Haribodhini Ekadashi, on the eleventh day of the lunar cycle usually at the end of Kartik, is believed to be the day when Lord Vishnu awakens from his cosmic slumber. It is celebrated by Hindus by performing rituals and Puja to Lord Vishnu, the preserver among the Hindu holy trinity. Tulasi, the plant of holy basil, believed to be one of the earthly manifestations of Vishnu and considered sacred by the Hindus, which is planted in the north eastern part of Hindu courtyards during the month of Ashar in July, is wed on this day.
Four Narayan temples around the Kathmandu Valley called Char Narayan: Changu Narayan in Bhaktapur, Sesh Narayan in Dakshinkali, Ichhangu Narayan in Nagarjun, and Bishankhu Narayan in Godavari, are popular among devotees and pilgrims on Haribodhini Ekadashi.
An annual fair takes place on this day at Budhanilkantha Temple, on the foothills of Shivapuri National Park on the northern suburb of Kathmandu. Budhanilkantha literally means “Old Blue Throat”. The open-air temple is a single basalt stone sculpture of reclining Vishnu on a coil of the cosmic Sesha in a pool of water. The sculpture is believed to have been built and brought to Kathmandu during the reign of Lichchhavi king Bhimarjuna Dev in the 7th century.
It is believed that a farmer couple was ploughing the field in the area when blood oozed out of the scathed earth. On further excavation, it is believed that the sculpture of the Vishnu emerged. According to another legend King Pratap Malla (1641–1674) had a vision when he was warned from visiting the temple of Budhanilkantha and from henceforth kings of Nepal refrained from visiting Budhanilkantha. Thousands of pilgrims visit Budhanilkantha on Haribodhini Ekadashi.
Photo courtesy: Wim van Passel, The Netherlands
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