Sincerity is what matters

The text in this article is from notes captured during travel with Shri Raghupathi Sir.

Performing acts that help earn merit (punya) is a concern for every person. Learning to earn punya is the best education. For better future here and hereafter the most important thing is savings of punya. In fact whatever wealth we earn and whatever pleasures we enjoy in life are the results of punya earned previously. However this punya gets consumed through acts of enjoyment. Like if no effort is made to save money for future then one day there will be nothing left and life will be in crisis. In the same way if no effort is made to earn punya, existing savings of punya will be consumed and one day no punya will be left and life will be in crisis.

Giving alms (offering food), charity, worship are all acts that help earn punya. Out of these acts of earning punya giving alms is considered as best deed. However question arises as what about people who cannot give alms, people who do not have enough money to offer food to others, will they remain deprived of earning punya?

Or lets take an example of worship. To perform worship one has to take bath first. But what about the people who cannot take bath due to health reasons? Will they remain deprived of earning punya that is earned from worship? Shastra provides workaround for this. Such people who cannot take bath can just sprinkle water on their head, a ritual called as prokshan, and by doing that they will earn the same punya of taking bath as earned by person who has taken a full body bath and will be eligible to perform worship. Another workaround is to apply bhasma at designated places on the body, forehead being the primary place. This act also helps earn same punya that is earned through full body bath.

Again lets take an example of worship. What if a person does not have enough money or physically unfit to gather all paraphernalia for worship such as fruits, flowers, lamp, gandha, dhoop etc? Such people can still perform worship entirely through mind. This is called manas puja. In this puja the form of deity to be worshiped is completely imagined in the mind and once the image of deity is in front of mind, all the acts of worship such as applying gandha, offering flower, offering dhoop, waving lamp and offering naivedya are performed through mind. Such act of worship offers same punya as earned through external worship performed using actual worship materials. In fact they say that this, manas puja, is a purest form puja when performed with complete concentration.

In the same way if one does not have enough money to offer alms, or to perform charity, the strong desire itself to perform such an act helps earn the same punya as earned by performing actual act.

Shastra provides workarounds for the people who are unable to perform good deeds due to unavoidable circumstances. What is required is strong desire to perform good deed and sincerity.

Anand Ki Anubhuti - Journey to Bliss

Ekadasi Vrat Story

As mentioned in the last article, if one fasts on Ekadasi while contemplating on the Lord and then performs Dwadashi worship one attains Mukti. The following story from Brahma Purana explains this.

In Avanthi city there was a chandal (person who looks after the burial ground). Though chandal he sincerely used to perform Ekadasi Vrat followed by Dwadasi worship. On one of the Ekadasis he was approached by a “Brahmarakshas” with the intention of consuming him. The chandal requested Brahmarakshas that he will be ready for him after the completion of his vrat. Brahmarakshas conceded to his request. Chandal completed his vrat and came to Brahmarakshas. On seeing him Brahmarakshas changed his mind and instead of eating him he wanted the punya accumulated by this vrat. Chandal also readily conceded to his request. Because of this act both got Mukti and reached Vaikuntha (Lord Vishnu’s abode).

The answer to the question how a chandal and Brahmarakshas could get salvation like this is explained in Brahma Purana with the help of another fable which deals with rebirths. We know that in hindu religion it is believed that there is rebirth. This Brahmarakshas was son of brahmin purohit in his last birth. The purohit was in the service of the king. Son of purohit, i.e. Brahmarakshas, became the raj-purohit after his father’s death and started performing the duties. But he was not learned well in veda-mantras and had no proper education to become purohit. Because of this he committed lot of mistakes in performing the rites and in reciting veda mantras. Due to this act he was born as a brahmarakshas in this birth. Because of punya he got from chandal, who performed Ekadasi vrat, he reached Vaikuntha.

The chandal was a well versed Brahmin, in the previous birth, who lived according to law of Vedas. He used to live by taking alms (Bhiksha). One day when he was coming back after getting alms, a herd of cows passed by which caused dust to spread in air. Due to this his Bhiksha got covered by dust. He threw that Bhiksha away. On account of this deed he was born as a chandal. Because of Brahmin profession of previous birth he had a knowledge of Ekadasi Vrat. Hence he performed that vrat with dedication in this birth and eventually attained moksha.

In this manner Brahma Purana explains lot of religious principles, the procedures of religious rites, fasts etc.

Ekadasi Vrat

The period from new moon to full moon is known as Shukla Paksha. The period from full moon to new moon is known as Krishna Paksha. The movement of moon from full moon to new moon is divided into 15 equal cores. Each core corresponds to lunar day or Tithi. Thus the 11th Tithi is known as Ekadashi. It corresponds to a precise phase in the waxing (Shukla) and waning (Krishna) of moon. The moon will be almost ¾ dark in Krishna Paksha and ¾ full in Shukla Paksha. In puranas there is a reference regarding the importance of Ekadasi Fast (vrat). in Bhagavatha Purana there is a note on the fast observed by Ambarisha (devotee of Vishnu). The importance of Ekadashi vrat is highlighted in Brahma Purana as well as Padma Purana.

The following table lists the Ekadasis according to lunar month.

