Jal Jhilani Ekadashi

Jal Jhilani Ekadashi

What is Jal Jilani Ekadashi?

• Also known as Parivartani Ekadashi
• Marks the middle of Chaturmas
• Devotees observe a nirjala (waterless) fast.

Origins of Jal Jilani (Parivartani) Ekadashi

On Badra Sud 11 (today) , Lord Vishnu changes his sleeping position from his left side to his right side.

During the four months of Chaturmas, Lord Vishnu Bhagwan slept in King Bali’s kingdom in Sutal.

The adjustment of his sleeping position is known as Parivartani.

On this day, Shri Krishna took the Gopis sailing in the Yamuna River.

As a 'fare' for the ride on the boat, he asked the Gopis for maakhan (butter).

Ritual

Devotees place a small murti of Harikrishna Maharaj in a boat, offer thal, perform five aartis, and then sail the murti through a river, whilst singing kirtans.

• Jal-Jhilani gives us time to reset. We get to reset our bodies by observing a fast. It signifies a time to reset and turn over a new page in our lives, as Vishnu Bhagwan turned in his sleep.

• Just as the gopis surrendered to Shri Krishna, we are inspired to surrender ourselves to and obey Bhagwan and the Sant to cross the ocean of Maya, which represents the cycle of countless births and deaths that we undergo.

• Through refuge in them and through their association, they grant us moksha (liberation), freeing us from this cycle and helping us cross this ocean.

• The boat in the Jal-Jhilani festival celebrations represents our bhakti, and that by maintaining our bhakti, we keep Maharaj and Swami close to us as we sail across the ocean of maya.

Why is Jal Jilani important to us?

What hinders us from being able to perform bhakti?

Why is Bhakti important?

IDEAS

Hindrances

Vachanamrut

How can we increase our bhakti?

• Bhakti = loving devotion for Bhagwan and the Satpurush
• Helps us build a connection (Jodhaan)
• Allows us to serve God from our heart
• Aids our attainment of Moksha

Some suggestions:

• Listening to discourses (Shravan)
• Recalling what you learnt from the discourses which you can implement in your life (Manan and Niddhiyas)
• Doing puja / mansi puja - worship/mental worship of Bhagwan
• Sing kirtans and chant Bhagwan's name
• Having unwavering faith in Bhagwan, realising that he is the all-doer

Sarangpur 3

"If a person lovingly performs puja of God, with an emotion- filled voice, then regardless of whether he performs puja physically or performs mãnsi puja, both are superior. Conversely, if he performs puja mechanically – without feeling love or excitement, and without showing emotion in his voice – then regardless of whether he performs puja of God physically or performs mãnsi puja of God, both are inferior."

Some suggestions:

• Bad company = negative influence

• Swabhavs (inner enemies)
• Not having the company of the Satpurush.