Holi is generally considered the official launch of spring, but it also has deep religious significance. Holi commemorates the date when the preserver Lord Vishnu appeared as the lion-man avatar Narasimha to slay the wicked king Hiranyakashipu. However, Holi is presaged by several folk holidays surrounding the return of the spring harvest time. One of these holidays is Amalaka Ekadashi, a festival to celebrate the fruit of the Amla tree. Ekadashis occur every month, 11 days after the new moon, with each month’s Ekadashi having its own significance. Ekadashis are usually accompanied by fasting and rituals to propitiate the gods for boons, a practice called vrata (religious vow). “Amalaka Ekadashi” falls in the month of Phagun of the Hindu lunar-solar calendar and will be celebrated and usually arrives in February/March. Veneration of the Amla tree, like many modern Hindu holidays, does not come from the Vedas or Epics but from the Puranas, peripheral Hindu scriptures filled with allegorical fables. Because of the decentralized and more regional flavor of the Puranas, many of the holidays and precepts they teach are not universal among Hindus and so the Holiday of Amla may not be recognized by all the Hindus you encounter.
Amla, A Tree Of Divine Health?
According to the Padma Puranas, the Amla tree’s fruits are sacred to Lord Vishnu and very nutritious. It is believed that those who dine on these fruits may extend their lives. So potent is the life-extending qualities of these fruits believed to be that according to the legend a king named Chandala who died falling from the tree after eating its fruits could not have his soul picked up by the attendants of the death god Yama. Interestingly enough, Western medicine has recognized that consumption of Amlaki derivatives might help reduce blood glucose as well as food and water intake in diabetics. [1]
Amla is a very nutritious fruit and great religious significance has been attached to it. Amla fruit is very dear to Lord Vishnu and its use on the auspicious day of Ekadashi brings unmatched virtue. A person who regularly eats amla enjoys a long life.The following tale adequately describes the religious importance of amla – Once upon a time, a Chandala went into the forest for hunting. He hunted many deer and birds. Feeling hungry, he saw an amla tree and climbed up the tree. This way he satiated his hunger by eating sweet amla fruits. Unfortumately while he was climbing down the tree, he fell down and died. When the attendants of Yamaraj arrived to take back his soul, they could not do so even after repeated attempts. The attendants of Yamaraj became very surprised and went to the sages for clarification. The sages revealed to the attendants that they could not go near the chandala’s dead body, because he had eaten amla just before his death. Such is the glory of amla! – PADMA PURANA, INTERNATIONAL GITA SOCIETY
The Sad Story Of Vrinda
According to the Shiva Purana, the Amla tree was created as a gift by the other gods to alleviate Lord Vishnu after he fell into a deep depression over the death of his disciple Vrinda. Vrinda was a very devoted Vishnu worshiper who had the misfortune of marrying an evil and demonic king named Jalandhar who was successfully waging a battle against the gods. Vrinda was very pious but misguided, she prayed to her Lord Vishnu to save her husband’s life. Lord Vishnu knew he could not grant this wish and so he hatched a plan to ruin Vrinda’s penance. He disguised himself as her husband and slept with her, thus breaking her chastity penance. So upset was Vrinda with this deception that she threw herself into flames. Vishnu had to stop Vrindas penance to save her husband, but he did not intend for her to kill herself, and after the defeat of Jalandhar he became consumed in sorrow. To break Vishnu’s attachment, the gods prayed to Parvati, Saraswati, and Lakshmi for a boon, and they granted them the seeds which became the Amla tree, along with the Tulsi and Malti plants, all of them sacred to Lord Vishnu.
When Jalandhar grew up he married Vrinda, who was the daughter of Kalnemi. Later on he became the ruler of the demons…. A fierce battle was fought between the Shiva-ganas and the demons. When Jalandhar realized that lord Shiva had begun to dominate the battle he created beautiful ‘Apsaras’ and ‘Gandharvas’ by his illusionary powers to divert the attention of lord Shiva and his ganas. He was successful in his attempt. Lord Shiva and his ganas became enchanted by the heavenly beauty of the apsaras. They stopped fighting and started watching their dance and music. Meanwhile Jalandhar went to Parvati in the guise of lord Shiva but was recognized by her. Being enchanted by the beauty of goddess Parvati, he looked at her with his evil intentions, but was immobilized by her wrath. Mother Parvati then went to lord Vishnu and narrated the whole story. She wanted to teach Jalandhar a lesson. She requested lord Vishnu to go to Jalandhar’s wife in the guise of Jalandhar and act in the same way. Jalandhar had dared to do.
