By Karthikeyan

Sairam to all fellow SKTCians, I request all to take the below article only as an analysis and not as a prediction on the date of Swami’s Reappearance. Only Bhagawan knows His plans and His day of Reappearance.

Papankusha Ekadesi Timings - (October 23 Friday - 4:13 AM up to October 24 Saturday - 3:27 AM)

Readers may recall that a few months ago, by God’s Grace and Will, I was able to publish the article “The importance of the Day of Ashura”. The present article can be considered a continuation (Part 2) of that.

(To read the Part 1, please go to http://www.saikingdom.com/devotees/devotee-articles/766-importance-of-the-day-of-ashura )

Based on certain dream/vision interpretations of recent times, we presume that Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba returned on the day of Vaikunta Ekadesi (December 31, 2014 - January 1, 2015). Now the question is when the Reappearance will be made known. While in my previous article I have already discussed the possibility of this happening on October 23-24, in this article I would like to provide some additional reasons for the importance of this day.

Why is this day of Papankusha Ekadesi so important? Will Swami’s Reappearance be made known on this day??? (October 23 Friday - 4:13 AM up to October 24 Saturday - 3:27 AM)

Now let us discuss the significance of this day…..

The below narration of the glories of Pashankusha Ekadesi Day is excerpted from a dialogue between Lord Sri Krishna and Maharaja Yudhishthira, as given in the ancient scripture called Brahmavaivarta Purana.

1 Once, Yudhishthira Maharaj asked Sri Krishna: “O Madhusudana, what is the name of the day of Ekadesi that comes during the light fortnight of the month of Ashvina (September – October)? Please be kind and explain this to me.” 

2 “Sri Krishna smilingly replied, “O best of Kings! The name of this Ekadesi is Pashankusha Ekadesi, and it is also known as Papankusha Ekadesi since the observance of this Ekadesi removes all sins.”

3 “One should particularly worship Sri Padmanabha (Incarnation of Lord Vishnu), on the day of this Ekadesi. This day of Papankusha Ekadesi awards a person heavenly pleasures, liberation, and his or her desired results. Just by chanting the holy names of Sri Vishnu( like Rama, Krishna, Hari etc.) one can attain the merits of visiting all the holy places of pilgrimage (teerthas) in this world. Simply by offering one's humble obeisance unto Lord Vishnu, the rider of Garuda, one can achieve the same merit as is gained by performing great penances for a long time restraining and controlling the senses. If a conditioned soul, in spite of indulging in various sinful activities as a result of delusion, takes shelter and offers obeisance at the lotus feet of Sri Hari, who is the remover of all sins and the granter of liberation, then such a person never sees the punishing abode of Yamaraja, the Lord of death".

4 “The result one obtains by performing one thousand horse (donating) sacrifices or by performing one hundred Rajasuya sacrifices cannot equal one sixteenth of the merits one obtains by observing this Papankusha Ekadesi Day. There is no piety (merits) in this world equal to the piety (merits) earned by observing this Papankusha Ekadesi Day. Therefore, no other day is as sanctified as this day of Ekadesi, which is very dear to Shri Padmanabha (God)".

5 “O King! Until a person observes a fast on the day of Sri Padmanabha named Papankusha Ekadesi, he remains sinful, and the reactions of his past sinful activities never leave him like a chaste wife never leaves her husband. There is no merit in all the three worlds that can match the merit that one gains by observing a fast on this Ekadesi. This Ekadesi awards those who observe it heavenly pleasures, liberation, freedom from disease, beautiful women (For marriage), wealth, and food grains. None of the Rivers like Ganga, Gaya, Kashi, Pushkara, or Kurukshetra can bestow as much auspicious merit as this Papankusha Ekadesi Day. O Maharaj Yudhishthira, protector of the earth, after observing Ekadesi during the daytime, the devotee should remain awake through the night, absorbed in hearing about Sri Hari, chanting Sri Hari’s name, and serving Sri Hari – for, by doing so, he easily attains to the abode of Sri Vishnu”.

6 Sri Krishna continued, “O best of Kings! By observing the vow of this Papankusha Ekadesi one can deliver Liberation to ten generations from his mother’s family, ten generations from his father’s family, and ten generations from his wife’s family. All these ancestors attain their original, four-armed transcendental Vaikuntha forms. Wearing yellow garments and beautiful garlands, they ride to the spiritual realm on the back of Garuda, the Carrier Bird of Lord Vishnu. This is the benediction My devotee earns simply by observing one Papankusha Ekadesi properly". 

7 “If a person observes this Ekadesi in his childhood, youth, or old age, he does not suffer the miseries of samsara (material existence). One who strictly observes this day of Pashankusha Ekadesi is relieved of all sinful reactions and at the end of life returns to Sri Vishnu’s abode".

8 “If a person gives away gold, sesame seeds, land, cows, food grains, water, umbrellas, or shoes in charity, on this day of Papankusha Ekadesi then such a person does not have to go to the abode of Yamaraja (Lord of Death). On the other hand, anyone who does not engage in pious activities on this day is like a dead man although he is breathing. His breathing is like the bellows of the blacksmith".

9 “O best of Kings, especially on this Papankusha Ekadesi Day, even the poor should first bathe and then give some charity according to their means, and perform other auspicious activities in accordance with their ability. Whosoever performs sacrifices for the public benefit, or builds public ponds, resting places, gardens, or houses is not subjected to the punishment of Yamaraja (lord of Death). Indeed, one should understand that a person must have performed such pious activities as these in the past life, if he is long lived, wealthy, of high birth, or free from all diseases. But a person who observes Papankusha Ekadesi goes to the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu”.

Sri Krishna then concluded, “Thus, O saintly Yudhishthira, I have narrated to you the glories of the auspicious Day of Papankusha Ekadesi.” 

Conclusion

Thus we have seen the importance of Papankusha Ekadesi day. So I feel that, like Baba returned to His physical on the Holy Vaikunta Ekadesi Day (January 1, 2015), He may announce His reappearance in a grand manner on the Holy day of Papankusha Ekadesi (October 23 Friday - 4:13 AM up to October 24 Saturday - 3:27 AM).

Comparison with previous articles 

(for full details kindly see the article “The importance of the Day of Ashura”).

Hints From Islamic Traditions

The Qa’im will appear on the day of Ashura”. (October 23 Friday - 24 Saturday)

(the name Qa’im means ‘One who rises’) 

Hints from Sri Vasantha Sai’s Sacred Nadi Readings

“……According to what is written, Swami will descend between October and November. This is the Reason for what He has drawn……” (Page 90 – 5th Para).