Today marks the beginning of Harishayani Ekadashi, a special four-month-long worship and adoration of Tulsi plants in Nepali households. The Tulsi saplings planted in homes a month ago on Jestha Shukla Ekadashi are now being transplanted into pots.
According to Sanatan Vedic tradition, Tulsi is considered a symbol of Lord Vishnu. Special worship of Tulsi will take place from today until Kartik Shukla Ekadashi.
Today is also known as Harishayani Ekadashi, as it marks the beginning of Lord Vishnu’s four-month-long sleep in the ocean of milk, according to religious scholar and former member of Nepal Panchang Nirnayak Samiti, Dr. Devmani Bhattarai. This four-month period is also known as Chaturmasa.
There are 24 Ekadashis in a year. Those who can afford to do so observe a fruit-only fast on all Ekadashis, while those who cannot observe a fast on the eight Ekadashis that fall during Chaturmasa. Those who are actively engaged in work and cannot observe a fast for four months observe a fruit-only fast on Harishayani Ekadashi and Haribodhini Ekadashi.
On the occasion of Harishayani Ekadashi, devotees throng temples dedicated to Lord Narayan and Vishnu across the country, including Boudhanilkantha in Kathmandu. On Ekadashi, devotees traditionally do not eat certain foods made from rice, such as roti and dhido, and instead observe a fruit-only fast.
Tulsi has been scientifically proven to have various health benefits and is used as a medicine for various ailments. It is also believed to ward off diseases and negative energies. In addition, Tulsi is said to bring positive energy to a place and purify the air.
According to Vedic tradition, the Tulsi plant will be married to Lord Damodar on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, also known as Haribodhini Ekadashi. After the marriage ceremony, a havan will be performed to mark the end of the Chaturmasa fast.
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