Utpanna Ekadashi

Religious observance falling on the
eleventh day (ekadashi) of the dark
(waning) half of the lunar month of
Margashirsha (November–December).
As for all of the eleventh-day observances, this is dedicated to the worship
of Vishnu, and on this day especially, in
his form as Krishna. Most Hindu festivals have certain prescribed rites, which
usually involve fasting (upavasa) and
worship and often promise specific benefits for faithful performance. Those
observing this vow should fast completely on the tenth and perform full
worship during the brahma muhurta of
the eleventh. On this ekadashi, only
fruits should be offered as food for the
deity. Faithfully keeping this festival is
believed to bring liberation of the soul
(moksha). The name Utpanna means
“born,” and the charter myth for this
celebration is that of Anasuya, wife of
the sage Atri. Anasuya is famous for her
devotion to her husband, and the wives
of the gods become jealous of her.
Lakshmi, Parvati, and Saraswati send
their husbands (Vishnu, Shiva, and
Brahma) to try to compromise her
fidelity; the gods come begging for food,
but they refuse to accept it unless
Anasuya gives it to them naked. Through
the power she has gained from her devotion to her husband, Anasuya turns the
three gods into infants and then nurses
them until they are satisfied; these three
gods are later “born” into her household:
Vishnu as Dattatreya, Shiva as Durvasas,
and Brahma as Chandra.