Vishnu shayanotsav is the day when Lord Vishnu retires to his ksheer sagar (the cosmic ocean of milk), rests there for four months and comes back to Vaikuntha vas on shukla paksha ekadashi in the month of kartika.

Since, Lord Visnhu who is the preserver of life takes rest for four months, so no pious and auspicious works, like marriage, moving into new houses and others are performed during this period. The sages and seers stay at one place and pray to him.

According to the Bhavishya-uttara Purana, the regular observance the Vishnu Shayanotsav vrat helps devotees to attain liberation from the vicious cycle of life and birth. The famous Pandharputra yatra closes on the eve of the Vishnu Shayanotsav festival only.

You should observe fast on the highly auspicious Vishnu Shayanotsav to get prosperity and resolve all your problems. By observing it regularly, you will also become free from the cycle of life and birth, as Krishna said.

According to the lunar calendar, the Vishnu Shayanotsav falls on the 11th day of bright fortnight of June-July, i.e. 11th day of shukla paksha of ashadh month. This is the most important festival of Vaishnava sect of people.

In the current year, the Vishnu Shayanotsav will fall on 21st July 2010, i.e. Wednesday.

The festival is known by many names, like Hari Shayani Ekadashi, Hari Bodhini Ekadashi, Prabodhini Ekadashi, Devotthani Ekadashi, Uttana Ekadashi, Shayana Ekadashi, Dev Shayani Ekadashi, Ashadi Ekadashi, Padma Ekadashi, Maha Ekadashi, Harivasara Ekadashi, Bhooripaksha Ekadasi and others.

Since, Lord Vishnu sleeps on Sheshnag (The divine serpent), the festival also draws its name Shesh Shayana Ekadashi. Telugu-speaking people call it Tholi Ekadashi or Pratham Ekadashi which means the first ekadashi.

The legend of the Vishnu Shayanotsav appears in the Brahmvrat Purana. Once, the divine Sage Narada asked Lord Brahma about the importance of the Vishnu Shayanotsav. Lord Brahma told him the story of the King Mandhata of the Suryavansha which happened in the Satyuga.

King Mandhata was a great king. He was highly pious and performed many good deed. Yet, severe draught struck his kingdom. Stored food got consumed; crop vanished. People and animal started starving to death. The king performed many pujas, vratas, homas, and yangyas to bring in the rains. But, none of his effort was showing any result. Unrest among the citizens started growing. The king thought that if did not find out a solution everybody would die one by one.

In despair, he approached the Sage Angira who said that all people of the kingdom had to live according the rules of Vedas to lead their lives happily and peacefully because the period of Satayuga demanded it. He said that he knew that the king was following the codes of the Shashtras and performing the duties of a king successfully. He further said that a sudra of his kingdom is also doing vratas which are not allowed, and that was the reason of the calamity. “Unless and until the sudra was dead, the problem will exist”’ the Sage said.

Sage said that the king should terminate the sudra to get rid of the situation. But, the king being a holy man did not agree to the sage’s advice and said that how could he kill an innocent person. He requested the sage to show him some other way out.

On the king’s request, the sage advised him to observe fast on the Vishnu Shaynotsav day along with all his citizens. Hearing the advice of Sage Angira, the king returned to his kingdom. He passed a diktat to all his citizens to observe the VishnuShayanotsav along with him. After observing the fast, the kingdom received plenty of rains and the fields became abound with crop. The kingdom became prosperous again. Since then, people observe fast of the Vishnu Shayanotsav get rid of all their problems.

People mostly keep fast on the Vishnu Shaynotsav day and perform sacred deeds like reciting Holy Scriptures, donating food, cloth and other edible material to the poor and the needy.

Consuming cereals, like rice, pulses, wheat and others during fasting is not recommended. Even eating onions and garlic and consuming certain types of spices including non-vegetarian food is not allowed. If you feel hungry you can have milk or fruits. Drinking a lot of lukewarm water or lemon-mishri (crystilised sugar) is highly recommended as it cleanses the digestive system and purifies the body.

During the day, you should do more maun-pooja (uttering in the mind) by chanting of the Lord Visnhu-mantra. Fasting is observed to please the God and seek His blessings; hence, self-control is recommended.

Fasting is observed for 24 hours generally. However, it is believed that a 12-hour fast is also good. In case of health problems, please consult your doctor before fasting. You can also live on liquid diets during the fasting period.

Fasting is special on this day for many reasons. The scientific reason is when the body is light and stomach free, your body needs less energy to sustain and your energy is saved to more important yogic practices. Your body’s energy is distributed equally to the whole system.

It overhauls whole bodily system, destroys all sorts of poisons and encourages the rapid expulsion of uric acid deposits. However, one should not overdo it. Fasting is supposed to create a feeling of buoyancy, not a feeling of fatigue or sorrow. Old and sick people are advised not to fast.

