Dev Uthani Ekadashi Katha

Dev Uthani Ekadashi falls on the Ekadashi of the waxing moon in Kartik. Traditionally, devotees fast, draw a rangoli square in the courtyard with the Lord's footprints, offer seasonal produce like sugarcane, water chestnuts and ber, and beat a plate or winnowing fan while singing, 'Rise, O Lord, awaken, O Lord.' This day ends the Chaturmas, and auspicious events like weddings begin again. In many homes Tulsi Vivah is also held on this day.

Devotees believe that on Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi (Devshayani) Bhagwan Vishnu goes into yogic sleep on Sheshnag in the ocean of milk, and wakes on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi. One tradition links this to King Bali, to whom Vaman Bhagwan promised to stay for some months of the year.

There is a well-known folk katha for this day. In one king's realm, no one ate grain on Ekadashi: not the people, not the servants, not even the animals. One day a man from another kingdom came asking for work. The king set one condition: 'You will get no grain on Ekadashi.' He agreed. But on Ekadashi, given only fruit, he begged, 'Maharaj, this will not fill my stomach.' The king gave him flour, lentils and rice.

He went to the riverbank, cooked his food and called out with a sincere heart, 'Come, Bhagwan, the meal is ready.' The katha says the Lord appeared in yellow robes and lovingly ate with him. On the next Ekadashi the man asked for twice the grain, because 'Bhagwan eats with me too.' The king did not believe it and went to watch in secret.

That day the Lord did not come for a long time. The man said, 'Prabhu, if you do not come, I will jump into the river.' As he stepped forward, the Lord appeared, stopped him and ate with him. The king understood that fasting and vows have meaning only when the heart is sincere. From then on, the king too learned to worship with a true heart.