Chapter 8: chapter 8

"My pithasree, Prajapati Thwasta created me for avenging death of my brother on you.""You're Thwasta Prajapati's Son? He sent you for revenge", voice quivered for Indra."My brother came as a pandit to serve you all, he honoured you all but you ruthlessly beheaded him. He's the one who saved dev from becoming powerless and weak but you gave him death instead. Shame on you Indra and all dev also who didn't stop Indra from committing that sin. As a result, every dev is a culprit in my view. My father brought me up only with revenge and hatred towards you, dev. I came here to punish everyone for their sins and deeds. First, I'll crush this Devendra who's the reason my innocent brother lost his life at an younger age", Vritrasur howled in anger and came running towards Indra to give him a smack on his face. Indra didn't get struck with any idea how to face that powerful demon and disappeared, sighing others too to do so. Indra knew that because of the celestial and divine powers of Prajapati Thwasta, his son, his creation is undefeatable. All devs instantly disappeared completely from sight of Vritrasur.Vritrasur bawled in fury,"Indra! Indra! You can't escape. I won't leave you wherever you go. I won't leave anyone without retributing for your sins".He wandered allover the universe for dev but Indra had been cleverly escaping him and his devgan from being detected. Vritrasur finally got tired off and came heaven with hope that dev should return there as it's their home place. Laxmi began her arrangements for the vrat. She wanted to adorn her Aarya's idol with a special peetambara (yellow garment) dress, attractively embellished with embroidery designs for Vaikunth Ekadashi vrat. Meanwhile her affable companion, Jaya came with whom she told about her plans. Both started for the market to buy essential items as soon as Jaya agreed. "Laxmi! What's much auspicious about Vaikunth Ekadashi? Why did you want to perform that special puja only on that day?", asked Jaya as they walked towards the nearby village."Nice doubt Sakhi!", Laxmi got exhilarated to explain it's significance,"Vaikunth ekadashi, also known as Mokshada ekadashi/ mukkoti ekadashi which falls on eleventh day of Shukla Paksha (lunar fortnight) of Dhanur month, is said to be the most auspicious among all 24 ekadashis in a year. It's said that observing fast on this day is equal to observing fast on all other 23 days.""Really? But why Sakhi? Why only this particular ekadashi has that much importance??? I heard somewhere that doors of Vaikunth are opened this day? Is this true? Are they closed on the remaining all days of a year?", Jaya asked her doubt."Sakhi! Elders tell that as a metaphor", Lakshmi smiled at her doubt and continued, "Vaikunth doors aren't actually closed remaining days. My Arya opens them always and waits for his devotees for their unification in him. My Arya, he himself comes along with crores of deities to bless his mere devotees who surrenders with utmost dedication to him this day. There's a reason that my Arya comes only this day on Earth.A long time ago, there lived a brawny, vicious demon named "Murasur", who was born originally from sweat of Vishnu. He conquered swargalok defeating all the deities. He was much arrogant about his strengths and copious mighty powers. Dev became unable to bear his tyranny and approached lord Vishnu for their rescue. They reached Vaikunth and venerated my Arya. Lord Vishnu assured that he'll free them from all assaults and suffering of Murasur. As Murasur's birth took place from himself, Narayan felt that he constitute all his powers. He definitely needed a special weapon to slay Murasur. He started meditating inside a cave named "Haimavathi" near Badarikaashrama to gain that weapon. Murasur came to know about penance of Narayan. He immediately reached the cave, where Vishnu lied and raised his sword inorder to kill Narayan before he slays him. Suddenly, to his consternation, a female energy emerged from Vishnu and burnt him ashes just with her sight. Narayan opened his eyes after perceiving that his female ansh protected him and slayed the wicked demon. Pleased by her service, he named her "Ekadashi" and granted a boon that,"Ekadashi!! You'll become an important and auspicious day for the humans. You'll come for 24 times an year. I bless everyone whoever observes fast on these days with fortune and remove all their obstacles in life. And this day on which you're born, will be popular as "Vaikunth Ekadashi". I myself along with all my deities come to Earth this day. I shall see and free from the birth and death cycles of my pure devotees who surrenders to me with love and dedication this day by observing fast. People who undertake Ekadashi vow would be cleansed from their sins and they'll not have to visit cosmic penitentiary (Narakalok)."Sakhi! A scientific significance too is present behind fasting. Vishnu tells anything for ultimately welfare of us. People fear that one day fasting weaken them but actually, a day's fast gives rest to machinery of stomach, removes waste materials inside thus helps it function better. A doubt might arise in your mind why we couldn't clean our digestive system on another day. Sakhi! Climate and environment have a direct impact on our body. During this day, atmospheric pressure is lowest among all days of the year. Hence it's the best time to cleanse bowel system. If we fast on any other day, the high pressure in atmosphere may cause health problems. Observing fast on this day improves proper functioning of kidney and liver too thus.Philosophical significance of fast is, fast means upavasa, which means staying with divine ideas. It means being closer to supreme. This can be done only by dwelling our mind and sensory organs on him. Once food is taken, we feel sleepy automatically. Hence fasting helps an aspirant to attain his spiritual purpose by keeping his mind sharp and alert.Narad ji told this importance of fasting to me.Understood sakhi!!""Ha! Sakhi! Really observing fast helps us both to reach paramatma and in our biological process. Great!""Narayan! Narayan! Earth and humans were blessed to listen my adorned Sri Hari's leelas from Mahadevi Laxmi herself", Narad too gladdened to see Laxmi explaining his Prabhu's mahathv to everyone."Ha!", Laxmi grinned and both entered the village . Suddenly they came across their another companion "Priya". Her actual name is Priyamvada, whom her friends lovingly call as Priya. She was holding her aradhya Vishnu's idol and two girls who stood before her were trying to detach it from her forcibly. Priya had been trying diligently to stop them."Please leave me! I can't leave my Nath", Priya, wailing and pleading them."Sakhi! What's going on there? Why are they teasing Priya?",Laxmi asked Jaya in amusement. TO BE CONTINUED..