On mental level, it controls your passion, disciplines your senses, and purifies you mind and heart. It helps you to destroy a great amount sins. Fasting helps in becoming close to Brahman. So, don’t bother much about rules and regulations, just spend the day in purifying your mind and body by chanting Vishnu-mantra.

As this day is devoted to Lord Vishnu, you can also perform Vishnu Puja to eradicate and remove all your sorrows.

Arrange the following items for Vishnu Puja: Picture of Lord Vishnu, Plant of Basil (Tulsi), Water In A Kalash, Ganga jal, pure soil, Kush, Saptdhanya, pachratna, Red cloth (1.25 meter), Yellow cloth, Mango Leaves, Coconut, Roli, Moli, uncooked rice (Akshat/ Chawal), Karpoor, Paan, Beetle Nut, Cloves, Cardamom, Sindoor, Abhir, Gulal, Dhoop, Deepak, Matchsticks, Flowers White Or Yellow And Belpatr Leaves, Fruits and Sweets (Five Types), Panchpatra Containing Spoon And Water, Cane, Hawan-samgri, and Mat To Sit (Aasan)

Before the arrival the Vishnu Shayanotsav day, water the Basil (Ocimum sanctum) plant regularly for three months before. Find out the Vivah murhut and make the mandap by using cane and yellow cloth. Make the Hawan-kund too.

Do the Nandimukh shraddh and sit on the mat (kush aashan) do the resolve (sankalp) with the help of following mantra:

• Om udyetadi desh kalau sankirtya (say your name) aham, gotra (say your gotra) mamaa khilee-kShivinpantakshamanpoorvakabheeShT sidha dwara shree mahavishnu prityarth tulsi vivah karishye. Tadangtwen ganesha poojan swasti punyahvaachann grahyangyashay karishye.
• (  (ॐ अद्येतादि देश कालौ संकीर्त्य (आराधक नाम) अहं, गोत्रः (गोत्र) ममाऽखिल-षिविंधिपांतकशमनपूर्वाकाभीष्ट सिद्ध द्वारा श्री महाविष्णु प्रीत्यर्थ तुलसी विवाह करिष्ये। तदंगत्वेन गणेश पूजन स्वस्ति पुण्याहवाचनं ग्रहयज्ञश्य करिष्ये।
  

  After taking the resolve, worship Lord Ganesha for removing obstacles from the successful completion of the puja. The worship the Navgrah and make the Kalash. The spread the red cloth on puja platform, place the image of Vishnu and the Tulsi there. Now, worship with the following mantras:

• Om idam Visnhu vichakrametredhanidadhepadam, Samoodhsyayapa goon pure.
  (ॐ इदं विष्णु विचक्रमेत्रेधानिदधेपदम्‌। समूढस्ययपा गुं पुरे।)
• Om bhur bhuvah swaShirapano iahagachha, Tulsi shree sakhi shubhe paapharini punyade. Namste Naradanute Narayan sada priye.
  (ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वर्षिपणो इहागच्छ। तुलसी श्री सखि शुभे पापहारिणी पुण्यदे। नमस्ते नारदनुते नारायण सदा प्रिये।)
• Om bhur bhuvah swastatulsi ihagachha ih tiShtheti.
  (ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वस्ततुलसी इहागच्छ इह तिष्ठेति।)
• Deshkalau sankirtya mama sarvapatak nivrit shreevishnu pritaye cha tulsi vivahagataya purushsukten ShoDshopcharaimrahavishnu poojan karishye.
  (देशकालौ संकीर्त्य मम सर्वपातक निवृतये श्रीविष्णु प्रीतये च तुलसी विवाहांगतया पुरुषसुक्तेन षोडशोपचारैर्महाविष्णु पूजनं करिष्ये)

Offer all the items to the Lord. Perform bathing with water, milk, curd, ghee, shakkar, and again with water. Offer yellow cloth, lachchha, yangopavit and worship Tulsi with the following method:

• Va drishTva nikhilaghsangh shamanee spriShTva vapuh pavani.
  ((वा दृष्ट्वा निखिलाघसंघ शमनी स्पृष्ट्वा वपुः पावनी।)
• shebhaNambhivanditan, nignasani siktantatrasinee, prantyasantividhayani bhagwatah krishnasya saropita. Nyastatchcharane vimuktaphalda tasyai tulsyai namah.
  (शेभाणामभिवन्दितां। निग्सनी सिक्तऽन्तत्रासिनी। प्रंत्यासन्तिविधायिनी भगवतः कृष्णस्य सरोपिता।
  न्यास्तातच्चरणे विमुक्तिफलदा तस्यै तुलस्यैनमः)

