Meaning Of Ekadasi
"What is meant by Ekadashi? This should not be regarded as some special place or time. The form of Ekadasha Rudra is made up of five organs of perception, the five organs of action and the mind. Rudra is a resident of the human body, which is full of numerous potencies. Men today are forgetful of numerous potencies and the Divinity that dwell in the heart." Sai Baba. SS. 2/96. p. 40
Purpose
"This festival symbolises man's journey to God, as the Varkaris (dancers) on this day start their long journey to Pandharpur in Maharashtra (India) to pay their homage to Lord Vithala, who chose Pandharpur as His abode for the child devotee Pundalika." Sai Baba, SS, 8/98. p. 216
Ashada Ekadashi Celebrations At Prasanthi Nilayam (1999)
"On Ashadi Ekadashi (24 July 1999) Bal Vikas students and youth of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization, Mumbai (Maharashtra) presented an inspiring cultural programme on this auspicious occasion.
Bhagavan Baba came to the newly renovated and glittering Sai Kulwant Hall at 6.45 a.m. After showing love and grace on the assembled devotees on this auspicious day, Bhagavan graciously permitted the programme to be started. The programme began with an invocation song to Bhagavan Baba. This was followed by the traditional Varkari dance performed by the youths of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization, Mumbai. With Sai Vitthal seated before them, the joy of the dancers knew no bonds as they danced in their traditional costumes.
The next item of the programme was an allegorical play entitled 'Spiritual Kar Rally' was enacted by the Bal Vikas children of Mumbai. Devotees in Maharashtra begin their journey to Pandharpur, the abode of Lord Vitthal. on the auspicious day of Ashada Ekadashi, symbolizing the journey of man to God. This play beautifully depicted how man should perform this important journey of life safely and successfully.
In the play, two persons are shown to choose the 'Kars' (vehicles) of 'Ahamkar' (ego) and 'Mamakar' (attachment) and they suffer total breakdown. When they are stranded on the way, they pray for God's help, and as a result are rescued by the grace of the Lord in the form of the taxi of ‘Chamatkaara' (miracle). This happens in the life of every man. This can become the turning point of his life as it shows him the grand way of 'I to He'. I the takes to this way and follows the 'rules of traffic' (nine point of conduct which Bhagavan Baba has given for the benefit of mankind) he can perform this journey in the divine vehicles of 'Namaskaar' (humility), 'Sanskar' (values) and 'Paropakar' as the two characters in the play do. He can attain 'Sakshatkaar (self-realisation) if he surrenders his broken vehicles of 'Ahamkaar' and; Mamakaar to Him. Excellent programme concluded with Arati to Bhagavan and distribution of Prasadam to the devotees." Editor. SS. 8/99, p. 222
Glimpses of Ashada Ekadashi Celebrations At Prasanthi Nilayam - 1998
"The holy festival of Ashada Ekadashi was celebrated at Prasanthi Nilayam in Sai Kulwant Hall in the morning of 5th July 1998 in the Divine Presence of Bhagavan Baba."
"The festival was organized by Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization, Maharashtra, in which 100 adults and 35 Bal Vikas children took part.
Bhagavan Baba came to Sai Kulwant Hall at 7.00 a.m. and delighted the throngs of men, women and children by His Darshan. The programme began with an invocation to Panduranga and Vithala, the invocation song having been rendered by expert singers. Soon after this invocation song, a party of traditional singers and dancers (Vakaris) in white dress and white cap entered the Hall. They sang and danced with music and the whole Sai Kulwant Hall echoed with their song 'Vittala Jai Panduranga'.
After offering a Tulsi Mala to Bhagavan, Bal Vikas children conducted the programme through impressive dialogue. While one of them narrated the story of Tulsi, other Bal Vikas children enacted the whole story in which Tulsi plant comes out of the ashes of Brinda. Lord Vishnu was pleased with Brinda's purity and granted her a boon that her name would remain for ever and she would be worshipped as Tulsi. Along with this story, the Bal Vikas children in green and red dresses presented a song and dance sequence on Tulsi while carrying Tulsi plants on their heads.
Bal Vikas children also presented a tableau on Pundalika, who served his parents as living gods on earth- When Lord Vittala knocks at the door of Pundalika, he offers a brick to the Lord to stand on because he is busy serving his parents and cannot attend the Lord immediately. This small skit, along with a song adoring parents and recalling the Vedic injunction' Matru Devo Bhava', effectively brought out the message of reverence to parents.
The children then exhorted all the devotees gathered on this holy day of Ashada Ekadashi to take a pledge to become torch-bearers of Bhagavan's mission of world transformation by putting into practice His divine message of Satya, Dhanna. Shanti and Prema in their lives- The pledge was read out by a Bal Vikas child and was repealed by the entire gathering.
After the concluding song in praise of Vithala, Bhagavan blessed the children who participated in the programme." Editor. SS, 8/98. pp. 216 & 217
From the book - Festivals at Prasanthi Nilayama
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