TAVASMI Ekadashi, Shravan Mas, Basic of Pushti Marg,

1. TAVASMI Ekadashi, Shravan Mas, Basic of Pushti Marg, July 2010

2. Ekadashi (Agyarus) • Eka mean 1; Dashi means 10 (1 + 10 = 11) • Ekadashi is when you withdraw your 10 indriyas (senses) and mind (11) from worldly, material activities and focus them on God/devotional activities • Ekadashi is different from fasting on a particular day which is done for yourself • Wanting to please a particular god • Filling a personal need or desire • Done as a personal penance

3. Ekadashi: the major ones • 24 Ekadashis in one year (12 X 2); more in Adhikmas. The bhaav behind each ekadashi is different • 5 other festival days to be observed like an ekadashi • Janmastmi (Krishna’s birth) • Ram Navmi (Ram’s birth) • Shivratri* • Vaman Jayanti • Narshi Jayanti • Occurs every 14 days on the 11th day. Moon is believed to influence our moods. On Ekadashi, the mind is easily concentrated and therefore, easier to do devotional things.

4. Ekadashi: 10 Indriyas • 5 Senses • Sight • Sound • Smell • Taste • Touch

5. Ekadashi: 10 Indriyas • 5 Motor Organs • Mouth • Hands • Feet • Reproductive Organs • Excretory Organs

6. Major Ekadashis • Vijaya Ekadashi: Observed by Ram and his army before going to Lanka to achieve victory (Feb/Phalgun) • Kamada Ekadashi: A Gandhar man was serving his king and punished to become a man-eating monster. His wife did this agyarus as a way to bring him back. (March/Chaitra) • Mohini Ekadashi: Observed by Ram to deal with his sadness over his separation from Sita (May/Vaishak) • Putrada (Pavitra) Ekadashi: Pavitras offered to god; also done to bless couples with a child (Aug 20/Shravan) • Dev Shayani Ekadashi: Lord Vishnu goes to sleep for four month (July 21); marks beginning of Chatur Mas

7. Major Ekadashis • Dev Uthani/Prabhodhini Ekadashi: Lord Vishnu and the other devs wake up on this day. It also celebrates three major lilas of the Lord; Lord’s promise to protect King Bali; Lord’s marriage to goddess Tulsi; Lord’s lifting of Mount Govardhan. (November 17/Kartik) References: • Hindu Blog (www.hindublog.com) • http://hariomgroup.net/ekadashi • http://www.vaishnavparivar.info/

8. Significance of the month Shravan • 5th month of the Hindu calendar. Considered the holiest month of the year. • Significance: the churning of oceans - Samudra Manthan 14 different types of rubies came out. 13 of these were distributed amongst the demons, except Halahal (poison). Lord Shiva drank the Halahal and stored it in his throat. The name Neelkantha (meaning blue throat) is given to Shiva. To reduce the strong effect of poison, Lord Shiva wore the crescent moon on his head. All the Gods, thereafter started offering the Ganges water to Lord Shiva to make lessen the effect of poison. 

9. Significance of the month Shravan • Since, this happened in the month of Shravana, since then the Shiva devotees offer the Ganges water in this month.  • For Pushtimarg, 2 major reasons: • On the 8th day, Lord Krishna was born (Janmastmi) • On Shravan Sud Agyarus, Shreenathji gave Mahaprabhuji brahamsambandh and gave him the agyna to give initiate Vaishnavs into Pushtimarg. On Shravan Sud Baras, Mahaprabhuji gave brahamsambandh to Damodardasji.

