Utthana Ekadasi is a major fast day for three reasons. Today all the demigods wake up and get up (Utthana) from bed after resting for 8 hours of their time, which encompasses four months of earth time i.e. Caturmasya. This day commemorates the day Baby Krsna Gopala rolled over (Utthana) on His belly after lying on His back for three months after taking birth, and also on this day, Krsna killed the Sakata(cart) demon described in the Srimad Bhagavatam 10th Canto , Chapter 7. Yasoda Maiya observed a special ceremony to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Krsna’s leaving home for the first time to crawl about on His hands and knees due to His intense eagerness to meet Radhika. Splendidly dressed and decorated, all the Vrajavasis rushed to Yasoda Maiya’s house to witness the wonderful event. Melodious music from rumbling mrdangas, kettledrums and other instruments filled the air. Mother Yasoda put Krsna to rest on a bed which was more like a swing or hammock. It was suspended below a hand cart as big as a house. Visnu Dharma says the cart was as tall as a palm tree (30 m), very heavy, long and white. Amidst all the festivities, Baby Krsna started crying due to hunger. But the Vrajavasis could not hear Krsna due to the din of music, singing and merry- making. Meanwhile, a demon named Sakata sent by Kamsa to kill newborns in Vrndavana invisibly entered that huge hand cart. Fully aware of this, Baby Krsna just playfully kicked His tender feet. Simultaneously the cart was demolished and the demon was killed. Although he was three months old, from the force of Krsna’s kick, the whees split from the axle, the hubs and spokes fell apart and the hand cart collapsed. The big brass pots on the cart made a tremendous sound as they tumbled on the ground. Upon hearing that shattering sound, the Vrajavasis anxiously ran to the spot. Mother Yasoda was relieved to see Krsna smiling and playfully rubbing his fingers along the cloth of the hammock. The Vrajavasis thought the cart had fallen apart due to some unknown cause. However, the children who were attending Krsna described the whole event in broken language. They said, “It’s not Krsna’s fault that the Krsna’s heroic cart was destroyed. Krsna felt hungry and started crying loudly for His mother’s milk. When Krsna did not get any, He just kicked His little legs while crying and the cart collapsed.” Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains the Sakata bhanjana lila (Krsna’s breaking the cart) represents smashing of old and new bad habits and the destruction of laziness and vanity. By reading this pastime and praying to Sri Krsna for His mercy the Lord will personally kick these obstacles far away. In Caitanya Siksamrta , Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes that the twenty one demons killed by Krsna in His Vrndavana lila represent specific anarthas or unwanted material contaminations.These create obstacles to serving Sri Krsna in the pure loving mellows of Vraja. One should read the various chapters of the 10th canto describing Sri Krsna’s vanquishing these demons. And one should pray to Sri Krsna to give one the strength and determination to cast away all these obstacles to progress in pure Krsna bhakti. One can find the list of the 21 demons and the anarthas they represent in my book Appreciating Vrndavana Dhama available onamazon.com. In addition on this day of Utthana Ekadasi, most Gaudiya Vaisnavas end their Caturmasya or Karttika Niyam Seva Vrata. In Hari Bhakti Vilasa, Srila Sanatana Gosvami gave specific details on observing this vow and encourages everyone to follow it in order to please Radha Damodara. Here, we will give the main points.I. BENEFITS OF UTTHANA EKADASIAll Vedic sastras highly emphasise the need to fast completely even from water and stay awake all night on this most important day of Utthana Ekadasi. Observing jagarana (remaining awake all night) gives great pleasure to Sri Krsna and host of other benefits including liberation: destruction of all one’s mental, physical and vocal sins for 1000 lives; important benefits (akshaya phala) from any act of Deity worship , charity, austerity or sacred bathing.II. DEITY WORSHIP Beginning with bath at sunrise, one should recite the Srimad Bhagavatam especially the Gajendra Moksa chapter and offer fruits and give gifts to the Deity and brahmanas during the day. Circumambulate Deity and offer obeisances. Besides worshipping the Deity one should also worship Tulasi-devi by offering them aratika and offering a row of ghee lamps before them. In addition, the Deity should be offered flowers, fruits, camphor lamps, sandalwood pulp and water in a conch as arghya , kumkuma and aratika every three hours throughout the night.III. PERSONAL ACTIONSOne should give up all laziness and enthusiastically worship the Supreme Lord in a joyful mood throughout the day and night and onto the sunrise. Jai Ho! Pass the night singing, dancing and playing musical instruments for the pleasure of Radha and Krsna. Keep an akhanda ghee lamp burning all day and night. The above details of the Utthana Ekadasi vrata are taken from Haribhakti vilasa by Srila Sanatana Gosvami . I may make a humble suggestion, I recommend devotees gather together and perform akhanda Sri Hari Nama Sankirtana from sunrise of Utthana Ekadasi to sunrise of Dvadasi. In addition, the Hari Nama Sankirtana can be sweetly nourished by periodic reading of Radha Krsna Astakaliya Vraja lilas as depicted in Govinda Lilamrta,Bhavana Sara Sangraha, Krsna Bhavnamita and Krsnahnika Kaumudi.May Radha Giridhari bless all the devotees with success in performing the Utthana Ekadasi Vrata, which is like the sweet icing on the bliss cake of the Karttika Niyama Seva Vrata.Jai Jai Sri Radhe!!Radhakunda DhamaMahanidhi Swami
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