Ekadashi s are the eleventh day of every lunar month, be they of Krishna paksha or shukla paksha. Utpanna Ekadashi is amongst one of the most important ekadashis observed in the entire year.
It is most auspicious and significant as it deals with the utpanna or origin of all ekadashis. Thus the Utpanna Ekadashi is considered to be the birth anniversary of all ekadashis and is thus observed with great devotion. The importance of Utpanna Ekadashi was recounted to Arjuna by Lord Sri Krishna.
This is celebrated on the Krishna paksha in the month of Kartick as per traditional Hindu calendar. According to Gregorian calendar, this is observed on the 11th day of the waning phase of the moon and is celebrated in the month of November December. In 2019, the Utpanna Ekadashi will be celebrated on the 22nd of November, Friday.
- Legend behind Utpanna Ekadashi
In the Satya yuga, there was a demon called the Mura Danav. He was extremely powerful and managed to defeat all the Gods along with Indra too. After defeating Indra, Mura Danav started ruling the Indraloka. Harassed and defeated all the Gods sought the help of Lord Shiva, who told them to go to Lord Vishnu to seek help. Lord Vishnu decided to help the Gods and went to Mura Danav’s kingdom, Chandravati. A terrible war followed where Vishnu annihilated the whole of Mura’s army but neither the Gada nor the Sudarshan Chakra could prove effective against the Mura Danav.
The battle turned Into Malla Yuddha or wrestling. It is believed that the battle between Vishnu and Mura Danav continued for 10,000 years. Seeing no end to this battle, Lord Vishnu went to rest in a cave called Sinhvati or Hemavati Caves in Badrikashram. Mura Danav too followed Lord Vishnu there.
Mura Danav saw Vishnu fast asleep in the caves and thought it was a great opportunity to kill Vishnu. To counter such attack, from the divine sense of Lord Vishnu, a powerful and the most glorious woman appeared. This woman had all sorts of weapons on her. Mur Danav was so entranced by her beauty that he asked her to marry him. The beautiful woman replied that they will fight a battle, and if Mur Danav wins, then she will marry him. Thus a battle ensued, in which the glorious power of Lord Vishnu killed Mura Danav by beheading him.
Vishnu arose from his sleep, saw the Mura Danav dead and asked the woman who she was. The girl said that she was born out of Vishnu’s Yoga Maya and luster. Vishnu was extremely impressed by his feminine power and asked the girl to seek reward for her great work. The glorious woman asked for the following boons –
- That she remains the chosen one, and is always blessed by Lord Vishnu
- That she remains the greatest of all astrological days and the destroyer of sins
- That she be able to grant health, wealth and wishes, ie Dharma Dhanya and Moksha to all those who followed her
Vishnu was happy and blessed her with these three boons and said that she will be known as Ekadashi as she is born on the day of Ekadashi , and nothing will please Lord Vishnu more than Ekadashi fasting. Those who observed Ekadashi fasting will gain in health wealth and salvation.
- Observance of Utpanna Ekadashi
Hindu devotees keep a strict fast on the auspicious day of Utpanna Ekadashi. In the northern part of India, Utpanna Ekadashi falls in the month of Margashirsh, and Kartick in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat according to their calendars. According to the Tamil calendar, it occurs in the month of Aippasi or Karthigai Masam and in the Malayalam calendar it occurs in the Thulam or Vrischika Masam. All the devotees keep a fast from early morning, that is sunrise of the Ekadashi day and break it on the next day. On this day apart from Lord Vishnu, Ekadashi Mata is also worshipped.