10. Festivals of Shravan • All Somvars of the month are considered to be auspicious • Bol Choth: Done for cattle; cook outside • Naag Pancham: Celebrated in the South; honors the serpent God • Randhan Chat: do not cook on this day; eat cold food • Tulsidas Jayanti: Celebration of the poet Tulsidas • Pavitra Ekadashi: Pavitras offered to the swaroops • Jhulan Yatra: swing festival for Lord Krishna • Rakshabandhan • Janmastmi • Balram Jayanti: birth of Balram • Some scholars are also of the opinion that it is during this period that waterborne diseases spread fast. So the numerous Vratas and rituals in the month are to keep people healthy. 10

11. Brahmasambandh • The Meaning of The Brahm-Sambandh Mantra • “It has been ages since I have separated from ShriKrishna. I do not experience • the anguish of separation from Him (the yearning to meet ShriKrishna). • Such as I am, I willingly dedicate, to ShriKrishna, my Body, my Senses, my • Life-force, my AntahKaran (= Mind + Intellect + Ego + Consciousness) and • their attributes, my spouse, my home, my children, my relatives/friends, my • wealth, this world & the other world, my conscience and everything else I call • mine. I am your subject, Krishna. Krishna, I am Yours! Krishna, I am Yours! • Krishna, I am Yours ! “

12. Giving BrahmaSambandh • The Brahm-Sambandh initiation can only be given by Vallabhacharyaji. • In MahaPrabhuji’s physical absence, Brahm-Sambandh initiation can be given, on his behalf, by his direct descendents who are known as “GuruDwar” - a gateway to Guru Shrimad Vallabhacharyaji. • For sake of convenience, we call “GuruDwar”, a Guru. • Brahm-Sambandh is given in the morning during Shringar Darshan either in front of Guru’s Thakorji or in front of Thakorji in a PushtiMargiya Temple.

13. Receiving Brahm-Sambandh • Conscientiously decide to receive Brahm-Sambandh. Receiving • Brahm-Sambandh means agreeing to live your life as a Vaishnav. • Decide on one of the many PushtiMargiya Acharyas (descendents • of Shri MahaPrabhuji) to be your “Guru”. • Respectfully express your desire to receive Brahm-Sambandh • initiation to The Guru and humbly request Him to give you the • same, at least a couple of days in advance of His visit in your • vicinity. • Remember….The Guru has a right to turn down your request. • Observe fasting (consume Milk & Fruits only) the day before • receiving Brahm-Sambandh. This is to purify the body.

14. On the day of Brahm-Sambandh….. • Shampoo your hair, shower, wear clean/fresh cloths, do not eat/drink anything, bring an offering (usually cash) for The Guru as well as for Thakorji , be in time and wait patiently for The Guru. • Follow all the instructions given by The Guru. Ask questions respectfully, if you need to. • After receiving Brahm-Sambandh, respectfully place the offerings at your Guru’s feet and devoutly place the offerings in front of Thakorji. • Humbly, ask your Guru about your duties (Dharma) as a Vaishnav after receiving Brahm Sambandh and listen attentively to whatever The Guru says/suggests. • Try your best to follow the duties (Vaishnav Dharma) as instructed by your Guru. • For future meetings with your Guru, bring an offering (per your ability) to Him. • Remember this day as your Second Birthday and always celebrate it.

15. Duties after ReceivingBrahm-Sambandh • Surrender unconditionally only to Krishna-ShriNathji • Have absolute faith only in Krishna-ShriNathji • Love Krishna-ShriNathji more than anyone or anything in life • Perfom a daily “Krishna-Sewa” to strengthen the love-devotion • relationship with Krishna-ShriNathji • Love and Respect MahaPrabhu Vallabhacharya as The Guru and • study his philosophical and instructional writings • Love, pray and have faith in Yamunaji, The Goddess of PushtiMarg

16. Hindu Philosophies • Hindu philosophy is divided into six āstik ("orthodox") schools of thought or darshan ("views"), which accept the Veds as supreme revealed scriptures. Three other nāstik ("heterodox") schools do not accept the Vedas as authoritative. The āstik schools are: • Samkhya, a strongly dualist theoretical exposition of mind and matter. • Yoga, a school emphasizing meditation closely based on Samkhya • Nyaay or logics • Vaisheshika, an school of atomism • Mimamsa, focused on investigating the Vedic scriptures • Vedant, the logical conclusion to Vedic ritualism, focused on goals of Veds. The nāstik schools are: • Buddhism • Jainism • Cārvāka, a skeptical materialist school, which died out in the 15th century and whose primary texts have been lost.