With the help of his divine powers, Lord Vishnu created many inauspicious dreams while Vrinda was asleep. Vrinda became very restless and when the anxieties become unbearable she proceeded towards the forest. Vrinda saw a hermit in the forest who was preaching his disciples. The hermit was none other than lord Vishnu. She went to that hermit and prayed to save her husband’s life. Lord Vishnu disappeared from the scene and reappeared – this time in the guise of Jalandhar. But Vrinda was unable to recognize the real identity of her husband. She was very pleased after finding her husband. Both of them stayed in that very forest as husband and wife for a very long time. One day, she came to know about the real identity of the person, who was impersonating as her husband. Realizing that her chastity has been breached, she cursed lord Vishnu by saying that just as he had played a deceitful trick with her in the same way somebody would deceitfully abduct his wife and he too would wander in her search. After cursing lord Vishnu, Vrinda embraced death by entering into the fire.
On the other side, after the departure of Parvati from Kailash Mountain and after the illusionary powers created by Jalandhar had ended all the apsaras and gandharvas vanished. Shiva realized that whatever he was watching, was nothing more than illusion. Lord Shiva recommenced his battle. The demons-Shumbh and Nishumbh, came forward to fight with him, but ultimately they had to flee from the battlefield. Lord Shiva warned both of them that though they had escaped death at that moment, but they would be killed by Parvati. Now Jalandhar again arrived to fight with lord Shiva. A fierce battle commenced between them. Finding an opportune time, Shiva severed the head of Jalandhar by his ‘Chakra’ which had been created from his toe. After his death, Jalandhar’s soul united with Shiva. When the deities came to know about the killing of Jalandhar, they became overjoyed. They came to Lord Shiva and eulogized him. Thy also hailed his great achievement. After expressing their gratitude they returned to their respective abodes.
Lord Vishnu was very much saddened by the death of Vrinda. He took the ashes from the pyre and after applying them on his body started wondering here and there. The deities became very worried to see the condition of lord Vishnu. They went to lord Shiva and requested him to eliminate the false attachment with which Sri Vishnu was suffering. Lord Shiva sent the deities to goddess Parvati, saying that she would ceratainly help in this regard. The deities went to goddess Parvati and prayed to her. She became very pleased and with the assistance of Lakshmi and Saraswati, gave some seeds to then. The deities sprayed those seeds on the pyre, on which Vrinda had given up her life. Three holy plants manifested from that pyre Amla, Tulsi and Malti. Later on Tulsi and Malti attained to the Vishnuloka, by the virtue of their respective penance. - SHIVA PURANA, INTERNATIONAL GITA SOCIETY
An Amal Tree Keeps A Naughty Boy Alive To Tell His Tale
The Vamana Purana speaks of a young boy named Nisachar who refused to learn the Vedas and had a bad habit of criticizing everyone. His father eventually became fed up with him and threw him down a well, but Nishachar was sustained on the fruits of an Amal tree that was growing down there. After escaping the well, Nisachar returned to recount all the sins of his past life, he had been consumed by arrogance and lust. After confessing his sins, Nisarchar went off to do penance to atone. The Amal tree “preserved” Nisarchar, meaning he was kept alive by Lord Vishnu for a reason. Sometimes flawed characters are here to teach us something, and so the gods may give them grace, extending their lives long enough to convey their message or repent.
