ANANTA CHATURDASHI VRATA - STORY When Pandava kings were banished for 12 years from their kingdom, and were in the jungle, Lord Krishna visits them. Yudhishtira, the eldest among them asks Lord Krishna an easy way out of all their difficulties. Lord Krishna says 'yes there is a great vrata which destroys all your sins, removes all your difficulties, promotes your material prosperity and will give you eventually moksha(liberation). The vrata is called Ananata Padmanabha vrata. This vrita needs to be done a day prior to pournami(bhadrapada shukla chaturdashi) of the month of bhadrapada. In respect of protecting devotees this vrata is reputed to be the foremost.
Dharmaraj(Yudhishtira) wants to know now who this Ananta represents; whether he is Aadishesha or takshaka, or Brahma. Lord Krishna replies that Ananta is none other than He Himself; ananta is the endless time. you can call him Hari, Vishnu, Krishna, shiva, Surya, Adishesha or Brahma. Having resided in the hearts of all creatures, and assuming different avataar for protecting the good and punishing the wicked, I am that parmeshwar Himself. In me reside all the 14 lokas, 14 indras, 12 adityas, 11 rudras, 8 vasus, 7 rishis,the earth and the sky, rivers and mountains. Saying thus the Lord displays his vishwarupa to Dharmaraja.
There was a brahmin called Sumanta born in vasishta gotra and who had married Brigu's daughter Dheeksha. They had a charming daughter called Susheela. When Susheela was a young girl, she lost her mother. Her father married a woman called karkashe who was a hard hearted, quarrelsome, termagant. She made the life of Suheela miserable. In spite of these difficulties at home, Susheela grew to be a fine lady ready to be married. When Sumanta was worried over her marriage, there came to his house looking for a bride, a rishi called Kaundinya. Sumanta gives his daughter to Kaundiya rishi in marriage. With his wife being uncooperative, he could give to his son in law as a marriage gift a little of fried wheat flour.
The vrata is to be performed on Bhadrapada shukla chaturdashi. Having taken bath and wearing a clean dress, decorate the altar with devotion. Keep akalasha on the south of the altar in which you invite the Lord. Keep 7 darbhas tied to each other to represent ananta. Keep a red thread with 14 knots on the altar. Worship lord with 14 variety of flowers and 14 variety of leaves. The prasad for this vrata is Atiras. Make 28 of them and serve them to brahmanas. Those attendning should be given food and respect. Do this vrata for 14 years each year replacing the thread that was worn in the earlier year. 15th year do the udyapana(conclusion with donation of gifts to brahmanas).
One day Kundinya sees the red thread on Susheela's hand and asks for an explanation; In spite of her telling him the truth, in a fit of anger and jealousy, Kaundinya forcibly removes the thread and throws in the fire. Sushila picks up the half burnt thread and immerses it in milk. His behaviour proved very dear to Kaundinya; pretty soon all his wealth was lost; his relatives desert him; his cattle died and he now knows that this was on account of his rudeness to Ananta Padmanabha swami in the form of red thread.
Kaundinya returned home and did the puja with shraddha and bhakti. He lived a life of wealth and happiness. In the bygone days, sages like Agastya, kings like Janaka, Sagara, Dilipa, Harischandra have done this vrat. You to do this vrat and all your troubles will be over. Listening to this the exiled king Dharmaraja also performed this vriat. One who hears this story or narrates it will be rid of all woes and difficulties and will acquire all kinds of wealth.
Web Series
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
