and sing to wake him. A verse many families use is: "Uttishtha Govinda, tyaja nidram Jagatpate" - rise, Govinda, leave your sleep, Lord of the world.

## The folk katha: the servant who cooked for God

This story is not from a Purana. It is told in North Indian homes and printed in many vrat katha booklets, and we share it as that.

In a certain kingdom, the story goes, no one ate on Ekadashi. One day a man from outside came looking for work. The king said, "You may work here, but on Ekadashi you will not get food." The man agreed.

When Ekadashi came he was given fruit instead of a meal. He came to the king and said, "Maharaj, fruit will not fill my stomach. Please give me some flour." The king gave it. The man went down to the river, cooked his food and, before eating, called out with an open heart, "Come, Lord, the food is ready."

The Lord came, in his four-armed form, and sat down and ate with him. Then he went away.

On the next Ekadashi the man asked the king for twice as much flour. "Last time the Lord ate with me," he said, "and I went hungry." The king could not believe it and went to see for himself, hiding behind a tree.

The man cooked and called and called, but this time the Lord did not appear. He kept calling, with growing longing, and would not eat until the Lord came. At last the Lord came, ate with him and took him into his own care.

The king understood. He had kept the rules all his life, but what had brought the Lord to the riverbank was the man's simple love.

## A word of care

Fasting is a personal practice. Anyone who is unwell, pregnant, diabetic or on regular medicine should speak to their doctor first and keep taking prescribed medicine. Check the parana time for the next morning in your city's panchang.

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