Ekadashi
Devshayani ekadashi - This Ekadashi is one of the most important Ekadashi. If one is not able to fast on all Ekadashi, he must fast on three Ekadashis. This is one of them.It commences the start of the holy and sacred ChaturMaas (Four months). Devtas rest for these four months. Therefore we must be more vigilant against the evils and sins. ChaturMaas ends on the bright Ekadashi of Kartik month. Lord NilkanthVarni performed severe austerity for four months at PulhaAshram. In Shikshapatri (Verse 76), Lord Swaminarayan has asked us to take special vows for these four months. The vows generally fall in two categories, one relating to the denial of foods and another to perform austerities. People take vows not to eat certain foods like aubergines, sugarcane, and potatoes during ChaturMaas. But if you do not like aubergine and hardly ever eats them, the vow not to eat them is a useless vow. One must give up his favourite food to serve as a constant reminder of God. So take a vow to give up your favourite food or taste. Lord Swaminarayan mentions eight important vows in further two verses (77 & 78). He has asked us to adopt one during the ChaturMaas. The eight are: Listening to Katha, Reading of scriptures, Singing Kirtans (Hymns), Perform MahaPuja (fuller version of Puja), Reciting Swaminarayan Mantra, Reciting other sacred Mantras, Perform extra Pradakshinas and Doing extra Saashtang/Panchang Pranams. We must adopt any one of these for the duration of four months. If you are not able to take the vow for full four months on the account of ill health, you should take vow for only one month of Shravan. Still you must take a vow. This exception is not be used for the excuse like lack of time or inclination. We may utilise this opportunity to try to give up any of our bad habits or vices by taking the vow not to indulge in them.
Related Links:
Diwali
Guru Purnima
Holi
Janmastmi
Swaminarayan Ramnavmi
Shivratri
Tulsi Vivah
vijya Dashmi
Vasant Panchmi
