Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat
What Is Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat?
Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat is the religious observance of a fast done by the devotees on Aamlki Ekadashi that is celebrated on Ekadashi of the waxing moon, in the month of Phalguna.
The festival is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one of the supreme divine beings in the Trinity Lords (i.e. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Mahesh). It involves the celebration of a tree called Amla tree (Indian gooseberry) which is believed to be the divine abode of Lord Vishnu.
One of the notable features of Aamlki Ekadashi is that it also signals the advent of the Indian festival of colours called Holi. The religious virtue of the Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat lies in the fact that it is believed to be the most auspicious religious observance and the giver of salvation. Moreover, it eliminates one’s sins, thereby giving the devotees the life-transformative results of peace, happiness, fortunes, and wellbeing.
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What Is The Religious Significance Of Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat?
Since the festival of Aamlki Ekadashi is mainly associated with the divine Lord Vishnu, its significance of it accentuates several folds, with devotees celebrating the festival by observing fast and offering devotions-filled prayers to Lord Vishnu. The tree of Amla, religiously believed to be the divine residence of Lord Vishnu, is worshipped to attain the divine grace of Lord Vishnu.
Since the festival of Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat involves worshipping Amla Tree, it also conveys a message of India’s cultural vibrancy in which worshipping trees has been given the supreme importance and attached to pleasing the lord, considering tree worshipping, as per Hindu culture, is like worshipping the omnipresent deities or the Universal Spirits.
Therefore, venerating Amla Tree on the day of Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat is like sanctifying the tree with a religious affinity toward Lord Vishnu, in the sense that the ritual performed thereof bears auspicious religious benefits in the life of a devotee.
Some Unknown Facts Associated With The Aamlki Ekadashi Festival:
- It is also called Amla Ekadashi, given its association with worshipping Amla Tree.
- The Amla tree is worshipped as it is believed to be the divine abode of Lord Vishnu.
- Not only Lord Vishnu, but Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati are also worshipped on this day.
- The festival is also a harbinger of Holi, the festival of colours in India. That’s why it is also called Rangbhari Ekadashi (an Ekadashi engulfed with colours.
Why Is The Amla Tree Is Worshipped On Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat?
Amla tree is worshipped during Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat because it is believed to be a divine abode of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. According to a legend, the Amla tree as a manifested form of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu was first worshipped by goddess Lakshmi during her visitation on the earth. The reason she chose the Amla tree to worship was due to the properties of both basil and Bel found in the tree. Since basil is endeared to Lord Vishnu and Bel is adored by lord Shiva, therefore, the Amla tree was a perfect choice for Mata Lakshmi as she wanted to worship both the lords on the earth. Hence, she marked the Amla tree as Lord Vishnu and considered Lord Shiva as its symbolic divine form and then she worshipped the tree. Since then, the Amla tree has been in religious practice as a venerated tree symbolizing the manifestations of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
What Is The Legend Associated With Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat?
According to the Brahmanda Purana, there lived a pious king named Chaitraratha, who ruled the kingdom of Vaidisa. Prosperity dawned upon in his kingdom as the king and his subjects worshipped religiously Lord Vishnu. Once during Aamlki Ekadashi, the king and his subjects were worshipping Lord Vishnu in the Amla tree near the Vishnu temple when a hungry hunter joined the group performing the rituals of Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat. Due to the miracle of the Vrat that the hunter unintentionally observed, he was reborn as king Vasurath. The underlying message here is that the festival of Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat should be performed with pure devotion and selfless desire that would result in the attainment of Lord Vishnu’s divine grace, in the current and next birth.
Another legend tells that once king Chitrasena, who observed Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat with his subjects, went on hunting trips. In the forest, he lost his way and was attacked by an army of demons. Though the king was not hurt at all, he lost consciousness. Meanwhile, the demons were killed by cosmic energy emanating from the body of the unconscious king. When the king regained consciousness, he found the demons lying dead around him. Wondering what took their lives, suddenly the king heard a divine voice from the sky, announcing that the king was saved due to the Punya of Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat that he observed. This eventually established the custom of observing Aamlki Ekadashi vrat.
Conclusion
Aamlki Ekadashi Vrat is a religious observance of the fast that devotees of Lord Vishnu do to an Amla Tree which is believed to be a divine abode of Lord Vishnu. Apart from worshipping Lord Vishnu, the festival also involves worshipping Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati. Amla tree is worshipped on Aamlki Ekadashi because the tree is the manifestation of both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Since the festival involves worshipping a tree, it, therefore, represents the cultural vibrancy of India that adheres to the maxim of environmental preservation and conservation.
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