Kaishika ekadasi
In Varaha Puranam, it is said that Lord Varaha Swamy lifted Goddess Bhudevi from the ocean and placed her into the universe. After being rescued, Goddess Bhudevi expresses her concern about people who are still trapped in the cycle of birth and death (samsarasagara). In response, Lord Varaha Swamy assures her that those who follow 'Navavida Bhakti' will be lifted from the ocean of samsara.
He proceeds to narrate the story of a devotee in Thirukurungudi, a place in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, where the Lord appears in four forms. The Lord on the hillock is called Malaimel Nambi, and the Lord down the hill appears in three forms: sitting (irunda Nambi), standing (Ninna Nambi), and sleeping (Kidanda Nambi).
There lived a devoted Haridas near Thirukungudi, born in a downtrodden family. Every day, he offered songs with his veena as a service to the Lord, and he was affectionately called "Nam Paduvan" or "Our Singer" since his songs were solely dedicated to the Lord.
Once, during the month of Karthika on the Sukla Ekadasi, he set out on a journey to Thirukurungudi to offer his songs to the Lord. Along the way, he encountered a Bramharakshasa (demon) who accosted him. Haridasa pleaded to be freed so he could sing before the Lord. The demon didn't agree initially, but Haridasa made a list of promises and finally convinced the demon that he would return after singing for the Lord.
After finishing his songs, Lord Nambi disguised as an old man tried to tempt Nampaduvan to run away from the Bramharakshasa, but Haridasa remained steadfast in his promise and returned to the tree to fulfill his commitment. The Bramharakshasa realized the value of the punyam (merit) Haridasa gained from his singing and asked for it.
However, Haridasa refused to claim any merit for himself, stating that he sang solely as a service to the Lord and not for personal gain. The demon offered various proposals, but Haridasa continued to decline. In the end, the demon asked for the merit when Haridasa sang using the kaishika ragam, which Haridasa gave out of compassion. Upon receiving this merit, the demon was released from his curse and narrated his story to Haridasa.
The demon revealed that in his previous birth, he was a Vedic priest, but due to improper chanting, he became a Bramharakshasa. With Haridasa's help, the demon gained a new divine form and blessed him, bestowing the name "Kaisika" and naming the ekadasi after the Kaisika note that Haridasa used to sing songs to the Lord.
He proceeds to narrate the story of a devotee in Thirukurungudi, a place in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, where the Lord appears in four forms. The Lord on the hillock is called Malaimel Nambi, and the Lord down the hill appears in three forms: sitting (irunda Nambi), standing (Ninna Nambi), and sleeping (Kidanda Nambi).
There lived a devoted Haridas near Thirukungudi, born in a downtrodden family. Every day, he offered songs with his veena as a service to the Lord, and he was affectionately called "Nam Paduvan" or "Our Singer" since his songs were solely dedicated to the Lord.
Once, during the month of Karthika on the Sukla Ekadasi, he set out on a journey to Thirukurungudi to offer his songs to the Lord. Along the way, he encountered a Bramharakshasa (demon) who accosted him. Haridasa pleaded to be freed so he could sing before the Lord. The demon didn't agree initially, but Haridasa made a list of promises and finally convinced the demon that he would return after singing for the Lord.
After finishing his songs, Lord Nambi disguised as an old man tried to tempt Nampaduvan to run away from the Bramharakshasa, but Haridasa remained steadfast in his promise and returned to the tree to fulfill his commitment. The Bramharakshasa realized the value of the punyam (merit) Haridasa gained from his singing and asked for it.
However, Haridasa refused to claim any merit for himself, stating that he sang solely as a service to the Lord and not for personal gain. The demon offered various proposals, but Haridasa continued to decline. In the end, the demon asked for the merit when Haridasa sang using the kaishika ragam, which Haridasa gave out of compassion. Upon receiving this merit, the demon was released from his curse and narrated his story to Haridasa.
The demon revealed that in his previous birth, he was a Vedic priest, but due to improper chanting, he became a Bramharakshasa. With Haridasa's help, the demon gained a new divine form and blessed him, bestowing the name "Kaisika" and naming the ekadasi after the Kaisika note that Haridasa used to sing songs to the Lord.
The same story is enacted every year in the Divya Desam of Thirukkurungudi.
This story is read with significance at Sri Vaishnava shrines. In Srirangam, on this day, a scholar from the Parasara Bhattar lineage recites the story of Kaisika from the Puranas, which consists of about 100 chapters. The scholar is carried on the palanquin of Lord Ranganattha in a procession by the pattangas (carriers of the palanquin) to his home which is called Bramharatha Mariyadai.
This story is read with significance at Sri Vaishnava shrines. In Srirangam, on this day, a scholar from the Parasara Bhattar lineage recites the story of Kaisika from the Puranas, which consists of about 100 chapters. The scholar is carried on the palanquin of Lord Ranganattha in a procession by the pattangas (carriers of the palanquin) to his home which is called Bramharatha Mariyadai.
The lord is also adorned with 360 shawls for each day of the year( according to the hindu calandar the year has 360 days), accepts 360 karpoora haratis, and is offered 360 tamboolams( betel leaf and nut).
In Tiruvengadam (Tirupathi), Lord Ugra Srinivas with Goddess Sri Devi and Goddess Bhudevi gives Darshan only once a year on Kaisika Dwadasi, and Kaisika Puranam is chanted on that day in the temple. This highlights the importance of Kaisika Ekadasi and Dwadasi.
In Tiruvengadam (Tirupathi), Lord Ugra Srinivas with Goddess Sri Devi and Goddess Bhudevi gives Darshan only once a year on Kaisika Dwadasi, and Kaisika Puranam is chanted on that day in the temple. This highlights the importance of Kaisika Ekadasi and Dwadasi.
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