Majha Pandhari

Wishing all a very happy Ashadhi Ekadashi or Devshayani Ekadashi. This day marks a great significance, for a Hindu devotee, especially for every Maharashtrian’s. I despite being a Devi bhakt from my childhood, after my son was born, I found a great connect with the lord Narayan. My mom and I used to narrate lot of childhood stories of Krishna to R. And I started celebrating Krishna Janmashtami after R was born. When R was 4-year-old, he used to recite many verses of Bhagavat Gita so lucidly, especially 7th and 12th chapter, since it was taught in his school. And he remembers a single line of it even to this date. He being a spiritual child from the time he was born, doing pooja’s, chanting. Literally a small pandit of our house. Year passed by and my connection with lord Narayana became more and more strong. And today is the day of the lord going to rest for next 4 months. Hence it is called Devshayani Ekadashi. 

Ashadhi Ekadashi or Devshayani Ekadashi falls on the eleventh day of the Hindu month of Ashadha, so Devshayani Ekadashi is also called as Ashadhi Ekadashi. It signifies a time of deep spiritual connection, and it is one of the most important religious festivals that is celebrated in Maharashtra. This festival is celebrated on a large scale especially in Pandharpur, where a huge number of devotees gather to celebrate the festival. It is a religious procession festival which is held every year during the Ashada Shukla paksha. Generally, Ekadashi is considered to be coming every month of the year, but the eleventh day of Ashadh is said to be auspicious Ekadashi. As per the legends on this day, lord Vishnu enters in to deep rest of concentration or yoga nidra, and he again wake up after 4 months on the day of Prabodhini Ekadashi which falls in the month of Kartik. On this day the devotees keep fast whole day and pray to the lord of universe. In Pandharpur people go walking in huge processions singing chanting hymns carrying palanquins which have the image of great saint Dnyaneshwar and saint Tukaram to pray their tribute to their lord Vitthal. Many musical instruments like dholkis and chiplis are played by the devotees during this holy yatra. 

This day is considered very pious and people join the yatra not only from Maharashtra but also from other cities as well. It is said this procession starts in Allandi and ends on Guru Purnima at Pandharpur. Men are dressed in ethnic wears like white dhoti and kurta and sing devotional songs which is called " Abhang" in Marathi. I remember my mom used to narrate these stories to us in our childhood.  My maternal grandma's uncle was a 'Warkari'. These warkari's are the one who belong to a sampradaya within spiritual tradition of Hinduism, geographically associated with the state of Maharashtra. Warkari’s worship Vitthal. (known as Vithoba). the presiding deity of Pandharpur, regarded as a form of Vishnu. In olden days the famous saints and gurus of the bhakti movement associated with the warkari’s include - Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Chokhamela, Eknath and Tukaram all of whom are accorded the title of Sant. These warkari’s were the historically the followers of Krishna. 

This tradition has been part of Hindu culture in Maharashtra since 13th century CE. The warkari movement includes the worship of Vithoba and a duty-based approach towards life emphasising moral behaviour and strict avoidance of alcohol and tobacco, and adapt the Satvik diet. Owing to these stories of our puranas, this day is celebrated in Maharashtra with lot of grandeur and devotees join from all parts of the country to pay homage to the lord. 

As I write this today, I am still at loss of words for what Vitthal means to me. How he entered my life and directing me towards my path."Majha Pandhari" in Marathi ( My Vitthal) one of my favourite shlok of lord Vishnu - 

" कृष्णाया वासुदेवाय हरये परमात्मने। प्रणतः क्लेशनाशाय गोविंदाया नमो नमः।।