Devshayani Ekadashi 2019: Date, time, significance and puja vidhi

Devshayani Ekadashi 2019: Hindus across India will observe the Ashadhi Ekadashi on July 12. Also known as Hari Shayani Ekadashi and Padma Ekadashi, Devshayani Ekadashi marks the day when Lord Vishnu goes to sleep for four months. Devshayani Ekadashi comes after famous Jagannath Rath Yatra. This period is also known as ‘Chaturmas’, during which auspicious events such as weddings, upnayan sanskars are not scheduled. The Eleventh lunar day of Hindu calendar is called Ekadashi. The Ekadashi that falls on the Ashadha month, the eleventh month according to the Hindu calendar is called as Devshayani Ekadashi or Ashadhi Ekadashi.

Ekadashi Tithi Begins - 01:02 AM on Jul 12, 2019

Ekadashi Tithi Ends - 12:31 AM on Jul 13, 2019

The Hindu scriptures say that those who can should observe fast on Ekadashi.

Legend of Devshayani Ekadashi

According to holy texts in Hindu religious scriptures, the concept of Devshayani Ekadashi is related to Lord Vishnu’s Vaaman avatar. The legend has it that on Lord Indra’s request, Lord Vishnu’s Vaaman avatar went to King Mahabali and asked for ‘bheeksha’ or alms. Vaaman demanded land measuring in his three steps. In first step, he measured the entire Earth, in second step, he took over the sky and when nothing was left, Mahabali offered his head as a piece of land for Vaaman’s third step. Happy with his deeds, Vaaman asked Mahabali for a boon. The king asked Lord Vishnu to stay with him ‘Paatal’. All Gods and Goddesses got worried. To save Lord Vishnu from going to ‘Paatal’, his wife Goddess Lakshmi changed into a poor woman and went to Mahabali and tied rakhi. When the king asked Lakshmi what she wants, she replied that she wants Lord Vishnu back. But to honour his word, Lord Vishnu told mahabali that he will stay in ‘Paatal’ for four months. This stay of Lord Vishnu is known as ‘Yog Nidra’.

After four months, in the month of Kartik, the Devuthayani Ekadashi marks the end of Lord Vishnu’s ‘Yog Nidra.’