The Feast
The feast of Ashadhi Ekadashi is celebrated with great solemnity at
Pandharpur. Hundreds of thousands go in procession from different
parts of Maharashtra, some carrying palanquins with the images of
the great saints of Maharashtra. Dnaneshwar's image is carried from
Alandi, Tukaram's from Dehu, Eknath's from Paithan, Nivruttinath's
from Trimbakeshwar, Muktabai's from Edlabad, and Sopan's from
Sasvad.
Mahaekadashi
Some people consider the two eleventh days, "ekadashi", of every
month to be of special importance. But the eleventh day (bright) of
Ashadh is known as the great ekadashi or Mahaekadashi. It is a day
of fast. This is the day of the huge "yatra" or pilgrimages to the
god Vithoba of Pandharpur, a town in south Maharashtra, situated on
the banks of the Bhima River, a tributary of the Krishna River.
This Mahaekadashi is also known as Shayani Ekadashi, because on
this day Vishnu falls asleep to wake up four months later on
Prabodhini Ekadashi in the Kartik month. This period is known as
Chaturmas and coincides with the rainy season.
Mrudumanya
There was a demon called Mrudumanya. He performed austere
penance to obtain the blessings of Shankar. At the end Shankar was
pleased and offered a boon to Mrudumanya. The demon asked for the
gift of immortality. Shankar replied, "You will not die by the hands
of anyone, except of a woman."
Mrudumanya's goal was to defeat all the gods and conquer heaven.
Shankar agreed to everything, "Neither Bramha, nor Vishnu, nor
myself shall ever be able to defeat you." "That will be sufficient,"
said Mrudumanya full of satisfaction. "I got what I wanted."
Mrudumanya began to conquer heaven. Indra ran away to Bramhadev
in Satyalok (abode of truth). Mrudumanya marched towards Satyalok.
Since Bramhadev knew about the boon Mrudumanya had obtained from
Shankar, he did not want to engage him in battle. He gathered his 33
crore gods (330 million) and escaped to Vaikunth, the abode of
Vishnu, with the hope that at least Vishnu would protect them from
this demon. Satyalok fell into the hands of Mrudumanya. Bramhadev
fell at the feet of Vishnu. Then Mrudumanya reached Vaikunth. He
said to Vishnu, "Do not give protection to Bramhadev. Fall at my
feet and I shall spare Vaikunth. But if you do not listen to me, I
will conquer the three worlds."
Vishnu stood ready to fight. There was a fierce struggle without
anyone being able to establish his superiority. Then they came to a
hand to hand wrestle. Vishnu, though not defeated, felt exhausted.
Then he decided to have recourse to Shankar. All the gods then went
to Shankar, who was happily seated on Kailas mountain. Bramha and
Vishnu arrived and worshipped Shankar. Shankar was happy at seeing
all the gods coming to him.
Vishnu was angry and complained to Shankar, "You gave this boon to
this demon. He routed Jndra and Bramhadev. I too have been unable to
subdue him. Now he will rule over the three worlds. So, please, do
something about it." Then Mrudumanya arrived. He began to storm
Kailas mountain. Shankar got angry. He ordered his troops to fight.
He himself sat on his nandi (bull), took his trisul in his hand, and
marched to meet Mrudumanya. Vishnu and all the gods began to fight
against Mrudumanya. But Mrudumanya was invincible on account of
Shankar's boon.
Shankar decided to use a stratagem instead of force. Bramha,
Vishnu and Shankar retreated. They went to Trikut mountain. Then
came a storm of rain and thunder. Shankar took shelter in the hole
of a big tree. Bramha and Vishnu followed him. For 24 hours they
remained sitting, fasting and meditating in that hole. With their
breath the air became hot, and finally a bright light appeared, and
from the light the figure of a frail girl emerged. As they became
fully awake a beautiful virgin was standing before them. Shankar
understood that the virgin was the goddess Shakti, at whose hands
Mrudumanya would be killed. She said, "Be quiet, I have come to
destroy Mrudumanya."
Mrudumanya reached the place and suspected that the gods were
hiding in the hole of that big tree. As he came closer with his
sword in hand, he saw that beautiful girl at the entrance of the
hole. Mrudumanya was astonished and asked, "Who are you?" The girl's
body began to grow. She reminded him of the words of Shankar, "You
will be killed by the hand of a woman." Then the girl flew into the
sky and took the form of the goddess with four arms. In one hand she
held a sword, in the other a huge "gada" (mace or club), and two
dreadful weapons in the remaining two hands. She threw her sword on
Mrudumanya. His neck was severed and the demon collapsed to the
ground.
All the gods fell at the feet of the goddess and asked her to
declare who she was and by what method she would be pleased. Then
the goddess said, "I am the mother of the three worlds. The power of
Bramha, Vishnu, and Shankar is contained all in me. My name is
Ekadashi. To please me the ekadashi vow should be observed. I shall
forestall any calamity from those who keep this vow."
Pandharpur
The feast of Ashadhi Ekadashi is celebrated with great solemnity
at Pandharpur. Hundreds of thousands go in procession from different
parts of Maharashtra, some carrying palanquins with the images of
the great saints of Maharashtra. Dnaneshwar's image is carried from
Alandi, Tukaram's from Dehu, Eknath's from Paithan, Nivruttinath's
from Trimbakeshwar, Muktabai's from Edlabad, and Sopan's from
Sasvad. At Pandharpur the devotees worship the god Vithoba and his
consort Rukhmmi.
Pundalik was giving his parents a lot of trouble. But one day
listening to a rishi's sermon he realised his folly, and thereafter
devoted himself to the service of his parents. One-day god Vithoba
came to see him while he was engaged in massaging the feet of his
old parents. Pundalik threw a brick and told god Vithoba to stand on
the brick and wait. God Vithoba stood on the brick and he is still
there with his arms akimbo, waiting. Vishnu is believed to have
taken the form of Vithoba for the sake of Pundalik, as a reward for
his wonderful devotion to his parents.
palkhi festival 1000 years old tradition 
PALKHI FESTIVAL
