Monday 11th July 2011 - Ashada EkadasiThis is considered to be special for Vittal (Vithoba and Rukmini) of Pandharpur.
Lines from a Marathi Abhang: AshADa kArthika yAthrA barati vittalahA saradhAra
Meaning: People undertake Pandharpur Yatra during the holy months of Ashada and Karthika to
see the countenance of the Emperor Vittala!
Saint Sakhubai was very devoted to Vittal. She always used to chant the Lord's name and
was always engrossed in His thoughts to the extent that her husband and family and people
considered her to be mad and even made her to undergo many treatments. Her in-laws and her
husband ill-treated her even though she used to do all the chores of the family.Nothing bother
her as her mind was always engaged in the Lord's name.
Once she heard bhajans being sung and when she came to the street, she saw Kabirdas,Ramdas,
Namadev singing bhajans. She enquired them to where they were going and when they said they
were going Pandarpur for Ashada Ekadasi, she told that she also wanted to join them and have the
vision of the Lord.But Kabirdas told her to get permission from her husband and that she has to come
only with her husband.
Sakhubai also went inside her house and asked her husband to take her to Pandarpur and that
people are going by yatra for Ashada Ekadesi. Her husband told her that it wasnt possible for him
to take and also, he ill-treated her, tied to a pillar and locked her inside a room. Sakhubai cried to
the Lord and was chanting Vittal's name. God,pleased by her devotion and love for Him, disguised
himself as a lady, gave vision to Sakhubai and told her that, HE will substitute her and that she can
join the troop and go to Pandarpur.
So, Sakhubai joined the troop and went to Pandharpur and had darshan of Lord Vittal and she was
fully engrossed in the Lord that she even forgot that she had a family. After somedays, Lord himself
made her realise that she has to go back to home and she has to relieve her substitute. After she
reached her home, Lord, who was disguised as lady, showed His true form and blessed her.
Om Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya Namaha!Govindam Gokula-nandam, Gopalam Gopi-ballavam,
Govardhano-udharam Dheeram, Tham vande Gomathi priyam.
[Who gives pleasure to herd of cows, brings joy to those in Gokula, Who takes care of the cows, Lord of all gopis,
Who is the hero who lifted the Govardhana Mountain; I salute to the Lord, who is dear to Saraswathi][Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevay]
Narayanam nirakaram, Nara veeram Narothamam,
Narasimham, Naga-natham, Tham vande nara-kanthakam.
[He is the Lord Narayna, Who has taken a human form, Who is a great human hero, Who is a great human being,
Who is Lord Narasimha, And who is he lord of serpents; I salute the Lord who killed Naraka][Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevay]
Peethambaram, Padmanabham, Padama-ksham, Purushothamam,
Pavithram, Paramanandam, Tham vande Parameshwaram.
[Who wears yellow colured silk, has a lotus flower over his belly, Who has lotus like eyes, Who is the purest among all men,
Who is purity personified, And who is the greatest bliss; I salute that God of all gods][Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevay]
Raghavam, Rama-chandram cha, Ravan-arim cha, Rama-pathim,
Rajeeva-lochanam Ramam, Tham Vande Raghu Nandanam.
[Who is Lord Raghava, Who is Lord Ramachandra, Who killed Ravana, Who is the Lord of Lakshmi,
Who has lotus like eyes, And who attracts all the world; I salute that son of the clan of Raghu][Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevay]
Yogeeswaram yagna-pathim, Yasodananda dayakam,
Yamuna jala sachayam, Tham vande yadu-nayagam.
[Who is the god of all yogis, Who is the lord of all yagnas, Who is the source of happiness to Yasoda,
And who has the same luster as the water of Yamuna; I salute him, who is the lord of all yadavas][Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevay]
Vamanam, Viswaroopam, Vasudevam, cha Vittalam,
Visweswaram Vibhum Vyasam, Tham vande Veda Vallabham.
[Who is Lord Vamana, Who is the form of the universe, Who is the son of Vasudeva, Who is Vittala, the deity of Pandharpur,
Who is the Lord of all universes, Who is the expert of knowledge, And who is Veda Vyasa; I salute that Lord of all Vedas]Dear Sai Devotees, kindly take out sometime today to read Vishnu Sahasra Namam and Sai stavana Manjari. Lets all pray to Sai to bless us with devotion like Sakhubai's, where pleasure and pains will not affect us.
Be Blessed!
Love & Light!
Om Sai Ram!