Month	Presiding Deity	Krishna Paksha Ekadasi Name	Shukla Paksha Ekadasi Name
Chaitra (March-April)	Vishnu	Papamochani	Kamada
Vaishakh (April-May)	Madhusudan	Varuthini	Mohini
Jyeshtha (May-June)	Trivikrama	Apara	Nirjala
Ashadh (June-July)	Vamana	Yogini	Shayani
Shravan (July-Aug)	Sridhar	Kamika	Putrada
Bhadrapada (Aug-Sept)	Hrishikesh	Ananda	Parsva
Ashwin (Sept-Oct)	Padmanabha	Indira	Passhunkusha
Karthik (Oct-Nov)	Damodara	Rama	Prabodhini
Margashirsha (Nov-Dec)	Keshava	Utpanna	Mokshada
Pausha (Dec-Jan)	Narayana	Saphala	Putrada
Maagh (Jan-Feb)	Madhava	Sat tila	Bhaimi
Phalgun (Feb-Mar)	Govinda	Papamokshada	Amalaki
Adhik Masa (once in 2-3 years)	Purushottama	Parama	Padmini Vishuddha

The observance of Ekadasi vrat for Vaishnavites and Smarthas differ slightly.

According to puranas Ekadasi is the name of the Goddess who rose from Lord Vishnu to defeat the demon “MURA”. Lord Vishnu granted her a boon for defeating the demon. According to this boon those who observed a fast on the Ekadasi day (i.e.) the day on which the Goddess appeared should be absolved of all the sins and should go to the abode of Lord Vishnu i.e. Vaikuntha.

Vaikuntha Ekadasi

The Ekadasi that occurs during the month Dhanurmaas (according to Solar calendar late Dec-Jan) in Shukla paksha is known as Vaikuntha Ekadasi.

Vaishnavas believe that Gate of Lord Vishnu’s abode (Vaikuntha Dwar) is opened on this day. The margashirsha shukla paksha Ekadasi in lunar calendar is known as Mokshada or Vaikuntha Ekadasi. Fasting on Vaikuntha Ekadasi is equivalent of fasting on other 23 ekadasis of the Hindu year according to Vishnu Purana. Fasting on Ekadasi is considered to be holier than any other religious observation.

This year Vaikuntha Ekadasi falls on January 11 th 2014 (Saturday) and December 31st 2014 (Wednesday).

We will describe the mythological details of Ekadasi Vrat in one of our future articles.

Bhavishya Purana

It is one of major puranas. This was composed by Vyasa. The name itself suggests that this Puran is about prophecies (Predictions) about the future. This contains a list of royal dynasties of the past and future. Padma puran classifies this as Rajas Puran. It is also classified as one of the 10 Shaiva Puranas. The central deity of this puran is Brahma. In all Rajas Purans the central deity is Brahma.

This is divided into

1. Brahmaparvan
2. Madhyamaparvan
3. Pratisargaparvan
1. 1st Khanda
2. 2nd Khanda
3. 3rd Khanda
4. 4th Khanda
4. Uttaraparvan

In Brahmaparvan we come across ceremonies and feasts of Bramham, duties of castes and about snake myths. It also deals with the worship of Brahma, Ganesha, Skanda, Naga and Sun worship. Madhyamaparvan deals in Tantrikas. 1st three parts of Pratisargaparvan deals with the kings, dynasties, Sages of old time. The 4th part deals with new era (age). There is a mention of Isa Masih (Jesus Christ) and Prophet Mohammad in 3rd Khanda. There is also mention of Queen Victoria in mid 18th to 19th century.

1st Khanda deals with Rajputs who were born from the fire and hence they are called as Agnivamsis (from family of Lord of Fire). The 3rd Khanda mentions the destruction of Agnivamsa and the rise of mlecchas (moguls). 4th Khanda deals with mogul rulers Qutubuddin, Timur, Akbar and so on. This also contains account of acharyas like Sankara, Krishna Chaitanya, Nanak and Kabir. Last, it deals with British rule of India.

According to theory this Puran occupies 6th position in the listing of 18 puranas. This purana was told by Shiva to Brahma and Brahma told it to Narada, Narada to Sakra, Sakra to Parashara and finally Parashar to Vyasa.

In this there is a mention of Kaliyug, Kalki Avatar, duration of dynasty rules. It also mentions about foreign invasion and their religion etc. It mentions Chandra dynasty. It mentions the names of Kings in Dwaparyuga. Besides there is mention of Kali’s birth, languages spoken at that time, etc. There is also mention of Dhanvantari, Sant  Namdev, Sant Ramdas and other Saints. This proves that this puran is rightly known as Bhavishya puran. This puran explains, through some fables, the importance of fasting. It also mentions about the fasting on Chaturthi, Panchami, Shasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Chaturmas etc along with about 200 fasts and method to be adopted for the same. It states that Dharma in Kritayuga will be on 4 legs, Tretayug on 3, Dwaparyuga on 2 and Kaliyuga on 1 leg. In the Kritayuga the main Dharma will be Tapascharya, in Treta it will be Dhyan, in Dwapara it will Yagna (yag) and in Kali it will be daan.

It gives an account of how to pay respect to elders. We have to bow down to pay respect to those who are 10 years elder to us, or those who are highly knowledgeable and intelligent even if they are young.

There is a mention that Brahma took various avatars in number of holy places and performed lot of religious ceremonies and also explains about Brahmanotsav at the end.

The most interesting part of this puran is most of the things mentioned here are what we have learned or heard as history.