Koshkar brought up both the children with great care. He named the ogress’s child as Diwakar while his own son was named Nisachar. As destiny would have liked it, Diwakar turned out to be a very studious child and became well versed in Vedas within a very short time whereas Nisachar was not interested in studies and had a bad habit of criticising everybody. Koshkar became furious and threw Nisachar in a well. There was a Amla tree inside that well and the child survived living on its fruits. This way, ten years passed and one day, Koshkar’s wife arrived at the well to fetch water. On seeing his mother, Nisachar tried to convince her that he was her son but she was not convinced. He then accompanied his mother back home and narrated the reason why he had taken birth as a deaf and blind child. “In my previous birth, I was the son of Vrishakapi and was very famous for my scholarly traits. In due course of time, I became very arrogant and started indulging in all sorts of evil deeds. After my death, I went to Raurav Narak and suffered all the tortures over there. I was reborn as a tiger and after being enslaved by a king, I was kept inside a cage. Once, the king had gone out and the beautiful queen arrived near the cage. I was infatuated by her beauty and expressed my lusty desires to her. She was taken aback by my proposal and said- “How can physical relationship be possible between us?” But I requested her to release me by opening the cage door. The queen opened the door and I became free. I caught hold of her and tried to satiate my lust but right then the guards arrived there and killed me. Once again I went to the hell and after suffering the pains I was reborn as an ass. My master was Agniveshya, a Brahmin. Once, his wife- Sumati wanted to go to her father’s house. Agniveshya advised her to go riding on my back and instructed his servant to escort us. While on our journey, we reached a river and Sumati expressed her desire to take bath. She went to take bath and I waited for her to return. While she was taking her bath, I became infatuated by her beauty and caught hold of her. The servant who was escorting us saw this and became angry. He killed me by hitting with his stick. Once again, I went to hell and was reborn as a parrot. A wicked fowler trapped and sold me to a trader’s son. Although I lived a luxurious life, yet I was not happy because of my slavery. Once, his daughter arrived near my cage and playfully kept me on her breasts. I became infatuated and tried to have physical relations with her. But I was suffocated to death after getting entangled in her necklace. Once again, I went to hell and after suffering the tortures, was reborn as a bull. My master was a Chandala and I used to pull his cart. Once, his wife was sitting in the cart I was pulling. Unmindful of her surroundings, she was singing songs in a beautiful voice. After listening to her melodious voice, I became infatuated and tried to have physical relations with her. I turned back but the noose around my neck became tight and I was suffocated to death. Once again I went to hell and after suffering the pains, was reborn as a blind and deaf son to you. I remember all my previous lives and I am aware that my physical disabilities are only because of my past sins. I have decided to atone for all my sins by doing penance and indulging in virtuous deeds. After saying this, he went to Badrikashrama to do penance. – VAMANA PURANA, INTERNATIONAL GITA SOCIETY
Observing Fasts Brings Boons
According to the Puranas, those who fast and worship the image of Lord Vishnu during Ekadashi receive their desires, are granted wealth and progeny and can wash away many of their sins.
Observing fast on Ekadashi also helps a man to become liberated from his sins.” – VARAHA PURANA, INTERNATIONAL GITA SOCIETY
The eleventh day of the lunar fortnight (ekadashi) is for fasting. It is also the tithi for praying to Vishnu. The observance of ekadashi vrata grants sons and wealth and atones for one’s sins – AGNI PURANA, INTERNATIONAL GITA SOCIETY
Those who bathe Lord’s idol with Panchamrit on Ekadashi receive everlasting joy and salvation. – NARADA PURANA, INTERNATIONAL GITA SOCIETY
Sanatkumar says: “O Narada! A fast on Ekadashi (eleventh day) in both the phases of a month pleases Sri Hari and fulfills all the desires – NARADA PURANA, INTERNATIONAL GITA SOCIETY
Conclusion
Hinduism is a religion that shows appreciation and veneration for nature. The Amal tree’s fruits give us nourishment and are likely very good for our health, their preserving qualities make them sacred to Lord Vishnu. If nothing else, Amalki Ekadashi is a good excuse to fast and pray and to prepare ourselves for the upcoming festivities of Holi.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Tiwari, V.; Kuhad, A.; Chopra, K. (2011). “Emblica officinalis Corrects Functional, Biochemical and Molecular Deficits in Experimental Diabetic Neuropathy by Targeting the Oxido-nitrosative Stress Mediated Inflammatory Cascade”.Phytotherapy Research 25 (10): 1527–1536. doi:10.1002/ptr.3440.PMID 21394805
x
No comments:
Post a Comment