Then, place the image of Vishnu in front of the Tulsi and touch the yellow cloth and recite mangladaShTak hymns. Offer akashat to Vishnu and Tulsi and then, off tulsi leaves to the Lord Vishnu. Then, perform Hawan and complete the Tulsi-vivah. Finally, again offer obeisance with the Tulsi Pranam Mantra as given below:

Sri Tulasi Pranama
vrindayai tulasi-devyai
priyayai keshavasya cha
krishna-bhakti-prade devi
satyavatyai namo namaha


vrndayai = unto Vrnda; tulasi-devyai = unto Tulasl Devi; priyayai = who is dear; kesavasya = to Lord Kesava; ca-and; krsna-bhakti = devotional service to Lord Krsna, prade = who bestows; devi = O goddess; satya-vatyai = unto Satyavati; namah namah = repeated obeisances.

Translation


I offer my repeated obeisance unto Vrnda, Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to Lord Kesava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Krsna and possess the highest truth.


Sri Tulasi Pradaksina Mantra


Vrindadevi is a pure devotee of Lord Krishna. She is responsible for setting up the wonderful pastime or Radha and Krishna in the vrindavan. Now, she exists as tulsi to benefit the fallen souls by offering the devotional service to Krishna.

The circumambulation of tulsi destroys the committed sins at every step. Even the sin of killing a Brahman does have any effect on the devotees.


The Mantra

Yani Kani Cha Papani
Brahma-Hatyadikani Cha
Tani Tani Pranashyanti
Pradakshinaha Pade Pade



yani kani = whatever; ca = and; papani = sins; brahma-hatya = killing of a brahmana; adikani = and so on; ca = also, tani tani = all of them; pranasyanti = are destroyed; pradaksinah = (by) the circumambulation (of Tulasi Devi); pade pade = at every step.

Mantra for picking Tulsi leaves

!! Tulasy Amrta Janmasi, Sada Tvam Kesava-Priya, Kesavartham Cinomi Tvam, Varada Bhava Sobhane !!


Tulsi Devi is known by eight different names as mentioned below:

• Vrindavani: One who first manifested in Vraja.
• Vrinda: The goddess of all plants and trees.
• Visvapujita: Worshiped by the whole universe.
• Puspasara: The topmost of all flowers.
• Nandini: Seeing whom gives bliss to the saints.
• Krishna-jivani: The life of Sri Krishna.
• Visva-pavani: One who purifies the three worlds.
• Tulasi: One who has no comparison.

Sri Tulasi Kirtana

Namo Namaha Tulasi! Krishna-Preyasi
Radha-Krishna-Seva Pabo Ei Abhilashi
Je Tomara Sharana Loy, Tara Vanchha Purna Hoy
Kripa Kori' Koro Tare Brindavana-Basi

Mor Ei Abhilash, Bilas Kunje Dio Vas
Nayane Heribo Sada Jugala-Rupa-Rashi
Ei Nivedana Dharo, Sakhir Anugata Koro
Seva-Adhikara Diye Koro Nija Dasi

Dina Krishna-Dase Koy, Ei Jena Mora Hoy
Sri-Radha-Govinda-Preme Sada Jena Bhasi

Translation


O Tulasi, beloved of Krisna, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to obtain the service of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

Whoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. Bestowing your mercy on him, you make him a resident of Vrndavana.

My desire is that you will also grant me a residence in the pleasure groves of Sri Vrndavana-dhama. Thus, within my vision I will always behold the beautiful pastimes of Radha and Krsna.

I beg you to make me a follower of the cowherd damsels of Vraja. Please give me the privilege of devotional service and make me your own maidservant.

This very fallen and lowly servant of Krsna prays, ''May I always swim in the love of Sri Radha and Govinda.

Health Benefits of Tulsi Leaves

• It helps in preventing flatulence and helps in constipation.
• It is an effective natural cure for upper respiratory tract infection.
• Tulsi works as good expectorant relieving from wet cough.
• It is very useful in bronchitis and asthmatic conditions.
• Tulsi juice drops are very effective in earache.
• It acts as anti bacterial and anti parasitic; provide good resistance to infectious diseases.
• Tulsi acts on nervous system providing them strength relieve stress and helps in relieving pain.
• It works as appetizer and promotes digestion by helping in secretion of digestive enzymes.
• Tulsi juice when mixed with ginger juice is very effective in abdominal disorder in children.
• It is widely used in fever as it act as antipyretic, pain reliever, and provides strength to our body. Take powder of Tulsi leaves with saunth (dried ginger) and sugar with hot water in fevers.
• It also possesses anti-cancerous properties; highly effective in liver cancer.
• It works as a powerful antioxidant; helps in preventing early aging signs and makes the skin young.
• It provides natural care for diabetes; Keep powder of tulsi root in water for overnight and take it early morning the next day.