Varuthini Ekadashi, also known as Baruthani Ekadashi, is a Hindu holy day, which falls on the fifteenth lunar day of the Hindu month of Chaitra. Varuthini Ekadashi falls in April or May. Like all Ekadashis, Lord Vishnu, especially his fifth incarnation Vamana, is worshiped. Dharmaraja Yudhishthira had asked Lord Krishna, what is the name of Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha of Vaishakh month? Shri Krishna said, O Rajeshwar! The name of this Ekadashi is Varuthini. It is a blessing, a destroyer of all sins, and a salvation in the end.
Fasting on this day has the potential to give up gambling, sleep, dentistry, blasphemy, petty, theft, violence, rituals, anger and abandonment of lies. Doing so provides mental peace. The fast should be eaten as sattvik. Family members should do Bhagavad bhajan at night and do awakening. The donation of food is considered to be the biggest donation on this day.
Significance of Varuthini Ekadashi
The significance of Varuthini Ekadashi is narrated by Lord Krishna to Yudhishtira in the Bhavishya Purana. He says that this Ekadashi can turn the unfortunate to fortunate and release a soul from the cycle of birth and death. Observing this Ekadashi has helped the Ikshvaku King Dhundhumara to become free from the curse of Shiva and King Mandata to get enlightened. Also, according to various Hindu legends, observing fast on Varuthini Ekadashi is equivalent to one hundred Kanyadaans or donating gold at Kurukshetra on the day of a solar eclipse.
Thus, Varuthini Ekadashi is an important observance for Hindus, offering countless benefits. It is believed that one who observes Varuthini Ekadashi vrat will be protected from all the evils and bestowed with blessings from Lord Vamana. Also, it is supposed to bestow cure from illnesses and sufferings, fame, happiness, prosperity, material pleasure etc. The ultimate power of Varuthini Ekadashi is granting of Moksha, freedom from the cycle of life and death. According to Hindu astrology, one who observes the vrat on this day will be freed from all sins and liberated from the cycle of re-birth.
Varuthini Ekadashi Vrat
Devotees observing Varuthini Ekadashi vrat are recommended to fast from sunrise in Ekadashi to sunrise in Dwadashi. Since a complete fast is recommended, one can start fasting from the previous day’s sunset to ensure that no undigested food remains in the stomach. Observing Varuthini Ekadashi vratis not just abstaining food. One should not indulge in gambling, lying, criticizing others, violence, sports, and sexual activity. The devotee on vrat should not succumb to sleep, anger and greed too. Thus, by resisting the feelings and temptations, vrat purifies the mind, body, and soul. Certain activities such as shaving, smearing oil on the body, etc. are also prohibited on Varuthini Ekadashi.
Parana or breaking the fast should be done on the next day (Dwadashi) after the sunrise. It is necessary to do Parana on the next day unless Dwadashi is over before sunrise. Also, one should take care not to do Parana on Hari Vasara period, which is the first quarter of the Dwadashi tithi. Pratahkal is considered as the most auspicious time to break the fast while breaking the fast in Madhyahna is not recommended. So, if one couldn’t do Parana in Pratahkal, then he/she should do it after Madhyahna.
Two types of Ekadashi Vrats are recommended; one for Smarthas, those with family, and the other for Sanyasis and Moksha seekers. While a one-day fast is recommended for Smarthas or normal devotees, alternate fasting or a two-day fast is suggested for Sanyasis and Moksha seekers.
Though full fasting is recommended on Varuthini Ekadashi, those who can’t bear it due to health issues can observe a partial fast by eating once, at midday, or in the evening. In that case, a devotee should avoid non-veg food (meat, fish, egg, etc.), beverages (tea, coffee, cola, and other energy drinks), mushrooms, grains, onion, peas, beans, black gram, spinach, betel nut, paan, red lentil, honey, sesame seeds, mustard, asafoetida, cloves, fenugreek, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel, tulsi, tamarind, custard, salt, baking soda, baking powder, etc.
Eating in bell metal utensils and eating from other houses are also prohibited. The devotee can choose to eat the Havishyanna food offered to Yajna on the previous day. It is said that even those who are not observing the vrat should avoid consuming grains, pulses, and non-vegetarian foods on Ekadashi.
Legend
There is a story associated with Varuthini Ekadashi vrat told by Lord Krishna to Arjun. It’s the story of King Mandhata who ruled the banks of river Narmada. He was a generous and priestly king. Once on an occasion, when the King was meditating in the forest, a bear attacked him. It bit his feet and dragged him. The King, following the sacred rules of TapasyaDharm, didn’t respond and endured that ordeal, praying to Lord Vishnu. Eventually, Lord came to his rescue, but by then, the bear had chewed the King’s leg. The Lord advised the king to get back to Mathura, worship his Varaha Avatar and observe the Varuthini Ekadashi Vrat. The king who followed this advice devotedly became free from his past sins and got his injured leg back to normal.
Rituals
Like all ekadashis, devotees keep a strict fast on Varuthini Ekadashi. They pass the day without eating or taking a drop of water. One who observes a fast should eat only one meal the day before, on dashami. The vrat continues then on ekadashi till the sunrise on ‘dwadashi’ (12th day). On Varuthini Ekadashi eating rice, chickpea, black gram, lentils, betel nut, betel, honey and non-vegetarian food is strictly prohibited. On ekadashi one must not eat in bell metal utensils is not allowed.
Lord Vishnu’s incarnation, Vamana is worshipped on the day of Varuthini Ekadashi. Devotees make special puja arrangements for this day and also follow some specific rules to make it more fruitful. On Varuthini Ekadashi day, one must stay away from sleep, anger, gambling, applying oil on the body and fostering any ill feeling for others. Sexual activity and violence should be completely avoided.
On the day of Varuthini Ekadashi it is a good practice to read Holy Scriptures like ‘Vishnu Sahastranaam’ and ‘Bhagawad Gita’. Devotees spend their time by listening to and singing bhajans in honour of Lord Vishnu.
Offering donations on Varuthini Ekadashi is considered very auspicious as it brings good luck. Some of objects that should be donated on this holy day include sesame seeds, land, elephant and horses.