Significance
It marks the end of the four-month period of Chaturmas, when god Vishnu is believed to sleep. It is believed that Vishnu sleeps on Shayani Ekadashi and wakes on Prabodhini Ekadashi, thus giving this day the name "Prabodhini Ekadashi". It is strongly believed that by observing this Ekadasi, all the sins committed in passed life are washed away and the observer of this 'Vrat' gets the path to liberation (Moksha).Utthana Ekadasi, which falls in the Kartik month, is considered highly auspicious by Lord Vishnu devotees. Staunch Vishnu devotees observe a rigid fast on the day by skipping food and staying awake during night. Majority of the people take one meal mostly in the evening and visit the temples and other shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
History
Lord Brahma explained to Narad Muni, O Dear son, O Devarshi, I will explain to you the significance of the Utthana or Prabhodini Ekadashi, which bestows great merits, and ultimately the 'Moksha'.This Ekadashi, which occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Kartika, is much more purifying than a bath in the ocean or a sacred place.This divine Ekadasi is more powerful in nullifying sins than one thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices and one hundred Rajasuya sacrifices." Lord Brahma continued, If a person eats once at noon on Ekadasi, the sins of his previous birth are washed away, if he eats supper, the sins acquired during his previous two births are nullified and if he fasts completely, the sins accumulated during his pervious seven births are erased.The sins accumulated over a thousand previous births are nullified completely if the devotee remains awake throughout Ekadasi night besides the fasting vrat.Even if one forefathers were implicated in many sins and are suffering in hell, they still attain beautifully ornamented spiritual bodies and happily go to Vishnu’s abode .
One who does not chant the Gayatri mantra three times a day, who disregards fast days, who does not believe in God,who criticises the Vedic Scriptures,who thinks the Vedas bring only ruination to one who follows their injunctions, who is cruel and wicked,who is ungrateful, or who cheats others such a sinful person can never perform any religious activity effectively."
Brahma further added,"The bad charactered persons ruin their acquired merits and whoever associates with sinful people and visits their homes without a spiritual purpose will go directly to the abode of Lord Yamaraj, the superintendent of death.And if someone has his meal in such a home, his acquired merit is lost and also happiness, his fame,life-span, children's happiness.
All places of pilgrimage in the three worlds at once come to reside in the house of a person who fasts on this Ekadasi. Whoever fasts on this Ekadasi will definitely not take a birth again, hence the devotees of the Lord Vishnu, give up all other religeous activities and simply surrender to fasting on this Ekadasi.
He who listens to the divine narrations about Lord Vishnu, during the month of Kartika, earns the same merit as of donating hundred cows in charity. A person, who chants the glories of Lord Hari this day, achieves the merit earned by donating seven islands. One, who worships the Tulasi-devi in this period, achieves ultimate happiness in the higher world, since there are roots and subroots growing from a mature tulasi plant.
Determination of Date:
On this day Gods come out of their sleep. Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi. For this Ekadashi connected with Dwadashi is taken. If Dwadashi disappears then fast is observed on Ekadashi connected with Dashami. If Ekadashi falls on two days then it is celebrated on the second day but if Dwadashi disappears then it is observed on first day only. If Ekadashi disappears then on first day and in case of extension of Dwadashi with disappearance of Ekadashi it is celebrated on second day.
How to Celebrate
A fast is observed on Prabodhini Ekadashi and the ritual marriage of the Tulsi plant is performed with god Vishnu, who is regarded as the husband of Tulsi. This ritual marriage is known as Tulsi Vivah and may be conducted on the next day of Prabodhini Ekadashi instead of Prabodhini Ekadashi itself.
In Gujarat, more 800,000 pilgrims perform the 32-km Lili Parikrama, circumambulation of Mt. Girnar, over a two-day period. This performed as a gesture of thanksgiving to the gods, who are believed to have assembled on the mountain. In Pushkar, Rajasthan, the Pushkar Fair or Pushkar mela commences on this day and continues till the full moon day (Kartik Poornima). This fair is held in the honour of god Brahma, whose temple stands at Pushkar. A ritual bath during the five days of the fairin the Pushkar lake is considered to lead one to salvation. Sadhus gather here and stay from ekadashi to full moon day in caves. About 200,000 people and 25,000 camels assemble in Pushkar for the fair. Pushkar fair is Asia's largest camel fair.
Prabodhini Ekadashi also marks the beginning of sugarcane harvest. The farmer performs a puja in the field and ceremoniously cuts some sugarcane, laying some at the boundary of the field and distributing five canes to a Brahmin (priest), blacksmith, carpenter, washer-man and water-carrier and taking five canes at home. At home, figures of Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi are drawn on a wooden-board with cowdung and butter. The sugarcane are tied together at the top and placed round the board. Some cotton, betel-nut, lentils and sweets are offered along with a yagna (fire sacrifice). A prabhatiya, or song urging the god to wake, is sung. The canes are then broken and hung off the roof till Holi, when they are burnt.
Prabodhini Ekadashi is considered as an important Ekadashi in the Swaminarayan sect. The day commemorates the diksha, or religious initiation, of Swaminarayan by his guru Ramanand Swami on October 28, 1800. The day also commemorates the passing of authority by Ramanand Swami to Swaminarayan on November 16, 1801. Swaminarayan followers observe a waterless fast and offer an offering of fresh vegetables to the deities