Prabodhini Ekadashi

Prabodhini Ekadashi is a very special ekadashi also known as Haribhodini Ekadashi.

It is on this ekadashi day the Gods and Brahma woke up Sri Hari from his yoga nidra by performing prabhodotsava, to rescue the Vedas from Asura  Shanka. This results  in the matsya avatara and led to the rescue of the Vedas  by Sri Hari. 

This ekadashi also marks the beginning of Bheeshma Panchaka Vrata. 

This also marks the end of Chaturmasya and end of dwidaLa vrat. 

It is also Uttana Ekadashi leading to Uttana Dwadashi. On Dwdashi day Tulsi pooja  is done with lots of love and devotion. Please make it a point to take care of your Tulsi plant on Uttana Dwadashi. This day is also celebrated as Tulasi Vivah. 

draSHtA spraSHtA tavADHyAtA nAmatastutA | 
rOpitA sEchitA nityaM pUjitA tuLasI shubhA || 

To see, touch a tulasi plant or leaves. To praise, think or medidate 
on Tulasi. To water or do pooja to a tulasi plant To do such nine 
action on Tulasi with devotion leads to Sri Hari's grace. Thats why 
in kartika month we do pooja to Sri Hari with tender Tulasi leaflets. 
This is equivalent to do many yagnas and other austerities. 

Padma Puran Part-3 62nd chapter. 

Also on the uttana dwadashi day, sleeping daamodara and tulsi are worshipped with shodasha upachara. Tulasi is decorated with ornaments and damadora is woken up with variety of musical instruments ( vadya ghosha )  

idaM vishnu vichakramE trEtA nidadhE padaM |  
samULhamasya pAmsurE 

iyaM ca dwAdashi dEva prabhOdArthaM vinirmitA | 
tvataiva sarvalokAnAM hitArthaM sheShashAyinA || 

utthiShTOthiShTa gOvinda tyaja nidrAM jagatpatE | 
tvayi suptE jagatsuptaM uttitEchOtThitaM bhavEt ||

Uttaradi Matha and other mathas: Sri moola raama pooja in the evening as well on Uttana Dwadashi day.

Story from Skanda Purana 

Lord Brahma said to Narada Muni, "Dear son, O best of the sages, I 
shall narrate to you the glories of Haribodhini Ekadasi, which 
eradicates all kinds of sins and bestows great merit, and ultimately 
liberation, upon the wise persons who surrenders to Sri Hari. 

"O best of the brahmanas, the merits acquired by bathing in the 
Ganges remain significant only as long as Haribodhini Ekadasi does 
not come. This Ekadasi, which occurs during the light fortnight of 
the month of Kartika, is much more purifying than a bath in the 
ocean, at a place of pilgrimage, or in a lake. This sacred Ekadasi 
is more powerful in nullifying sin than one thousand Asvamedha 
sacrifices and one hundred Rajasuya sacrifices." 

Also from Hari Bhakti Vilasa.( Padma and Skanda Purana ) 

Prabodhini Ekadasi in Kartik: (Sukla paksha) from Hari Bhakti Vilas - 
Vaishnava Smriti. 
PRABODHINIM UPOSYA EVA NA GARBHE VISATE NARAH 
SARVA DHARMAN PARITYAJYA TASMAT KURVITA NARADA 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/289 from SKANDA PURANA spoken by Lord Brahma) 

Oh Narada Muni, one who fasts on Prabodhini 
Ekadasi, does not enter again into the womb of another mother. 
Therefore, a person should give up all varieties of occupation and 
fast on this particular Ekadashi day. 

DUGDHABDHIH BHOGI SAYANE BHAGAVAN ANANTO 
YASMIN DINE SVAPITI CA ATHA VIBHUDHYATE CA 
TASMINN ANANYA MANASAM UPAVASA BHAJAM 
KAMAM DADATY ABHIMATAM GARUDANKA SAYI 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/293 from PADMA PURANA) 

One who fasts with one pointed intelligence on the day when 
Sri Hari, Who sleeps on a bed of the enemy of Garuda 
(snake) goes to take rest in the Milk ocean on the bed of Ananta Sesa 
and also the day He gets up, gets all of his desires fulfilled. 

BHAKTIPRADA HAREH SATU NAMNA KSATA PRAVODHINI 
YASA VISNOH PARA MURTIR AVYAKTA ANEKA RUPINI 
SA KSIPTA MANUSE LOKE DVADADI MUNI PUNGAVA 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/301 from VARAHA PURANA conversation between 
Yamaraja and Narada Muni) 

This Prabodhini Ekadasi is famous for rewarding devotion to Lord Sri 
Hari. Oh best of the sages (Narada Muni), the personality of Ekadasi 
is present on this earthly planet in an unmanifested form of Sri 
Hari. 


CATUR DHA GRAHYA VAI CIRNAM CATUR MASYA VRATAM NARAH 
KARTIKE SUKLAPAKSE TU DVADASYAM TAT SAMACARET 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/412 from MAHABHARATA) 

A person who observed Caturmasya fast stated in four different ways 
should end his fast on the Dvadasi day on the light fortnight of the 
month of Karttika. 

EVAM YA ACARET PARTHA SOBHANAM DHARMAM APNUYAT 
AVASANE TU RAJENDRA VASUDEVA PURAM VRAJET 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/433 from BHAVISYA UTTARA PURANA) 

Oh son of Prtha, Oh best of the kings, one who follows his vows 
properly as it is stated here achieves the highest merit and at last 
goes to the home of Sri Hari ( Vaikunta). 

from Padma Puran: 

In the month of Kartika, 
1. If we don't eat outside its equal to Chandrayana vrata. 
2. Study Vedas and Vedantas, debate, sharavana etc., is equal to 
performing to 10000 yagnas. 
3. If we even recite a single shloka from Bhagvata purana infront of 
Keshava its equivalent to hundreds of GodAna ( cow donation ) 
4. Listening to Sri Hari's stories and honour the pravachnakara its equal to 
akshyaloka prapti. 
5. Perform pravachana, SharavNa of Bhagvadgeetha no rebirth. 

In Kartika month people perform the following.. 
1. Sri Hari's pooja with devotion 
2. Offer various fruits 
3. Offer Arghya to Sri Hari via Shanka 
4. Gurupooja, AnnaDAna, dAna dhkshina 
5. Bhagvata purAna shravana, manana, paTaNa. 
6. Pooja to Sri Hari with flowers like Kedhige, agastikusuma, 
munipushpa and tulasi leaves