Dev Uthani Ekadashi is of great significance in Sanatan Dharma. Of all Ekadashis, this is the most important one. It is believed that on this day, Lord Vishnu, along with Goddess Lakshmi, is worshipped with great devotion.
Religious beliefs state that Lord Vishnu awakens from Yognidra on this day. Many people also observe a fast on this day. Doing this, the devotee gets relief from all sins. Many people also keep a fast on this day.
This year, there was too much confusion about the fasting date. Ekadashi Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month began on November 01 at 09:11 am. Also, Ekadashi Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month ended on November 02 at 07:31 am. Keeping that in mind, the common people celebrates Dev Uthani Ekadashi on November 01. At the same time, Vaishnav people will keep Ekadashi fast on November 02, which is today.
Here are some do’s and don’ts for people fasting on this day.
- Worship Ma Tulsi and offer her clothes and bhog
- Offer jaggery to lord Vishnu
- Avoid eating red lentils
- Don’t eat rice
- Donate kala chana
- Light diya on peepal tree
- Feed cow or any animal
Dev Uthani Ekadashi Vrat Katha
According to one of the famous legends, a benevolent king religiously observed a fast on all the Ekadashi Tithis. However, he was so stern about the Ekadashi Vrat that he did not let grocery stores in his kingdom remain open on the Ekadashi Tithis.
One day, a man visited his palace in need of work. He pleaded to the King to give him a job. And the King agreed on the condition that he would have to observe a fast on the Ekadashi Tithi. However, a few days later, the man pleaded to the King to offer him some food on Ekadashi Tithi. The generous King couldn’t say no to the man. Therefore he gave him some food. A fortnight later, on the next Ekadashi Tithi, the man sought help from the King once again. His requests made the King wonder how the man could have so much food all alone. On being asked by the King, the man said that Lord Vishnu joins him for a meal on the day of Ekadashi. And as expected, the King refused to believe. He wondered why God never appeared before him despite all the vrats he had kept so far in his life. Therefore, the King asked the man to prove that God indeed visited him on the Ekadashi Tithi.
Subsequently, the man prepared food and waited for God, and the King hid behind a tree to know whether or not he was telling the truth. However, after waiting patiently, when God did not arrive, the man walked towards the river to drown himself to death. But just before he could jump into the river, God appeared before him.
And only after learning that the man spoke nothing but the truth, the King realised the importance of true devotion. He realised that the vrats that he kept all his life were a mere formality. Therefore, he learnt that a Vrati must keep a vrat whole-heartedly.