प्रबोधिनी एकादशी 2001

On this Ekadashi of Kartika Shukla, Lord Vishnu awakens from the four month yoga nidra that began on Devshayani Ekadashi, and Chaturmasya comes to an end. It is called Prabodhini or Haribodhini, the awakening of Hari.

Sri Krishna told Yudhishthira the glories that Brahma once revealed to Narada. A single fast on this day, Brahma said, gives the merit of a thousand ashvamedhas and a hundred rajasuyas, and a night of vigil with songs and stories of Hari burns away the sins of many lifetimes.

Brahma gave special place to Tulasi: offering her leaves to Vishnu in Kartika, and serving her by seeing, touching, watering, planting and worshipping her, brings lasting merit. From this day the marriage of Tulasi with Vishnu, Tulasi Vivah, is celebrated, and auspicious ceremonies such as weddings begin again.